Community Forums

Itinerant1 · 01-11-2019, 07:13 AM

I know a permit is needed to use/ travel through AZ trust land, but if I'm reading this correctly from their FAQ it only allows for a total of 14 days of camping a year. Now is that for one particular area or all of AZ? Is there a sign in or something at locations? How does AZ know how many days you camped or is it an honor system?

From the faq page...
"WHAT DOES MY RECREATION PERMIT ALLOW ME TO DO ON TRUST LAND"?

ShowAnswer...
Your recreation permit allows you to enjoy non-consumptive recreational activities including: hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, picnics, photography, bird watching, sightseeing, camping (limited to 14 days per year), and limited off highway vehicle use (restricted to designated roads and trails), for non-commercial and non-competitive purposes.

raineman · 01-11-2019, 07:22 AM

14 Days applies everywhere. There are rangers that "may enforce" it but I have seen it ignored at times. The problem comes when "squatters", as I call them, show up. They find the ideal spot and pretty much hog it until they are forced to leave. Many don't leave until they are forced to. Some of the RVs out there are real hoopdees that would not be allowed at a campground due their deteriorating appearance. Often many stay well over the 14 days. Some places have more enforcement than others.

The other issue I have come across are the waste-oids that set up there with the intent of going absolutely hog wild. They bring loud sound systems and party HARD, sometimes for days. In their minds, they can do whatever they want, despite how it impacts anyone near by. Sadly there is little law enforcement at these places. And then they leave all their trash behind.

With anything else, there are many that abuse the permits and abuse the land. We all end up paying for that one way or another. Sadly many areas are trashed with debris from losers. For some reason many in AZ feel they can haul anything out to these sites, fill it with bullet holes and leave it.

There are some peaceful places to be found if you look.

Itinerant1 · 01-11-2019, 08:32 AM

Thanks for the info.

It's the same every where, trailers left unattended for long periods in prime locations, garbage/ debris left behind, piles of crap/ tp in the open or a rock placed on it (nice bury job) in the camp site, shooting targets & broken glass used as shooting targets left behind. Then they wonder why areas get shutdown.

Waiter21 · 01-11-2019, 08:38 AM

What Raineman said.

I have a saying: "There are those who cause policy to be set"

JeffAZ · 01-14-2019, 11:23 PM

The only enforcement I have seen of this in AZ is rangers checking to make sure the camper has a State Land permit, and that they only stay at the same campsite for a maximum of 14 consecutive days. This was at a site close to Lake Pleasant, which has a lot of enforcement. This is the only place I have witnessed rangers present on state land.
Before that, there were class A rigs from Idaho staying there from November until March. It's at a very coveted spot that allows camping at the edge of a small cliff.

I have not seen a way for the rangers to know if someone has already camped on state land at another place.