NEW PLAN for National Park Campgrounds 

I'm working towards that. Figure out what I'm doing first and them move to more primitive. Seems like it gives you more options and I want it QUIET when the cat and I go for a hike.

I love that to. I also want it quiet. I don't want someone else camped right on top of me. I like my space.

I prefer the more rustic ones too! Preferably where people actually camp in a tent! To me 'real camping' is not in a big rig with TV's, running water, and generators. At 74, I long for the way it was in the tiny campgrounds when I was a child and my grandfather was a Forest Ranger:)

I feel the same. My annual trip to the Boundary Waters spoiled me with real primitive camping.

Those are the best campgrounds, it’s sad how we as humans some not all are relying and can’t live without there smartphone

Amen!

WHAT! CAN'T HEAR YOU.. GENERATOR RUNNING.

Why do I always have to have a generator or a noisy kid in the next campsite?

I can get annoyed by kids also, but I do love to see kids on bikes rather than them laying around glued to their phones.

Kids are fine, that dink with the noisy generator lights my fuse.

I Prariedog when I hear it! 💩

Didn't they want to re-imagine Policing too? How'd that work out? I just keep re-imagining Trump in the Oval Office.

Amen!!!

Allow me to play devils advocate. These parks operate at huge losses. Without taxpayer support they can not exist. But tax dollars aren't limitless and parks have closed in the past for lack of those tax dollars. So would you be in favor of fewer parks so long as none of them are privatized? Is privatization of some of those parks the greater evil??

Some of the national parks already charge hefty fees for entrance. Private business already runs hotels, motels, food service and shops. The campgrounds are an inexpensive alternative for those who need that option with low cost upkeep since they only provide the site, bathrooms with only have toilets and sinks only, and a place to dump garbage. Campground hosts can be onsite and be people who are willing to caretake the campground for the privilege of having a free campsite. Billions of dollars are provided to local economies due to the presence of national parks. The cost of administrative staff, park rangers and other staff along with the need for upkeep of the roads are necessary. I don’t mind my taxes assisting with that.

@@backcountry164 the government likes you to think that tax dollars are scarce and hope you never find out the truth. Tax dollars are not as scarce as the politicians make them out to be for one. For two we should go back to taxing the rich like they used back in the 50's and 60's and even into the 70's. The 80's is when you start to see a shift in the tax cuts for the rich and the decline in wages which also leads to less taxes. And then there's bloated budgets for things we don't need but that make politicians rich so those industries and private sectors get money over things such as parks that the public would benefit from.

Exactly, it's supposed to be a trek into the outdoors not an amusement park.

Right. Who wants to see a trailer park (RV camp) in the middle of the beautiful wilderness?

The Colter Bay Village area of GTLC.com was way too cramped & mismanaged in my view: summer season 2020. The DoI & NPS need to relook how they arrange campers, sites at certain high traffic points; federal holiday weekends, summer. The national parks are important & the focus should be on the land 🏞, 🌲, wildlife not on 🏕 or boats.

Those big rigs should go park on asphalt at 1000 trails parks lined up next to each other 2 ft apart and talk about how quite their generators are all night.

@@gailwind4168 Some big rigs avoid those places because maybe they want some quiet, some nature and NOT to be 2ft from their neighbor. I understand your problem with big rigs acting like they are in resort campgrounds at NPs. People acting like they/their preferred method of camping own the place are the problem.

And sewer hookups and large enough spaces for modern rigs.

Why have campgrounds? It destroys the experience.

@@talisikid1618 : Not everyone wants to undergo the full-on, backpacking-in-the-wilderness experience.

I think if there was electric, central location for water and dump station. No need for campsites to have full hookups at every campground.

So now everyone needs electricity to enjoy nature? Really, get PG&E in there too burn the forest.

Exactly! They are running into trouble when they have to cater to the big RV's. They require a much bigger infrastructure that needs constant maintenance. Bigger sewers, more power, wider roads, paved roads, longer campsites, etc. Just stop! They need to go to an rv resort.

If you want less then skip the campground altogether.

@@jonmccauley6490 The only "catering" need doing is have decent sized sites.

WHAT? CAN'T HEAR YOU.. GENERATORS RUNNING

It's worth noting that privatization doesn't mean it would turn into a KOA. It would still be the property of the federal government and they would still decide how it was used.

But how else will they turn a profit?

@@chuckaustin3836 Generators should be banned at campgrounds.

@@hillcountrymax The obvious counter to your point is this. Why should every taxpayer chip in to support something that only a tiny fraction of them will actually use??

@catmodelt Hygiene

Amen

Love this

Check out the 'free camping' tab at Campendium or The Dyrt

it isn’t OVER-REGULATED......there are a hell of a lot more people camping now. REGULATIONS are there to preserve the health of the land so that we can ALL continue to enjoy it.....and the fees pay for maintenance.....Really getting sick of you anti-government peeps

@@teslah2997 No kidding right. They need to wake up with out fees there would be no roads, no potties, no nothing. They think Government can't solve anything yet they do all the time and the rick people sure enjoy all the benefits they get from us. But oh boy want to help average folks forget it. That's when it comes full circle that Government needs to be smaller and it don't work.

I agree - campgrounds are way over regulated. There are more rules at these campgrounds than at the state pen. Boondocking is the way to go for me.

Yes ! 100% sure they are NOT Canada Geese

@@NatureAndOther exactly, he must have gotten an F on that report, didn’t even know what they are called.

Yeah they were Sandhill Cranes. Not geese.

Those were not geese, they were Sandhill cranes. The fact that you can't tell a goose from a crane, speaks volumes about how divorced from nature you are in your RV. ... Personally, I would ban RVs from National Park campgrounds. You do not get the outdoor experience watching TV on a satellite dish in an RV. Who wants to listen to a bunch of generators running in a campground? In my opinion, campsites should be for tents only, with no running water or electricity at the sites - just an auto, van, or pick-up sized parking space, a picnic table, fire pit with grill.. Have a few water spigots located around the campground and bear proof dumpsters for camping trash. A large heated bath house with toilets, sinks and showers. That's it. A fleet of giant RVs in a campground ruins the experience for most other people. I do not consider an RV to be a camper. It's a mobile home. ... Last time I was in Yosemite N.P., there was a freaking golf course within the park! Ridiculous.

Exactly, they sounded like Sandhill Cranes. Also, there are no Canadian Geese. They are Canada Geese. Thanks!

GTLC.com runs the "concessions" at Grand Teton.

The big problems in the modern era, 2020s are the limited spaces for RVs, trailers, SUVs, campers. The camp area trails, sidewalks, roads are NOT designed for huge crowds, massive crush. Grand Teton Natl Park, NPS.gov had record levels of attendance, camp-RVs. 📊. The park rangers, NPS are under staff & in my view: poorly trained/supervised. Vail Resorts, GTLC.com has the current contract for the camp grounds, parks in WY but that is up for bid soon. Overall, the US Dept of Interior & NPS, park management need to better contain the safety, wildlife-boating, resources. Some 🏕 have unsafe roads. The cabins & lodges have carbon monoxide problems 🚒🚨🚧 . Long lines tie up the streets, roads in the mornings. NPS & DoI need to address that too.

we do the same for 8 to 15 hrs on trips not worth $ 40/50. to mainly sleep and a overnight or a week to two is great at senior coe prices

I agree. Private campgrounds are ugly and very expensive.

@@jimbobxcityguy5338 and no one wants National Parks ending up the same way.

I'd be very happy with this. I must say at my age I need more then a tent. I can't get off the ground, and a bathroom is needed. Aside from that, I can get by with nature. I love cooking on the fire, going to bed with the chickens, and getting up with the chickens (no need for lights). I go for the piece and quite, and the wilderness. A class B or small C is fine thing fancy. Please keep it simple. Hope to be able to get out there in the Spring.

We just bought a 15' camper, we tented for 30 years, want to keep camping, but it's getting tougher to crawl in and out of the tent, I'm sure we'll miss it though. And no generators for us, too noisy.

I did security in WY, GTLC.com . Summer 2020. To improve the roads & trails is good. I'd suggest having all NPS structures, cabins checked for carbon monoxide. The camps had 🚒 fire safety & first responder problems too. Huge class A motor homes or RVs with huge trailers or 🚤 can not just park anywhere or go anywhere. The NPS & rangers seemed inept, unprepared too for summer camper seasons. Grand Teton in 2020 had record high levels of RVs, tourists, campers. 🏕🛶💲

@@DavidLLambertmobile Lots of new campers this year who don't know camping etiquette!

This is why campgrounds should have electric hookups - it eliminates the need for running a generator.

😀❤❤❤❤❤❤agreed, great point about some electric so you dont have to hear generators!!!!

1000% agree

Noooo. Get rid of electricity and forbid generators. If you can't handle the great outdoors without all sorts of 102v junk, then stay at home in the city where you belong!

What is your disability?? My friend and I had issues so we got a truck next is a 5th wheel. What do you need??

That's the sad thing about our state campgrounds in California. They have increased the fees in most cases to $35 a night. This is absolutely ludicrous!

Me to please don’t do it

Never happen.

Can’t be worse than the poor bathroom and showers we have now. State and National parks restrooms are disgusting.

Please make a comment on their document then.

Private parks are way better than government parks dollar for dollar.

Already being privitized. Yellowstone and Teton are run by concession companies. I believe there are more than that.

@@travelswiththebeast3337 Yeah, and you get idiocy like the pay per minute showers at Fishing Bridge. Definitely not a good idea to spread that stupidity.

@@travelswiththebeast3337 Yes they are. I believe Flamingo Campground in the Everglades National Park is run by concessionaires. We stayed there last year. It was fine. It was just a little more expensive.

@@susanhayes9275 yep, look at it getting more expensive

I don't think there is an issue privatizing the operation of them. They won't actually be sold. NPS staff are not the best folks to actually run the campground and it can be done more cost effectively by others. Of course, the guidance documents need to be correctly set up.

BINGO!

Agreed about the showers Rebecca. Nothing like it. Also I made it a rule never ever arrive home with a single stitch of dirty laundry! If they didn't have facilities at the campground I would find a laundromat "in town" where I would wash and fold every article before bringing it in the house. One thing that did annoy me was years ago when the state run Savoy Mountain (MA) campground changed to "low flow" toilets. There were signs everywhere about how much water these new toilets would be saving. Then on the day I was leaving, I actually counted seven flushes, SEVEN loud swooshes and gurgles! Yet when it refilled there were still two full-size trout circling the bowl. I say bring back the outhouse. It falls, it lands there among so many others, and there it stays. Thank you. With this I yield back my time.

Gotta admit, these YT viewers will keep you honest! lol! Whatever they are, I Loved their impromptu serenade!

If they had wifi in National Parks you could study online different species, and native species! :P

​@@ScripturesAndScience Seems like a great idea, until you realize others go out to the National Parks to have just one spot in the World they are not getting bombarded with EMF. I would rather wait to use the Wi-Fi when I get home, not out in nature.

@@ttennagvd07 When your WiFi router transmits data, it emits EMFs that the body can absorb. The greater the distance you put between yourself and your router, the less radiation your body encounters. The amount of radiation absorbed from a wireless router is minor compared to the EMFs transmitted from taking a call on a cellphone. This is not speculation it is a scientific proven fact. So you are implying youre leaving your cell phone home for the weekend? :P

@@ScripturesAndScience Yes, Many do not live for their phone. I was not questioning "scientific facts". Just making a simple statement. Please kindly allow my opinion to be different than yours. Thank You & Enjoy Nature!

In Nevada the state parks charge the same per campsite but charge an extra fee if the hookups are used. So if tent campers pull electricity to charge their electric car or run a heater in their tent they get charged just like an RV does. And if an RV decides to dry camp/boondock then they get charged the flat rate without the extra. I think that's a pretty fair compromise.

I work security 👮‍♂️ at GTLC.com summer 2020. 90 days. There are many safety & logistics problems with the camp sites, cabins. Large RVs 🚐 & SUVs with trailers create a lot of problems. To manage the wildlife 🦌🦊🐿🐻🦅🦆🐍🌲 is important too.

@@DavidLLambertmobile exactly! It’s the RVs, SUV, MH that are the problem. If they are allowed, they should be changed extra to cover the extra issues they create.

@@talisikid1618 the RV motorhome camp sites, areas along with 🏕 camper, hikers, etc can be staged or have schedules but NPS & the LE rangers 🚔 do not want that hassle. "Boondockers" or transients are all over the ⛽ station lots, stores 🛒. NPS rangers could not trespass or cite these campers.

@catmodelt Most people prefer to pitch a tent on soft ground vs. the pavement that RVs desire. Plus tents are usually quieter than RVs with generators, ACs etc.

@catmodelt Nothing wrong with RVs, just keep some distance from those in tents for noise purposes. I'm hoping to get a van soon for road trips. Maybe convert a Ford Transit.

@@MK-vc4uc not much is more annoying than a generator in the woods. I guess ATV's would be next.

totally agree, RVs with generators completely destroy the ambience of camping. Generators should be totally banned in NP campgrounds. if you can't handle camping without your microwave, TV, etc, then camping isn't for you.

@@rabidmarmot yep. Stay home.

same here , i love the peace m nothing worse than having all that noise to add to the rude people problem , you know the ones , the ones that walk through your camp with out asking , and dumb ass's showing up at night with their head lights blazing , flash lights pointing every where as they set up making all the noise they can , thats why I go places like BLM land and take every thing basic I need , have a good day camper , PS also the price of many of these camp grounds and have to put up with all this mess , so i think your right about moving tent campers away from the RV's , But i will go a step further the tent camper need to be "much much" further apart so we dont have to here a bunch of drunks busting up wooden pallets at 2 in the morning

As an old guy that’s definitely not the hiker I was in the 1960s when I started, I agree. I absolutely want the handicapped and elderly the have access to nature, but that being said I don’t want to listen to a generator run, loud music and TVs, or barking dogs. Allowances need to be made for everyone to enjoy the outdoors.

@@redwing771 - I agree with you. I motorcycle tent camped in April at Cheaha State Park, AL. Part of the campground was shut down for renovation and the upper camp sites were not good at all for tent camping... very rocky/hard ground with little grass/vegetation. And the sites were all on top of each other. I had a family of four (two pre-teen girls) camp right next to me for two nights making all kind of racket and the bright lamps looked like the full moon in their campsite! I was rather annoyed by them.

@@jamessummerlin9516 agreed ,

@@TJRohyans Oh yes the good days motorcycle camping , that was the days , but i was still looking for out of the way places to camp in peace , 1 thing I use to do was stop in local dinners and get a coffee /lunch and of course people want to spin motorcycle stories , so in that time I would ask if anyone knew of anyone that might let an old biker camp out on privite land turn out to be better than many camp grounds back east that dont offer a lot of BLM land because I love the peace , now that worked sometimes so if you ever fell pressed you might try that , good luck Bro

Have separate areas for tents, and RV’s/vehicles to keep noise minimal.

And how loud they are 😁

sites large enough for a 30ft 5th. overhead clearance to allow access and curves with turn radius that you can enter and exir without damage. That’s all we need. Cannot even enter most np campgrounds due to low limbs narrow roads and bad turns.

The food may suck, but the concession run bathrooms in campgrounds at least are stocked with soap, and have a way to dry your hands that doesn't involve a pants leg. Usually even have hot water.

If Biden is elected we will all living in prison camps!

@@danielbarrows7144 Seriously?

Unfortunately I'm very serious sad to say the Democratic Party is the Nazi party. Look it up Hitler was a socialist and put many people into prison camps, and since I'm an old white man I'm sure they will want to lock me away. 😳😵

@@danielbarrows7144 you need to study some more. Hitler was not a socialist. He was not a capitalist. He was not a communist. He was a fascist. The title of his party has nothing to do with his political platform.

Susan Matz I am a student of history and Nazi stands for national socialist in German, therefore Hitler was a socialist look it up, not making this up.

I understand the frustration. People playing loud music at their campsites really annoys me. BTW, many NP campgrounds have no-generator areas or tent-only areas.

Just ban gennys altogether... Any idling of any kind of motor over a certain limit (to allow for parking heaters in cold weather). Solar has gotten cheap enough that the basics can run just fine, every time I see an RV with gadgets up the wazoo but zero solar I cringe.

I agree even though I'm now and RVer. Not just noisy but also fumes. This is what makes those walk-in tent campsites a little extra special, they can be totally separate from RVs. However, I have seen tent campers use generators too. So it's not just RVs.

@@mikoserbousek4987 How about people who camp in tents, go to tent camping only spots. And, speaking as a person who has an RV, solar wont power everything. They just recharge the batteries, and the batteries dont have enough energy to power a lot of things in the RV. I agree there should be tents only, and RV only spaces to get around this.

@@LastNameTom I built a 38' bus conversion, solar powers everything in my rig from the full sized fride to the air conditioning and even heat in the winter. Its doable. (3050W on my roof)

They aren't going to be sold, only operated by a private company. As long as the NP has good ground rules for operation, really no issues here. Several, including YS are already done this way.

@@christopherhaak9824 If we have annual or senior passes we won't be able to get the campsite fee discounts.

@@icdeadppl4u That is not true at all. Several are already operated by concessionaires and you get the discount.

@@christopherhaak9824 On their website they say that campgrounds run by concessionaires don't honor the discount. But if they do, then cool. I've been avoiding them because of the website. Next time I'll ask but have a plan B just in case.

Most concessionaire campgrounds do not offer pass discounts.

@catmodelt Why do you say that?

I'm glad Canada Geese aren't as big as Sandhill Cranes, as we would all be dead in the Upper Midwest from mean huge Canada Geeses 🤣 Geese are mean. Sandhill Cranes aren't shy but they don't just start attacking you like Canada Geese will lol

Use BLM Lands you can avoid the crowds because no amenities and facilities just nature .

Yes, and so many of the problems in the world today are due to overpopulation. Irresponsible breeding. Quit cranking out babies people.

I agree the best neighbors are no neighbors.

Yes!!!

Then you have to go off season.

Come on take from a guy that hammock camps tent camps and built a school bus conversion you get a better choice of spots Yosemite has entire camping areas for tents only.

If you want solitude, then you need to just avoid the main park campgrounds and head for the back country. Of course, that means you need to put your camp on your back, but that's a small price to pay for solitude.

@@billmandaue2168 Years ago I did Sierra Club backpacking training & hiked in Shawnee State Forrest in OH for graduation trip. Did not have a comfortable pack. Now in my 70's still like long day hikes the best!

@@JoelPit Those hammock tents look comfortable!

@@billmandaue2168 You can car camp for free in most national forests and grasslands. No backpack required.

Glad you enjoyed it!

It's something the U.N. might say about your country they don't live in...

They are going to "reimagine" the price.

Sadly it often means they think they can do better than Mother Nature, which often means to destroy the natural look, chop down trees, and flatten things. Sigh :(

@@maiaheiss2991 yes.

Maybe because the libs want to "reimagine" gun laws? That's what I think of when I hear that word.

Do you understand that by being anti electricity, anti paved paths, anti water that you are limiting the parks from a TON of people? All these people claiming they love nature and then want a bunch of gas-guzzling, noise-polluting, air polluting cars and prohibit electric cars... doesn't make a lot of sense.

@@elainevegan5386 I’m not following

@@da4 When you say 'the only amenities campgrounds should have are restrooms and trash disposal' you are saying no electricity. But the absence of electricity means: - no electric cars, only ICE cars which pollute more (ICE stands for Internal Combustion Engine) - no hookups for RVs which means they'll run their gasoline or propane generators which pollute more and are noisy too - no plugs for medical equipment which means no one who does nocturnal dialysis, uses a CPAP machine, a nebulizer for asthma, or other medical device Thus, your declaration that 'campgrounds should remain natural' is not only a declaration that certain people who need electric medical devices shouldn't camp, it's also a declaration that gas fume pollution is acceptable.

@@elainevegan5386 👍

​@@elainevegan5386 Equating "campgrounds should remain natural" with "people who need electric medical devices shouldn't camp" or "fume pollution is acceptable" is over-the-top strawmanning. Warrantless moralization of the issue IS bully behavior.

It totally sucks I'll never use it again. Republicans think privatized anything is good because someone is getting rich of it.

I agree. All the good sights are reserved up months in advance and when you drive through, many are vacant due to no shows. I can’t plan that far out and who wants to have a rigid itinerary on a camping trip? Privatizing has ruined it for me.