Hanging in a state/local campground

**Busky2** · 10-30-2010, 22:15

I have camped in several PA state parks and state forests. I always call before I arrive at a park to see if there will be trouble. I have not yet been turned down and have had two rangers/converts try out my Clark to "see" what it is all about.

**Flatland** · 10-31-2010, 00:05

More needless and thoughtless regulations from government agencies...I agree with those who have suggested stealth camping as the best option in such situations.

**gunner76** · 11-02-2010, 21:34

I have not had any issues with hanging in the National Forests, state parks or at the campgrounds along the Blue Ridge Parkway here in NC. The Rangers at the Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds put me down as a tent camper when I told them I was a hammock camper.

I did find some nails in a tree I attached a hammock to at Store Mountain State Park.

I use polyester straps and Dutch Clips for hanging my hammocks

**CrackMunk** · 11-03-2010, 00:28

Every State park in NY, & Mass I have always hung a hammock and never had a problem. Have seen a few hangers too, as mine and the few that I seen were just for relaxing though not sleeping.

**Trooper** · 11-03-2010, 00:55

Originally Posted by robanna

Anyways, does anyone have any thought on how to hang from a tree without going all the way around the trunk?

Our member, Thekalamist, has found a solution for you in his thread:

http://www.hammacher.com/Product/114...Lawn&catid=171

**sturgeon** · 11-03-2010, 15:48

Originally Posted by Trooper

Our member, Thekalamist, has found a solution for you in his thread:

http://www.hammacher.com/Product/114...Lawn&catid=171

What? Only 35 grand? Count me in.

**The RidgeRunner** · 11-03-2010, 18:12

The only greif I got from a ranger in a state park in pa was to move my car after I was unloaded. My brother got there first and took the 1 spot per site. To be honest, I don't even think anyone else in the whole park knew I was in a hammock.

**ottybuddy** · 11-03-2010, 19:52

How old is this rule or law of no hanging from trees in state parks?
Is this like some of the old laws on some state books like you can't carry ice cream in your pants pockets. Or other crazy things.

**cataraftgirl** · 11-06-2010, 19:13

Has anybody had any experiences hanging in Utah? State or national parks, recreation areas????
I'm new to hammocks and so far have only used them on river trips, but I do some camping in parks & recreation areas ( such as around Flaming Gorge). Seems like I've seen some casual hammocks, but not anyone sleeping in them.
KJ

**rjcress** · 11-10-2010, 16:21

I hate to be the voice of dissent, but I wonder if the view that hanging hammocks from trees is harmless has really been objectively considered.
It seems we have a partisan crowd here.

Here's my take on the hammocks in parks issue:

If I hang my hammock with Leave No Trace in mind and use a proper suspension as to distribute the load as widely as possible (2" tree huggers, for example), am there for only a day or two, and am reasonably careful in how I set up and take down, then there will likely be no visible clues that a hammock was hung.

However, in reality, most folks that I've run across in my limited experience in car camping establishments don't come here to HF and learn about how to properly hang a hammock. They likely don't have 2" wide tree huggers. They likely aren't that careful in how they setup and take down, and may have never heard of "Leave no trace".
It seems reasonable to me that if the general car-camping public were to abandon their tents and take up hammock hanging, that there would be significant visible damage to campground trees in relatively short order.

So, in this case, it seems reasonable to me that the general rule would be "no hammock camping", as the general population is unlikely to hang hammocks without tearing up the trees.

With that said, I can't stand having my options/actions limited as a precaution against the lowest common denominator. I'll be pretty ticked if I... with my diligent preparation and thoughtful suspension selection... am denied the right to hammock hang just because most folks are ignorant and don't do it properly... but at least I think I understand the logic behind it.

Well, I suspect that the perceived danger of injury from falling from the hammock (or while in the hammock that was not secured properly), and resultant litigation also is a mitigating factor in the rule.

Just my $0.02

Do you think that the general public is knowledgeable, diligent, and well equipped enough to pull off hammock camping WITHOUT leaving visible signs?