BLM is known as the “Bureau of Land Management” and is essentially a government agency that oversees public land. There are certain locations where the BLM manages developed campgrounds, where you can pay a fee for a campsite/picnic table/restroom facilities/etc, which is awesome! But let’s be honest, we’re here to learn about the free stuff aka “dispersed camping”!
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What is dispersed camping?
To put it simply, dispersed camping is camping without amenities. No toilet, no trash receptacle, no picnic table… you get the point. It is the land beneath you and that’s it! The BLM allows you to set up camp as long as you are not anywhere near developed recreational facilities. Sounds great, doesn’t it? It is a pretty simple concept, but of course there are some rules…
Rules of BLM Land
Leave No Trace!
If you are unfamiliar with this concept then please read carefully. There are seven principles that you should follow to “leave no trace”
- Plan ahead and prepare: research the area you plan to lay camp, know the weather predictions and be prepared in case of an emergency
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces: Look for land with minimal vegetation, and keep your camp as small as possible
- Dispose of waste properly: simple- pack it in pack it out. Pack out ALL trash as well as human (and dog) waste
- Leave what you find: use the long lasting rule “look, but don’t touch” as guidance. Leave everything as you found it.
- Minimize campfire impacts: fire safety.. the basics
- Respect wildlife: do NOT feed/approach animals. It is OK to observe from a distance, but use appropriate boundaries. Store your food in proper containers using the guidelines for the area you are staying.
- Be considerate of other visitors: respect others and don’t be the reason for their bad experience
Basically, leave the area as you found it. This is so important to the conservation of the land so please be mindful of your footprint!
Respect Property Signs
This one is obvious, but worth a mention, do not camp anywhere that is fenced off or has a “do not enter” or “private property” sign. Some BLM land is surrounded by private property and other than these signs, it would be very hard to distinguish boundaries, so let’s respect those areas. Also, the BLM will lease certain land to companies such as mining companies, but these areas will be well marked as well.
Limited Stay
Do not exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period in the same location
Stay Away from Water
Camp at least 100 ft away from any water source
Minimize Disturbance
Camp where others have camped before. Let’s try to minimize our disturbance in the land and use a cleared spot that someone else has already used!
Follow Local Rules
Be aware of any location specific restrictions, such as a fire ban. This is important for the safety of yourself and others.
Where to find BLM Land
OKAY so now that we know the rules, let’s talk about where this “said land” is! For the most accurate information, you should check out
https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/camping
I personally find it very difficult to navigate and pinpoint exact areas that you can camp using their website. The best resource I have found is freecampsites.net which is a community run website where anyone can share and review areas to camp. And as always, you can check out our blog posts under each national park on “where to stay”.
Ready to try it out?! Some of our favorite BLM Land is near Joshua Tree National Park!
Happy camping!
