17 replies to this topic

[SportE]

Thanks for all the replies.  

 

My husband phoned a forest ranger yesterday who said no one had ever asked him about camping in a sno park before.  The ranger suggested that it is probably OK if it isn't expressly forbidden.  We're going to call another ranger district for a second opinion today.  Some of my hesitation to camp without permission is not wanting to bother our kid if we get kicked out and have to move.  Most of my hesitation is I would be unbearable grumpy if we got kicked out and had to move.

 

We've enjoyed our few nights at the Lake Alpine and Hope Valley sno parks in CA last year.  

[MarkBC]

...The ranger suggested that it is probably OK if it isn't expressly forbidden.  

 

...Some of my hesitation to camp without permission is not wanting to bother our kid if we get kicked out and have to move.  Most of my hesitation is I would be unbearable grumpy if we got kicked out and had to move.

 

If there are no "No overnight camping" or similar signs posted I would be completely comfortable camping there.

 

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Related:

Many years ago, on a visit to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (the main Visitor Center area), a friend and I ignored the "No camping" signs and parked and slept in the parking lot in the back of her canopy-covered pickup.  In the middle of the night, KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!, we were rousted by a NPS Ranger and told to leave. Not sure how he knew there were folks inside the quiet, dark, canopy -- must have X-ray eyes.

[hoyden]

I camped at a Sno-Park during my October travels. There was a big parking lot, then a dirt road. I went down the dirt road and there were five or six boondocking spots. A van was in one spot, then a Sportsmobile came in that afternoon. What a great service from Oregon!

Edited by hoyden, 24 December 2016 - 12:56 AM.

[Advmoto18]

This is all new to me..

 

So I sent an email to ODOT several days ago inquiring about camping in the Sno Park parking lot.  I have not received a reply.  ODOT Admin must be on Christmas holiday skd.  

 

I do not have any immediate or long range plans to use a Sno Park, but, good info for the knowledge book.

[sportsman]

We stayed in the Wanoga SnoPark.  Plenty of others (RVs with generators creating excellent white noise) in the lot.

 

We also explored our lower temperature limits in the camper, turned the heater off during the night and the interior temperature dropped below -10C.  We had to put our socks on in our sleeping bags during the night, including our 5 year old (t was her birthday,so barely 5 years old).

 

 

 

[FreezingMan]

It's a little late but you can camp in Wanoga and Edison Sno Parks near Mt B. Sno park pass is required. The bathrooms and showers are open 24/7 for paid campers at Mt B. At least that what it used to be.


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[super doody]

Thanks for all the replies.  

 

My husband phoned a forest ranger yesterday who said no one had ever asked him about camping in a sno park before.  The ranger suggested that it is probably OK if it isn't expressly forbidden.  We're going to call another ranger district for a second opinion today.  Some of my hesitation to camp without permission is not wanting to bother our kid if we get kicked out and have to move.  Most of my hesitation is I would be unbearable grumpy if we got kicked out and had to move.

 

We've enjoyed our few nights at the Lake Alpine and Hope Valley sno parks in CA last year.  

Just got back from a day of snow play at Iron Mountain Sno Park on HWY 88. We saw two truck camper families camped there. I would recommend Iron Mountain as an ideal camping location as filled with snow mobiles. 

[clikrf8]

We stayed overnight in several during off season (fall and spring) in Oregon. Sometimes they are open and sometimes not. Free with vault toilets. Pack it in, pack it out. One on 395 southbound was open; one on 20/126 wasn't but in a more popular area. Another idea for off season camping.