For those who’ve camped for a long time, the recommendations below may seem a bit obvious, so please accept this writer’s apologies.
Below, find the basics of camping etiquette and realize that these aren’t suggestions. Penalties for noncompliance can include fines, fees, eviction and loss of future use.
COVID-19
- Follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, wear a mask, socially distance and wash your hands.
- Be patient and kind as these are trying times.
GENERAL PARK
- Follow the speed limit. Be alert for people, especially young children, and wildlife.
- Park in designated areas.
- Only travel on designated roadways.
- Drivers must be licensed and of legal age to operate any motorized, electric or battery driven vehicle.
- Check if alcohol is permitted and/or can be consumed.
- Check is firearms are permitted.
- Check if pets are permitted. If yes, follow all appropriate rules.
- No soliciting or promoting of products or services.
- Follow check-in and check-out times.
CAMP SITES & PARKING
- Park in your designated camp site. Unoccupied ones may actually be reserved.
- Park on and in designated parking spaces. By keeping away from and off of fragile vegetation, it is allowed to thrive and prosper.
- While an unoccupied camp site may have appeal, please utilize only the amenities on your site. Your site is for your designated use.
- Do not deface or destroy any object. These are examples and not meant to encourage hammering nails in trees, adding graffiti or carving initials into objects.
- Properly dispose of all trash and gray water as designated.
- Follow maximum capacity limits per site.
NOISE
- Be a good neighbor. Recognize that noise does travel depending on the direction of the wind and if near water. Cooler air is thinner and sound travels further and faster. Humid air is thicker and sound travels slower.
- Follow quiet hours rules. In as much as you may enjoying playing your guitar and singing around the campfire into the wee hours, many campers are early risers. Don’t mess with them unless you’d like to rise and shine with them!
RESTROOMS & SHOWERS
- If using public showers, remembers other may be waiting in line. By quickly getting wet, soaping off and rinsing, others may be able to enjoy the hot water, too. Standing for extended periods of time under hot shower water is frowned upon. Some facilities use water timers to get the point across.
- In a communal environment, protect your feet from potential infections by wearing shower shoes or flip flops.
- If using public restrooms, use appropriate receptacles to deposit trash and tidy up after yourself.
- Children should’t be left to use the public restrooms and showers without an adult present.
- Leave the facilities as you would like to find them.
CAMPFIRE & GRILLS
- Keep your campfire contained within designated pits or grills. Be extra careful during drought conditions.
- Purchase wood from approved vendors so as to not bring in disease and insects from home or non-approve vendors.
WILDLIFE
- Do not feed the wildlife or risk their eventually being put down because of their reliance on non-natural food sources.
- Be cautious and respect “wild”life. Keep a safe distance to assure they do not lose their fear of humans.