What to do with your car when zone camping?

[raptor()]

Hi everyone from DFW.  I'm new here and so glad I found this site!  Not only is there are ton of good information, but it's great reading about the park when I'm slow here at work.  Almost makes me feel like I'm there again!

Anyway, I was wondering when zone camping,  what do you do with your car?  Can you just drive down a primitive road and park along side the road and hike out into the desert to camp?  From what I remember, some of those roads are very narrow and there's not much room to pull over.  Not to mention, they probably don't want you to pull off the road and potentially drive over the plant life.  

Thanks,
Chris

[Al]

We've always either pulled off the road where there's a turn around, parking area or other "wide" spot in the road or parked near a primitive campsite.  Never had a problem.

Al

[01ACRViper]

all the people in power i've talked to say just find a good spot and pull all the way off the road

[trtlrock]

I would agree with above posts, unless you're out camping for 3+ days, and/or within easy hiking distance of Study Butte.  Other options are parking at the fire management office parking lot behind PJ (set this up w/rangers when getting permit), or by making friends in Study Butte (easy) & then inquiring about safe places to park there...

[raptor()]

Thanks for the replies.   It's good to know you can park relatively close to where you're camping.

I'll be heading to the park in mid April - cant wait!

[tjavery]

...It's good to know you can park relatively close to where you're camping.

1/2 mile minimum!

[raptor()]

...It's good to know you can park relatively close to where you're camping.

1/2 mile minimum!

Right.  That sounds fine to me as I'm looking for some isolation from road noise, etc.  However, I didn't want to be *too* far away in case I need to go back for something plus wasn't sure if they had problems with car break-ins and such along the roads.

[Daryl]

...wasn't sure if they had problems with car break-ins and such along the roads.

I've never had a problem.  But, I've heard 2nd and 3rd hand reports of occasional auto break-ins near the river.  Of course the best defense against theft is not to provide too tempting a target.  Leave your valuables in the trunk (or at home).

[Boojum1]

The only theft I've had parking in or around BIBE is while in front of La Kiva.  It was an ice chest in the bed of a pick-up, so I did make it easy to lift.  I hope they enjoyed the warm chicken.

[presidio]

I've heard 2nd and 3rd hand reports of occasional auto break-ins near the river.

Those reports are real. Check around most any of the parking areas near the river and observe the debris of broken safety glass...side windows. Either there are break-ins there or an awful lot of people who lock their keys in the car.

If you look around most any parking spot, you'll find evidence of more than one break-in. Some spots are hotter than others.

[SHANEA]

car break-ins

Commonly known as car clouting.... :P

[trtlrock]

Yep...our Subaru was broken into during out 1st visit to BB (1998); we had foolishly parked it near the Marufo Vega trailhead area & had chosen to ignore the warning signs.  It was surreal what was stolen & what was deemed unworthy -- tent no, tent fly yes -- 2 cases of CDs no, medium weight jacket w/JBL logo yes -- my wife's boots no, mine yes -- and so on...

It's hard to hide stuff in an Outback with the rear seats down & the whole car crammed full of stuff.  Oh well, live & learn.

The most annoying part was that they broke out TWO rear side windows.  Jeez...one wasn't enough to open the doors?

[WayneR]

While I was in the Park 3/2 thru 3/6 there were two break-ins at the Boquillas parking area alone (March 3rd).  Talking with Rangers, this spot is especially bad for theft currently.   :x

As has been said before, don't leave anything in your vehicle you can't afford to lose............

Wayne

[MarkB]

I came close about 5 years ago to being a "victim" while in the Grapevine Hills area. Had pulled off and parked the car for about 1/2 hour to check out the area for any great photographs. When I headed back there I noticed in the distance that there were two young hispanic males heading over to my car to check it out. They had parked their older model white pickup about 100 yards away. All of sudden they spotted me coming over a hill and quickly returned to their truck without saying or doing anything. They would not have found much of any interest in the vehicle, but was glad I arrived on the scene when I did.

[Al]

No doubt a result of the border closing.  That wouldn't have happened back in the good old days.

Al