The wife and I spent the weekend at the Richland Campground last October. We were up there the weekend of the mudslide so we knew to drive in from the north.
Without all of the drunken rednecks it was one of the most peaceful trips we had staying in the campground.
On Sunday as we were packing up to leave we hear "Put your hands up" and turn around to find two camouflaged policemen with guns drawn. Apparently they thought we were the guy who had escaped form Cummins last year. Once I convinced them we weren't him (we're both in our 20s and the escapee was a balding 50yo) they let us finish packing. All in all it was a wonderful weekend; at least it didn't end in a bang.
Road Access to Richland Creek Campground
Re: Road Access to Richland Creek Campground
Like the escapee from Cummins would have camping gear to pack up???? When Eric Rudolph was captured in Murphy NC, he'd been living in the woods for 4 years, he had no gear, tent ect.... in his camp. He sure as heck wasn't in a FS campground either.
Paddle Hard Life is Short
Re: Road Access to Richland Creek Campground
They told us he had a tent the same color as ours. I did a little research when I got back to civilization and it looks like the man's wife had left him a car and gear near the prison (he initially drove off on a tractor). But the idea that he'd stay at a FS campground is pretty funny. Done in for a drop toilet...
Re: Road Access to Richland Creek Campground
Josh - I don't know if you've figured this out yet or not but the route I've taken into Richland campground since the mudslide is by heading north at ben hur.
Here's a map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... 1&t=h&z=12
There are lots of other ways into there but this is the one I use most.
Like others have mentioned, just north of the bridge there's a spot you can pull off and camp. This is also a trailhead that will take you down to the river. You may even be able to camp on the river outside of the campground but the 100' rule may getcha. Surely you can argue your way out of a ticket if you get one.
Here's a map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... 1&t=h&z=12
There are lots of other ways into there but this is the one I use most.
Like others have mentioned, just north of the bridge there's a spot you can pull off and camp. This is also a trailhead that will take you down to the river. You may even be able to camp on the river outside of the campground but the 100' rule may getcha. Surely you can argue your way out of a ticket if you get one.
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Re: Road Access to Richland Creek Campground
On ATV users: Word was the FS was writing a number of tickets for those that "jumped the berm" and were going past the closure signs. Yeah, they can't be everywhere, I'm sure they miss more than they catch, but I don't think they're picking on boaters and giving ATV users a "free ride" (no pun intended).
On drawn guns: Tough call. Would scare the poo out of me, I wouldn't like it any more than you, but considering who they thought they might have spotted, can you blame them? If I were having to put my life on the line to do that job, I wouldn't take any chances on letting the bad guy beat me in a "fast draw" contest.
On the "gap" between enforcing the campground closure, while not enforcing the road camping rules: BE CAREFUL! If we ask for consistency, the freedom of roadside camping we have enjoyed in Arkansas could disappear. Thank your lucky stars if the current enforcement officers are turning a blind eye to "some" of our chosen camping locations. I don't want to be like some other states, with most camping confined to "designated sites only". Also, I think the current approach is justifiable from an environmental viewpoint. If we "concentrate" and all camp at the end of the road in a closed Richland campground, the nearby woods will soon fill with TP and we won't like the place so much anymore. If we disperse among dozens or potentially hundreds of alternate roadside sites, mother nature will be better able to take care of our impacts via natural processes. If the current batch of officers is using some discretion and not STRICTLY enforcing this rule, do you really want to criticize them for that? Or THANK them?
On drawn guns: Tough call. Would scare the poo out of me, I wouldn't like it any more than you, but considering who they thought they might have spotted, can you blame them? If I were having to put my life on the line to do that job, I wouldn't take any chances on letting the bad guy beat me in a "fast draw" contest.
On the "gap" between enforcing the campground closure, while not enforcing the road camping rules: BE CAREFUL! If we ask for consistency, the freedom of roadside camping we have enjoyed in Arkansas could disappear. Thank your lucky stars if the current enforcement officers are turning a blind eye to "some" of our chosen camping locations. I don't want to be like some other states, with most camping confined to "designated sites only". Also, I think the current approach is justifiable from an environmental viewpoint. If we "concentrate" and all camp at the end of the road in a closed Richland campground, the nearby woods will soon fill with TP and we won't like the place so much anymore. If we disperse among dozens or potentially hundreds of alternate roadside sites, mother nature will be better able to take care of our impacts via natural processes. If the current batch of officers is using some discretion and not STRICTLY enforcing this rule, do you really want to criticize them for that? Or THANK them?
Trash: Get a little every time you go!
Re: Road Access to Richland Creek Campground
Looks like I might be mistaken about the 100 foot rule anyway. I've been doing some looking around and the 100' rule varies by what park/NF you are in. The Buffalo River NP has the "100' from road or established campground" rule, and the Daniel Boone NF says to stay 100' from natural rock shelters, but I can't find any such policy for Ozark-St. Francis NF.
The wording for their backcountry policy says "primitive camping is allowed almost anywhere in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests unless there is a sign stating otherwise, or it is a wildlife food plot." The only other recommendation I can find is to "stay well away from creeks and streams" so you don't get flooded out.
David
The wording for their backcountry policy says "primitive camping is allowed almost anywhere in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests unless there is a sign stating otherwise, or it is a wildlife food plot." The only other recommendation I can find is to "stay well away from creeks and streams" so you don't get flooded out.
David
Rule #1: Never throw $#!^ at an armed man.
Rule #2: Never stand next to someone throwing $#!^ at an armed man.
Rule #2: Never stand next to someone throwing $#!^ at an armed man.
Re: Road Access to Richland Creek Campground
Sometimes that 100 ft rule is a general rule of thumb or requested courtesy in back country wilderness areas. 100 ft from trails and roads to prevent people from having to hike around or thru your camp.
I don't think and hope there are not boaters that are destroying the forest floor, plant life and stream beds the way unauthorized ATV use during hunting seasons do. I'm a hunter also, not saying huners are all a bunch of buttheads, but some don't use good common sense when it comes to ATV use. I can't think of a single regulation I've ever broken by paddling down a creek or river, I've never hauled my boat into a remote area by ATV, never driven off the maintained roadways, never damaged the eco system, ATV users can't say that. I don't spend a lot of time in the Ozark NF, but I live in the Mark Twain NF have FS property on three side of mine. Unauthorized ATV use is a scourge around here. Unlawful dumping via ATVs, trash everywhere, game baiting, new trails cut/beaten in every season, eventually causing soil errosion and stream bed damage. Not to mention the noise pollution from ATVs. I'm not in favor of the FS LEAs looking the other way for anyone. I wish Arkansas and Missouri had the enforcement tools and personell that other states have. West Virginia has a lot of FS property and a lot of LEAs to patrol it.( Thanks to Sen. Byrd) They are dead serious about enforcing the rules, ATVs and unauhtorized removal of plants, herbs and minerals in particular. West Virginia has some big problems with mining and land developers, but the FS properties are pristine, the land and water in the backcountry is clean and clear, there are NO ATVs allowed and they enforce it. Colorado and New Mexico are also good examples of preserving the NF, PS, BLM/public lands. Suggesting that LEAs should "look the other way" because it might also benefit you someday is simply wrong. Our natural resources and natural areas should be protected and respected by everyone. It's too bad we need LEAs to patrol and enforce common sense/basic courtesy.
I don't think and hope there are not boaters that are destroying the forest floor, plant life and stream beds the way unauthorized ATV use during hunting seasons do. I'm a hunter also, not saying huners are all a bunch of buttheads, but some don't use good common sense when it comes to ATV use. I can't think of a single regulation I've ever broken by paddling down a creek or river, I've never hauled my boat into a remote area by ATV, never driven off the maintained roadways, never damaged the eco system, ATV users can't say that. I don't spend a lot of time in the Ozark NF, but I live in the Mark Twain NF have FS property on three side of mine. Unauthorized ATV use is a scourge around here. Unlawful dumping via ATVs, trash everywhere, game baiting, new trails cut/beaten in every season, eventually causing soil errosion and stream bed damage. Not to mention the noise pollution from ATVs. I'm not in favor of the FS LEAs looking the other way for anyone. I wish Arkansas and Missouri had the enforcement tools and personell that other states have. West Virginia has a lot of FS property and a lot of LEAs to patrol it.( Thanks to Sen. Byrd) They are dead serious about enforcing the rules, ATVs and unauhtorized removal of plants, herbs and minerals in particular. West Virginia has some big problems with mining and land developers, but the FS properties are pristine, the land and water in the backcountry is clean and clear, there are NO ATVs allowed and they enforce it. Colorado and New Mexico are also good examples of preserving the NF, PS, BLM/public lands. Suggesting that LEAs should "look the other way" because it might also benefit you someday is simply wrong. Our natural resources and natural areas should be protected and respected by everyone. It's too bad we need LEAs to patrol and enforce common sense/basic courtesy.
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