Haw Creek Campgrounds

[Natural]

Has anyone camped at Haw Creek? Does the same problem with Law Enforcement exist at this campground like Long Pool?

[hellbender]

Just talk to a friend that stayed up there last fall while climbing in the area and said he saw no one.

[Fish]

If you think you get hassled in State Parks here, try the Ocoee area in TN sometime... I don't like the idea of them checking for alcohol either - if someone wants to drink and not disturb other campers, they should be able to do that. Seems like there's always a few jerks who drink and then yell, blast their stereo, vandalize stuff, etc. at midnight, and ruin it for the rest of us who just want to get out and enjoy some beer with mother nature. If none of that was going on, I wonder how much effort law enforcement would put into checking for alcohol. Not too dam* much I bet.

If you want to drink and camp in peace, there are a ton of places outside the State Parks. It's more work to find them, but it's well worth the effort. See you there.

- Fish

[FarPastGone]

Seems like there's always a few jerks who drink and then yell, blast their stereo, vandalize stuff, etc. at midnight, and ruin it for the rest of us

Damn Texans!

[David Mac]

Just out of curiousity, is the no alcohol rule a USFS rule, is Long Pool in a dry county, or is it campground specific?

David

[Fish]

However, I don't know how far the law extends into a tent or camper as you'd think it'd be consider one's domicile and thus could not be searched without a warrant.

Always bears remembering that what appears to be "the law" and what you can get arrested for are sometimes two different things. For example, I was talking with a friend about those yellow speed caution signs that appear before curves. The debate was whether those signs are legal speed limits around the curve or just cautionary in nature. I said it doesn't matter. You can always still get a ticket for going around the curve faster than the sign indicates - reckless driving, driving too fast for conditions, etc.

Of course, I'm not a lawyer and don't even play one on TV, but unless you are, it probably pays to work under the assumption that the police actually can arrest you whenever you're doing something where you have to ask yourself if they can...

- Fish

[cyberpapa]

Have camped many times at Haw Creek Falls. Never seen any law enforcement. It is a very small campground and far from police or forest service headquarters. Not enough of a money-maker to try to pinch folks for drinking a beer. Never hurts to put your beer in a cup. If you camp there head up the draw where the campground road starts to loop back. This will actually be a little to the right of the Ozark Highland Trail. The little streambed may be completely dry, but as you get further away from the campground more and more water is apparent. Keep going and you will reach a really nice waterfall. This is not an official trail, but enough folks go that way where it's not a tough bushwhack-just follow the streambed Great place for wildflowers. The only downside of the campground, in my opinion, is it is one of the few that allow ATV's to drive all the way into the campground. This can be no problem whatsoever.....or it can make you wish law enforcement was there to take their beer away and keep them from circling the campground. Cal

[jclaudii]

I always thought that when you occupy a camping site it becomes semi-private and your tent is private. I remember the ranger telling my Dad one time that he could drink at the campsite and in the camper, but if he left the campsite with that beer in his hand he would be breaking the open container law. This was also a Corps park/lake.

I would think that they couldn't legally open your cooler or open your tent.I also think you can either refuse to answer the question if he ask you if you have alcohol or you can just lie. Not sure what would happen if you lie, but if you refuse to answer the question you still are not breaking any laws.

A little Baileys Irish Whiskey in some home made hot chocolate is a nice way to warm up on a cool night. I would think that responsible consumption should be supported.

Haw creek is a fairly small campground and with all the other things they have right now, like tree damage and such, I figure they have other things to do besides to snoop around in peoples campsites. Also, use common sense. Keep your stuff in a seperate cooler in a better hidden spot, like in your toolbox of your truck, trunk of your car, in your tent, etc.

Have fun!