USFS Campsites on Cherry Mountain Road

[ImYourHuckleberry]

Hiked Cherry/Martha (not sure which is correct) and Owlshead about a month back, and meant to ask about the USFS campsites on Cherry Mountain Road. They look to have been there for some time, yet they are not published on my 2022 AMC digital maps.

Anybody know why these are not on the AMC maps? And are there also other camping spots like this that seem to be kept "low key"? (Sadly I read a bit about these sites on Cherry Mountain Road, and people report shit - as in actual feces - left all over...)

 

[skiguy]

This is managed by the Forest Service and is considered "Dispersed Camping". Also I believe it is first come first serve and are meant to be an alternative to improved camping where sites can be reserved, fire pits are available along with outhouses. Probably not on AMC Maps as they don't want you camping for free and would rather have you pay and arm and a leg to stay at their sites. Ok that was a joke before anyone gets their panties up their crack.

 

[CaptCaper]

Hiked Cherry/Martha (not sure which is correct) and Owlshead about a month back, and meant to ask about the USFS campsites on Cherry Mountain Road. They look to have been there for some time, yet they are not published on my 2022 AMC digital maps.

Anybody know why these are not on the AMC maps? And are there also other camping spots like this that seem to be kept "low key"? (Sadly I read a bit about these sites on Cherry Mountain Road, and people report shit - as in actual feces - left all over...)

There is more dispersed camping along Gale River Road area. These as sites along Cherry Mt rd are used alot. And many people are basically pigs. One has to check out how bad before setting up camp.

 

[sierra]

I never cared for them because they are not cared for like a real campground. Not to mention any yahoo can show up and you are on your own. A few years back, tents and gear were stolen from the Gale river road sites while people were off hiking.

 

[JoshandBaron]

I've stayed at a few sites on Cherry Mtn Rd this time of year and had a fine enough experience. Certainly more privacy than a developed campground. There are dispersed sites all over the whites that FS doesn't put much effort into publicizing. They are often tied up by folks looking to stay every bit of the 14 days and look like it. There are some hidden gems out there, though.

 

[Ken MacGray]

WMG co-editor here ... None of the dispersed camping areas on Tripoli Rd., Cherry Mtn. Rd., Gale River Rd., etc., are on the AMC maps. I can't speak to the previous reasoning why.

But as others have said, you kinda have to try your luck at these sites. Because they are free and first-come, first served, many times they are party spots and trash/vandalism is a problem. One time I had stuff stolen from a site on Gale River Rd.

(The Cherry Mtn. thing ... The entire mass of the mountain is called Cherry Mtn. The two named summits of the mountain are called Mt. Martha and Owl's Head.)

 

[Ear Drum]

I thought the reasoning behind these type of dispersed USFS sites not being on maps or in guides was that they could potentially be moved at any time. To keep the camping, well, dispersed. I feel like I read that somewhere.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

I thought the reasoning behind these type of dispersed USFS sites not being on maps or in guides was that they could potentially be moved at any time. To keep the camping, well, dispersed. I feel like I read that somewhere.

If you look up the list of dispersed camping areas on the USFS website, shelters and tent sites (like 13 falls - just an example) are listed. But of the camping sites along roads, I can only find Tripoli Road listed. I don't see Gale River Road, Cherry Mountain Road, or any others (people have hinted there are more than these 3) listed.

 

[JoshandBaron]

If you look up the list of dispersed camping areas on the USFS website, shelters and tent sites (like 13 falls - just an example) are listed. But of the camping sites along roads, I can only find Tripoli Road listed. I don't see Gale River Road, Cherry Mountain Road, or any others (people have hinted there are more than these 3) listed.

These roadside sites are more comparable to the sites in the Great Gulf and Dry River and other places that are marked with a tent sign. They don't make it to the maps, either, under the same reasoning of potential relocation or closure.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

These roadside sites are more comparable to the sites in the Great Gulf and Dry River and other places that are marked with a tent sign. They don't make it to the maps, either, under the same reasoning of potential relocation or closure.

I guess that makes sense as far as maps, but I've moved on to talking about an actual list of "dispersed sites" on the USFS website. It would be nice if you could find active allowed sites there, at least. I mean if you can't check if the Dry River sites are still allowed before you go, what are you going to do when you get there and they are closed? 99 percent of people (including me) are going to stay there anyway, I would assume.

 

[TEO]

This is managed by the Forest Service and is considered "Dispersed Camping". Also I believe it is first come first serve and are meant to be an alternative to improved camping where sites can be reserved, fire pits are available along with outhouses. Probably not on AMC Maps as they don't want you camping for free and would rather have you pay and arm and a leg to stay at their sites. Ok that was a joke before anyone gets their panties up their crack.

I've seen simple fire pits, but I don't believe that I've ever seen outhouses at the dispersed campsites in the White Mountain National Forest. That said, it's been some time since I've stayed at one. I have have seen picnic tables and outhouses at some dispersed campsites in Maine (non-National Forest).

 

[One Half]

If you look up the list of dispersed camping areas on the USFS website, shelters and tent sites (like 13 falls - just an example) are listed. But of the camping sites along roads, I can only find Tripoli Road listed. I don't see Gale River Road, Cherry Mountain Road, or any others (people have hinted there are more than these 3) listed.

IME you have to look at the USFS map for the area - out west it's a MVUM (motor vehicle use map) but it's not just for vehicular traffic as many of the "roads" are definitely not suitable for any vehicle unless maybe a real off road vehicle with high clearance. But on these maps you will also see where dispersed camping is allowed - some accessible by vehicle and some not.

 

[One Half]

I guess that makes sense as far as maps, but I've moved on to talking about an actual list of "dispersed sites" on the USFS website. It would be nice if you could find active allowed sites there, at least. I mean if you can't check if the Dry River sites are still allowed before you go, what are you going to do when you get there and they are closed? 99 percent of people (including me) are going to stay there anyway, I would assume.

call the appropraite ranger district office ahead of time and ask before you go

 

[JoshandBaron]

IME you have to look at the USFS map for the area - out west it's a MVUM (motor vehicle use map) but it's not just for vehicular traffic as many of the "roads" are definitely not suitable for any vehicle unless maybe a real off road vehicle with high clearance. But on these maps you will also see where dispersed camping is allowed - some accessible by vehicle and some not.

The WMNF MVUMs don't show anything but the way I found out about a lot of these sites was redlining those maps.

 

[skiguy]

I've seen simple fire pits, but I don't believe that I've ever seen outhouses at the dispersed campsites in the White Mountain National Forest. That said, it's been some time since I've stayed at one. I have seen picnic tables and outhouses at some dispersed campsites in Maine (non-National Forest).

I have never seen an outhouse at a dispersed site either. That's why these sites as I already mentioned provide an "alternative" experience.

 

[skiguy]

I guess that makes sense as far as maps, but I've moved on to talking about an actual list of "dispersed sites" on the USFS website. It would be nice if you could find active allowed sites there, at least. I mean if you can't check if the Dry River sites are still allowed before you go, what are you going to do when you get there and they are closed? 99 percent of people (including me) are going to stay there anyway, I would assume.

Dispersed sites and camping in The Dry River are completely different sources of recreation. Dry River is a Wilderness area which provides a primitive "Back Country" experience. Reservation systems were tried in the Great Gulf years ago and failed miserably. Not to say that some sort of system might work today but the problem which has been discussed here at length before and one of the common assertions has been how to administer such a system. Dispersed sites on the other hand are a drive-up experience or "Boon docking" experience again first come first serve. No Maps and no reservations provide yet another recreational experience. A lot of these sites accommodate larger groups and multiple Vehicules. Personally, I think it is a plus for the forest to have these multiple experiences and the fact that some of it is not printed on some map is actually kind of cool as IMO it adds to the experience and sense of adventure. On that note and as an alternative experience is USFS Campgrounds which can be paid for and reserved ahead of time. Also there are the AMC Huts that provide yet another experience. All of these different options are actually a way of spreading things out and IMO part of a good National Forest Management Plan. Land of many uses.

 

[JoshandBaron]

Dispersed sites and camping in The Dry River are completely different sources of recreation. Dry River is a Wilderness area which provides a primitive "Back Country" experience. Reservation systems were tried in the Great Gulf years ago and failed miserably. Not to say that some sort of system might work today but the problem which has been discussed here at length before and one of the common assertions has been how to administer such a system. Dispersed sites on the other hand are a drive-up experience or "Boon docking" experience again first come first serve. No Maps and no reservations provide yet another recreational experience. A lot of these sites accommodate larger groups and multiple Vehicules. Personally, I think it is a plus for the forest to have these multiple experiences and the fact that some of it is not printed on some map is actually kind of cool as IMO it adds to the experience and sense of adventure. On that note and as an alternative experience is USFS Campgrounds which can be paid for and reserved ahead of time. Also there are the AMC Huts that provide yet another experience. All of these different options are actually a way of spreading things out and IMO part of a good National Forest Management Plan. Land of many uses.

I don't think anyone was comparing the experience of camping in the Dry River to the experience of camping at the end of Hut Rd. Just that they both have sites established by the FS that don't appear on maps.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

I don't think anyone was comparing the experience of camping in the Dry River to the experience of camping at the end of Hut Rd. Just that they both have sites established by the FS that don't appear on maps.

Yes, I am mostly interested in finding all of the different (primarily backcountry) spots and thought it was interesting that those and the ones along the roads are not only not on maps, but in some/most cases not even listed anywhere. Next summer, I am going to do all 48 4k footers within a 30 day calendar period all on overnight backpack trips, and it would be helpful in my planning. (And yes I know they have all been done in like 5 days or something crazy like that. I'm doing this just for myself.)

 

[skiguy]

I don't think anyone was comparing the experience of camping in the Dry River to the experience of camping at the end of Hut Rd. Just that they both have sites established by the FS that don't appear on maps.

OK. Let's go split some hairs. I guess I'm alright with some things not being readably available on maps and having to do personal connecting of the dots. By the way VFTT had gatherings on Cherry Mountain Road years ago and everyone figured out where to show up. You really should apply for Moderating this board. I think you would be good at it.

 

[skiguy]

Yes, I am mostly interested in finding all of the different (primarily backcountry) spots and thought it was interesting that those and the ones along the roads are not only not on maps, but in some/most cases not even listed anywhere. Next summer, I am going to do all 48 4k footers within a 30 day calendar period all on overnight backpack trips, and it would be helpful in my planning. (And yes I know they have all been done in like 5 days or something crazy like that. I'm doing this just for myself.)

Doing recon and research is part of the fun and not something IMO that should be handed to you on a plate from GOOGLE.