Fireside Chat

Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere on National Forest, National Grasslands or Bureau of Land Management land -unless otherwise noted- outside of a designated campground.

Dispersed camping means there is no infrastructure you would normally find in a campground. There are no toilets, no picnic tables, no trash cans, no treated water, and no fire grates. So it is imperative to follow leave no trace principles. Do not leave Trash, pack out all of your food waste, pack out your toilet paper (and in some desert environments -pack out your poop.)

We are launching CAMP Blue Ridge, in the Appalachian Mountains and CAMP OC, in California! 

I am very excited to announce that we are launching the first two official non Chicago based branches of CAMP - The Motocamping Club: 

• CAMP Blue Ridge will be based in Asheville, NC, and will be run by Sarah and Alex, two ex Chicagoans CAMP members who recently moved to North Carolina; join us for our launch meeting on March 6 at the Burial Beer Co.! (Info and signup here) 

When I transitioned into the world of motorcycle camping, this habit did not serve me well.  Space is far more limited when you’re carrying everything on your bike, and you just don’t have room for a bunch of stuff you might not even use.  I still carry a few essential “just in case” items like extra toilet paper and batteries, but for the most part if I’m not at least 90% sure I’ll need something on a particular trip, I leave it at home.

Everyone’s idea of motorcycle camping is a little different. Some may need to find campgrounds with paved routes, some may need showers, running water, or electrical hookups. Others may need, well, less than that. 

Some State Park Campgrounds and many Private Campgrounds like RV Parks and KOAs will offer many more amenities than campgrounds that can be found on public lands like Forest Service and BLM which tend to be more on the primitive side with just a fire pit, picnic table and a pit toilet available for amenities.