The 50 State Project: US State Parks & Hammocks

[CLANKBANG]

Were those reps speaking of state wide use or only for those specific parks?

The Reps were only confirming for their individual parks.

On a side note at cloud land canyon I noticed a few trees badly damaged by rope. The damage was shocking I have a hard time believing it was done by hammocks but I can't think of what else It could have been. I know that if it continues that we will loose ground when it comes to where we can hang.

[breyman]

Lol. Colorado is starting to irritate me. ;c

Guess I'll just have to play innocent and ask for forgiveness in any unpleasant situations, especially since they won't answer the question. Since the question has been asked and gone unanswered, I see no other logical option except just not using the parks, which isn't very logical at all to me. 'tis the season, and I'm excited as heck to get into the woods for my first year, and I plan on doing so, answer or no. Am I in the wrong with that line of thought? O.o

I can tell you that in every state park I've ever been at here in Colorado, the answer is a resounding no. They list it in every park's camping literature, give the same line when you call. I also often have park employees include a "no hanging anything on trees" line when checking in with me - unprompted by any hammock questions.

At least they're consistent.

It would be great if the right folks could be persuaded otherwise, but at this point, every time I go to a state park I have to bring a hammock stand or my tent.

At least there's TONS of National Forest and Wilderness Areas in Colorado that have no problem with responsible hangers. Rocky Mountain National Park is even good with it.

[Jcavenagh]

Well, I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with ya, there on that NH situation.

I have read completely through the rules. I see nothing that could even remotely be construed to prohibit hammock camping.
See http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rule...ncies/res.html
PART Res 7301 RULES RELATING TO ALL PARKS AND DRED PROPERTIES
Through 7306

I also read through CHAPTER Res 8500 BUREAU TRAIL USE RULES. Nothing in those rules could possibly be construed to be a general ban on hammock camping in NH State Parks.

Again, I believe a park managment employee has given an emotional answer which is unsupported by the actual facts.

[MassCoyote]

Perhaps... I was just posting the written response from

Dee Dee Hanson, Program Specialist
NH Division of Parks and Recreation
Tel: 603.271.3556 ext. 234 Fax: 603.271.3553

[pizza]

FWIW, I have car camped at four MN State Park campgrounds now and have had no issues with park rangers. As a matter of fact I am in my hammock now at a popular State Park campground and the ranger has driven by my site probably 6 times and no issues. I am not over the tent pad either. I am right next to my car by the drive in parking spot.

I don't car camp much, maybe a couple times a year but setting up in a campground in plain view of park patrols is a good test if you feel like testing the waters...LOL!

The remote backcountry campsites really don't matter. Even if they said they didn't allow hammocks you're not going to encounter a ranger out at a remote site anyway because they don't patrol out there.

[body942]

National Parks Only because someone may be interested in some specifics: Last summer I hammock camped, with permission, in both Zion and Grand Canyon campgrounds (South rim). The only caveat for GC was that the hammock had to come down if no one was in it, the whole "animals running willy nilly" and all. In defense of that logic, deer and elk WERE running through like they owned the place.

AZ Option: Same trip last summer I hammock camped in Hualapai Mtn Park, a county park, with permission and much interest from on-site ranger / security.

As to California, I've hung all over the place, but when I really stopped to think about it, only in ONE state park. Montana de Oro, and there I had expressed permission as well, with the standard "no tree damage" adviso.

I'd be very interested in a formal answer from the Ca State Parks Dept. (Formerly California Department of Parks and Recreation.... Dad worked for 'em for almost 30 years)

Thanks so much for doing this, really is a "public service" project for all of us!

[ne_hanger]

As far as NH goes, I have hammock camped in NH state parks with no issues. I don't recall asking before I set up, but I did see the rangers making rounds after setting up and no one stopped to tell me it was a problem.

[BikerDad]

Most likely not. Its due to work like this by folks like Rev who have gotten Florida to start allowing hammocks at their state parks ( on a pilot program ).

Of course I don't see how hammocks hung with straps are more harmfull than having to cut down trees and level the ground to create large paved parking lots for RVs at campgrounds.

Key difference is WHO is doing the deed to the trees/ground. If John Q Public drives into a park, unloads the Bobcat and chainsaw and starts making a "camping spot" for his RV, he is going to be in a world of hurt. So the comparison is problematic on a practical level, because John Q generally knows better than to start dropping trees and grading.

[obxh2o]

Bump! Had trouble locating this thread and I want to refer back to it again. (it did not show up in "search")

[FBG]

I've gone through all the posts Wow. Didn't see NH, RI, Main.

Did i miss them???

Off hand I don't know exactly what park departments have answered, but not all of them are present and accounted for. Those states may not have answered.