Campsites with no rangers! - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

05-23-2005, 08:17 PM

I was wonderring if anyone knew of any campsites with NO park rangers! Or if anyone knew how to search campsites with no rangers. My friends and I prefer to go in the hill country area, but anything not too far away from Houston (in any direction) is fine. Please help, thanks

Shannon · 05-23-2005, 10:17 PM

What exactly do you mean by no rangers? And why are you trying to avoid rangers, exactly? Even private campgrounds have rules, and those who enforce the rules are in effect the "rangers".

dwalsdorf · 05-24-2005, 03:54 PM

I know of no public parks allowing overnight camping without rangers. That goes for the beaches as well, as the authorities do police the area. Most of the private campgrounds around the Guadalupe River, i.e., around Sattler/Gruene, do not have Rangers. But then again, they aren't that large either.

MissionCamper · 05-25-2005, 07:22 AM

I know of no search engine which will identify specific parks without rangers. Besides, why would anyone want to stay in a "ranger-less" CG anyway? They enforce the rules and keep others from disturbing your camping experience.

Shannon · 05-25-2005, 08:36 AM

Given some of the things I've seen in State Parks over the years, I can't imagine wanting to stay anywhere that had no rules and zero oversight. If you're under-age and want to drink, go to Mexico. If you want to take controlled substances, plan on a long prison term as you will get caught -- if not while camping, then eventually. If you're having an affair, rent a hotel room (please! I've seen a poor ranger have to escort out an amorous 30-something couple who were definitely having an affair -- arrived in separate cars, tried to have sex in a car across from my campsite (thank God I didn't put two and two together until I overheard the ranger telling them to get out of dodge!) and snuck back in an hour later thinking he wouldn't find them again on his routine patrol.

On another occasion, at a park I won't mention (because I don't think this incident represents a pattern at the park), Justin and I were awoken in the middle of the night (1 AM or so) by all sorts of shouting and clamor. When we awoke, numerous tents and tons of trash were in a site near us. Beer bottles everywhere, all their food stuffs and gear on the picnic table had been rifled through by raccoons and blown in the wind. One of them woke up and announced he had a hangover. Surprise. They all packed up before the park host made his morning patrol, confirming our suspicions this group was too cheap (or too drunk) to visit parks and pay the admission and camping fees.

If that's the kind of people you want to camp alongside, that's your perogative, but it's a little like wanting to play in the highway. Eventually, it's going to end badly.

Michael · 05-25-2005, 08:57 AM

Without laws & or rules, anarchy reigns.

dwalsdorf · 05-25-2005, 10:58 AM

c'mon guys. The poster didn't ask for a sermon--just some info. There are those that want to get away from it all--I mean REALLY away from it all. One hiker I know takes chances I would not take--off trail GPS stuff waaaay out in Big Bend. I think it's stupid, but that's HIS choice.

Shannon · 05-25-2005, 11:10 AM

Telling someone why there aren't sites that highlight parks with "no rangers" isn't a sermon, it's logic and responsibility. Bad behaviors can start with just one person, and one of the purposes of WildTexas.com has always been the promote the fun, SAFE and RESPONSIBLE enjoyment of the Texas outdoors.

BTW: Your hiker friend is only endangering himself, and perhaps any rescuers that might have to come to his aid at some point, whereas the examples I gave can injure other campers.

dwalsdorf · 05-25-2005, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Telling someone why there aren't sites that highlight parks with "no rangers" isn't a sermon...

Yes, but this is:

Quote:

If you're under-age and want to drink, go to Mexico. If you want to take controlled substances, plan on a long prison term as you will get caught -- if not while camping, then eventually. If you're having an affair, rent a hotel room

Look, there is no need to assume that marqus139 is a bad guy (even though he IS from Houston

). There is no need to assume that he wants to get drunk, do drugs, have sex, or whatever. That's all I am saying. The guy wants solitude. There is no crime in camping in an area without park rangers. In fact, that is pretty much the definition of camping on private property

Quote:

BTW: Your hiker friend is only endangering himself, and perhaps any rescuers that might have to come to his aid at some point, whereas the examples I gave can injure other campers.

BTW, please note that all of the examples you cited involve bad people in a park WITH Rangers. Maybe marqus139 has had enough of those parks, and wants one where no "bubbas" can count on electrical hook-ups, running water, prep'd pads, etc... I don't agree with him, but I don't assume his intentions are to break the law. Everyone here is for safe and responsible camping. I just don't think you have to camp in a site with "rules" or Rangers to act responsibly. That's all I am saying.

Shannon · 05-25-2005, 12:28 PM

Those are good points, and I appreciate you bringing them up. I understand where you're coming from, and I'm not saying the only reasons to want to get away from a regulated, ranger-patrolled park are illicit. I guess I've seen enough of the "shouldn't be going on anywhere" stuff on my camping and hiking trips to be a little over-sensitive to someone whose sole criterion isn't solitude (which IS a searchable criterion on WildTexas.com

) but rather 'no rangers'. I think there's a notable difference if the initial post had asked, "Where can I find a park with real solitude?" You're assuming his intentions are purest of heart, and I assumed his intentions were likely of the variety I mentioned in my post (the "sermon" part you refer to). There's probably a middle ground, but since the original poster hasn't chimed in we're left with the extremes.

If he's seeking solitude, letting us all know that will result in a flood of helpful information. Focusing on just places with "no rangers" (which rules out wonderfully solitude-rich places like the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park, both of which as NP's have park rangers) results in a thread like this where there's some confusion as to the person's goal/desire for a "no ranger" park.

Does that make it less sermon-like and more understandable? I hope so. It wasn't meant as an attack, but as an advisement. Maybe my eagle avatar is making people assume my stance is more aggressive than it is. Time for a bluebonnet, or something.

copuswalker · 05-25-2005, 09:27 PM

Meanwhile Margus139 has made his/her one and only post.

Perhaps they are camping on the San Jacinto river somewhere between Kingwood and Conroe? No rangers there!!

dwalsdorf · 05-26-2005, 11:48 AM

By no means did I intend to ruffle feathers (bald eagle or otherwise

) I did pm the lad and asked him for some clarification--if he needed real info. Seems he does not. All good points raised by all. Reminds me of the debates years back regarding solo scuba diving--it usta be taboo. Now, although many stil frown upon it, it is enjoyed by more and more. The same caveat applies--it obviously CAN result in more severe situations, but if a person wants to make an informed choice to walk closer to the edge, well...

Still the best camping website in the State! Kudos to you, Shannon. And I should not have come off the start line so quickly--mebbe the use of the word "sermon" wasn't the wisest. I apologize. No group hug, though--too warm and humid out.

copuswalker · 05-26-2005, 01:01 PM

It's good to ruffle feathers

Think how boring it would be if we all wanted to camp with rangers!!

A lot of people like living on the edge. I am one of those but my wife has clipped my feathers

Perhaps I have her to thank for my still being alive?
She has toned me down to solo hiking and motorcycles

Wanted to try flying but she fought vigorously on that one!!!

Sermons a great word to have used

Shannon · 05-26-2005, 02:06 PM

Here's that HUG -- thanks for quelching my tone to a less preachy one. I get that way sometimes (no $h**, Shannon?

) No harm, no foul. Now my interest is piqued, though. I want to know the poster's idea of a perfect camping trip -- maybe I'm missing something and should seek non-ranger'd parks, too.

PS: copuswalker -- do your clipped feathers extend to a ride in a Cessna 172 if you're ever in San Antonio? Justin loves taking folks up in the air for short hops, and I love seeing folks enjoy the air as well. Holler if you ever want a ride and are in the area. We won't tell, if you don't.

Offer applies to anyone, btw. Only cost is to split the cost of fuel... FAA doesn't let non-commercial pilots charge for flights, but does let them get reimbursed for fuel burned on the flight.

copuswalker · 05-26-2005, 02:23 PM

PS: copuswalker -- do your clipped feathers extend to a ride in a Cessna 172 if you're ever in San Antonio?

What she doesn't know doesn't hurt

No, I work in houston and live in Crockett. I go to Houston one day a week and did start looking at planes once and that got the mind rolling.
I have a neighbor that flys but he has high blood pressure and looks like he has one foot in the grave. Was gonna try it but I got nervous on that one!

I would love to take you up on the offer! Maybe while I visit my daughter at U.T.?
Fuel would be no problem...Could probably cough up a lunch as well