Perfect Secret Campsites

“I have a dream. Someday, I'm going to finish hiking for the day, punch in the GPS coordinates for the perfect place to camp, and walk right up to it. This place won't be right next to the lake where there are throngs of others fighting for a few overused spots. It won't be 20 feet from the trail where the earlybirds wake me with their swishing nylon duds next morning. And it won't be in the current guidebooks where somebody else will have already beaten me to this spot.

It will be less than 400 yards off the trail, but not visible or obvious from the trail.

It will preferably be on a shelf on the slope of a mountain or cliff with a fabulous view.

And it will have some furniture, flat rocks to sit and cook and look at the view.

Finally, it will have at least a clean trickle of water nearby.

How then, am I going to find this site? You guys are going to send me the GPS coordinates of them or post them and let a few others in on the secret sites. My favorite places are Trinity Alps, Yosemite, Glacier National Park, and the Wallowas, in case you want to post some special site coordinates ( with a description of the special attractions).

Someday all guide books will have GPS coordinates for special places like these, and maybe websites will exist to post this kind of info. There is already a GPS geocaching site with coordinates to treasure chests containing useless trinkets. But how much more useful would the coordinates be for the perfect secret campsite.

Here's to hoping.”

“It wouldn't be a secret for long though!
Sorry it's just like skiing, you don't even tell your friends where the secret stashes of powder are hidden.”

“Tough luck. No will do. A secret's a secret.

BTW, geocache.com is going under. The PBS evening news just mentioned it as a failed internet enterprise in a story on such flameouts.”

“Ain't Tellin'... don't want my favorite spots
published. Backpacker Magazine already did an article on some of my favorite haunts last year. They may not know the best camp sites...but it sure put a lot more folks in the area.”

“I know a few like that. But I ain't sayin'

My favorite: a lake filled with trout about a half mile of level x-country from a heavily used trail. Not a sign anybody has ever camped there before. No old campfire rings, trampled ground, hacked trees, etc.

As soon as the snowpack melts, I'm heading there.”

“Gordon, I think we have the same secret spot LOL, You just described my little piece of paradise.

My spot is 2.5 miles x-country off the trail. It has two ponds. One with fish and one without. Last year I did spot an old fire ring with a small tree growing in the middle.”

“Remember when Don Juan made Carlos stay out in the desert until he found his "special place" on the earth?
I might tell a select few about some treasured sites, but I doubt I'll post them here.”

“"special places like these" would no longer be special or secret under your scenario! I ain't telling where my secret sites are.....get off the couch, put on your blue suede shoes..err hiking boots..and find your own!”

“I will tell you where is a REEEL GOOD place to make a tent...

Get in yer truk and ride to Wyodaho.
Get out.
Walk eleventy hunnerd times and turn "gee".
Walk by the roks and turn "haw".
Look byhind you and ther is a tree.
Go by the tree and make a tent.

I will be ther in Julie, but you BETTER NOT!”

“I am glad that overcrowding has not become a problem in my neighborhood. You bastards stay away!”

“Can I post the coordinates to bacpac's house? He needs some company.

Actually, I'd have to teach you to follow a map and compass, as I don't have a GPS.”

“I'm leaving in just a few moments to hike one of my favorite areas. It is an incredible Wilderness Area with an 18 mile trail through it. Usually tons o' solitude.

Last month Backpacker magazine divulged this spot to all the world. I'm anxious to see if the affects are already noticeable.

I'll report back on Tuesday. See yall then.”

“Lusk Creek,eh, m-nutz?

I was POed with their mention of Sage Creek (in the Badlands) in a feature page!!!! (right across from Lusk Creek, also on a feature page)

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!”

“That is the beauty of Backpacking! Most of my campsites are close to perfect, and all are secret at least for the time I'm there. We don't stay in campgrounds, we find a little spot off trail. We bring everything we need. All the joy and wonder of nature is at our disposal, and we don't need someone else to find it for us.”

“Lizs - Yep, and (as I figured) the trail was packed. I'll start a new thread for the report.”

“Hey bacpac, that's because nobody wants to go to Arkansas, and we are happy that you people stay in your own NECK of the woods, excuse the pun.”

“So, I assume that since none of you ever give out or divulge the super camp spots, then none of you ever read guide books or accept advice from anyone else on where to camp. No take, no give? Is there any difference between my original request and a guidebook with a little more specificity?”

“So, I assume that since none of you ever give out or divulge the super camp spots, then none of you ever read guide books or accept advice from anyone else on where to camp. No take, no give? Is there any difference between my original request and a guidebook with a little more specificity?”

“What a silly assumption. Of course YOU can tell ME YOUR favorite spots. And if I knew you really well, and you came here to hike with me, I might take you to my favorite spots. But I certainly wouldn't post my pristine and perfect sites on the web for everyone and their dog (no offense Sarabelle) to see.

For the same reasons that my family doesn't let the public camp and hike on our land. Because 85% of people don't practice LNT techniques. They leave wrappers, toilet paper, beer cans, and cigarette butts. they make new fire rings and partially burn bottles and batteries. No matter how many times you tell them not to.”

“Part of what makes a site "perfect" for me is the finding. I have a couple such sites. Went on a hunch, left the trail behind and found a Shangra-La or two. The reward for my efforts.

To divulge these spots would be to assume that others share my taste in what's "perfect."

The perfect secret campsite is not found by others, but by yourself. Get out and find it.

Oh, and (IMHO) if you can't do it without a GPS, then you've missed the point.”