Wild camping (UK) or dispersed camping (US) involves camping outside of designated campgrounds, typically on public lands. The hashtag documents free camping on BLM land, national forests, and remote locations while following Leave No Trace principles.
US Public Lands
- BLM (Bureau of Land Management): 245 million acres, mostly free camping
- National Forests: 193 million acres, dispersed camping allowed
- National Parks: Restricted, backcountry permits required
- State forests: Varies by state, often allows dispersed camping
Popular Zones
- Moab, Utah: BLM land surrounding town (free sites near Arches/Canyonlands)
- Arizona desert: Quartzsite, Sedona, Flagstaff BLM areas
- Colorado Rockies: National forest roads and alpine camping
- California Sierra: National forest dispersed sites near trailheads
- Pacific Northwest: Olympic and Mount Hood national forests
Rules & Ethics
14-day camping limit on BLM/forest land, 300+ feet from water sources, pack out all trash, bury human waste 6-8 inches deep, and no campfires during fire restrictions.
Van Life Overlap
Van lifers and RVers rely on dispersed camping for free accommodation. Apps like FreeRoam, Campendium, and iOverlander crowdsource wild camping locations.
Concerns
Over-tourism at popular spots (rainbow toilet paper, fire rings, trash), influencer impact (formerly secret spots blown up on social media), and COVID-19 surge in outdoor recreation straining resources.
Sources: BLM Camping, FreeRoam App