Last week we looked at how friendly the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) is to boondockers. For those of you that may not have heard of the BLM (www.blm.com), the BLM (a department of the federal government’s Department of the Interior) manages nearly 300 million acres of public land in the Western United States. That’s an area over three hundred times the size of the state of Rhode Island! To further illustrate the magnitude of the land managed by the BLM, look at a land usage map of Utah. Nearly half will be shaded as BLM managed land. In fact, the department manages nearly 23 million acres in the state, which accounts for 42% of the entire land mass of Utah! Unless posted otherwise, you can hike and camp about anywhere you please on BLM lands, just keep vehicles on established roads to get to trailheads and campsites. Campfires are permitted too unless fire danger is high. The next time you cross the boundary onto BLM lands, just picture a big sign that says, “Welcome RVers! Feel free to camp wherever you please”. You might say the BLM runs the largest free campground in the world, but when I sign my federal tax return every year I think differently. It’s your land, get out there and enjoy the adventure!
Next week we will look at an area in western Utah where you can boondock, ride off road vehicles and explore to your hearts content.
Prime BLM Campsite in Southern Utah.
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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