How to Apply for Camping Permits

Series Summary

Roughing it in the great outdoors is one of the those activities that awakens something deep inside of us, reminding us of the relationship between man and earth, reminding us to look at the greatness, the intricacy of the world around us. Many people in the post-industrial world are surrounded by the infrastructure of the city and must drive 30 miles out of town to find someplace semi-deserted and free from the concrete of man's influence. Yet, even then some people even prefer to bring the city with them, only semi-roughing it with electricity, television and air conditioning. A camper should always be prepared and have everything he or she needs to survive in the wilderness, but also not be too weighed down that they cannot hike long distances. So packing for your camping trip is almost as important as the camping itself. Packing is an art. Fitting many things into a small space and knowing what is essential to bring and what should be left behind is sometimes a difficult process. Our expert will show you exactly what you need and what you don't. Learn about tents, clothes, boots, water purification and containers, GPS and communication equipment, food and cooking equipment, first aid and survival gear. Get advice on permits, choosing a location, the buddy system and checking the weather. Use these tips on your next camping trip!

Video Transcript

"Hi, this is John Stewart, and this is how to go about dealing with permits and regulations, when dealing with camping. Once you decide to go camping, several places, they have different rules and regulations. If you go to a state park, a national park, they're going to have very strict regulations that you got to abide by. Some places you have to go to, you have to get a permit to actually camp there, Grand Canyon, several places like this. You have to have that permit that says, Hey, I can go in here and camp. If you don't have it, you're out of luck. State parks and stuff like that, most of them require you to register with the ranger's office, so that they know you're in there. They know you're in the state park. They know you're using the campground. They know you're out on the trail. Just so they can keep track of you, in case of an emergency. Most of the time they're going to ask, "Hey, what time are you starting on the trail?" and then "When are you supposed to be off?" so that they know that you can sign out, and if you're not, they can begin to come after you. Other things you can worry about, is rules. Some of these might pertain to, you can't have fires, in case there is a fire ban, quiet hours, where you can build fires. What you can use. What you can bring. All these things are effect, you see with state parks, national parks, and these are all permits and regulations, that you have to deal with, when choosing a place to camp."