Not Preferred Campsites

[oldfatman]

Are there any backcountry but accessible by vehicle campsites that anyone might call "not preferred"?  My hope this December is to go to a couple of the vehicle accessable backcountry sites for a night or two.  No more than easy day hiking from the site is planned.  Mostly it will be to "practice " long unused skills in tents and outdoor cooking etc.  This would allow me to safely be certain I have everything when I finally get to do an over night backpack.  In my advancing age and body falling apart, I tend to try new things in safe baby steps.  Thank you.

[Al]

OFM, Telingua Abajo is easy access even hauling a trailer, assuming Old Maverick Road is in decent shape, which it usually is, and there are easy level hikes to the west that are really neat. Santa Elena is a hop skip and jump as well as the west end of River Road, etc.  It would be easy to kill a week there as a retiree.

Al

PS http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/roadsides_oldmavrd.htm

[TheWildWestGuy]

I am not sure what you are asking for OFM?  "Not Preferred" being sites to stay away from or sites that are less popular?  If you want easy access and walk-from-camp hikes than 9-Point Draw, K-Bar, or Grapevine Hills are good.  If you want privacy and more remote sites (longer drives on rough dirt roads) than Glenn Springs, Juniper Canyon, Paint Gap, or a number of other sites are good.  If you want recommendations of where NOT to camp I would say Croton Springs because that campsite doubles as a busy trailhead parking lot... TWWG

[oldfatman]

I see the confusion and I apologize.  I am looking for the campsites that you experienced folks would stay away from if given a choice in the matter.  Thank you.

[SHANEA]

I am looking for the campsites that you experienced folks would stay away from if given a choice in the matter.  Thank you.

That's easy.

Talley
Solis

Have fun.  Your welcome..

[Al]

OFM, what's your motivation? Is it to avoid people (which is one of my goals in Big Bend)?

Al

[Roy]

Basically, I try to avoid the ones closest to the paved roads.  Don't like the noise/headlights from traffic there, and it also means that you've got people driving by as they head to sites farther in.  Hannold, Croton, Cadelilla, Nugent, Paint GAp 1,etc.  fall into that category.  As far as sites that are just unattractive, I've never found one
I've never camped at the sites along the river. 
Probably my least favorite area would be Grapevine Hills.  The brush has really gotten thick, there's several sites in a relatively small area, etc.   Maybe try one of these for starters, but once you're comforable with the situation, and if you're vehicle is up for it, try some of the sites along the Old Ore Road, or on Glen Springs Road. 
 

[oldfatman]

Hi All.  My motovation is too learn any bad things ahead of time to minimize any undesireable events during my trips. As an example the first campground in Washington state I viewed, but did not stay, was packed in with so many sites so close together that you literally could share tentpegs. I like to learn from others so my education is easier and better.

I have been in Bibe many times but never looked at it from a tent/truck camping perspective before.
Thank you everyone for all the information I have received over the last year.

[Roy]

There are several that have a number of sites right next to each other.  Terlingua Abaja, Grapevine, Paint Gap 2&3, Nugent Mountain come to mind.  BIBE web site has descriptions and pics of all sites. 

[oldfatman]

Thank you Roy.  The site and the pictures have been reviewed many times over the last year, but the pictures and descriptions cannot demonstrate the feel or realities of locations.  This I found in the pacific northwest to sometimes be an undesireable suprise, thus my question.  Thank you everyone for your assistance. Trip time is drawing closer fast HE HE HE.

[EdB]

I wouldn't necessarily avoid sites that are right next to each other. It's easy enough to check the permit book at PJ to see if anyone is occupying an adjacent site. In December you're not going to see a lot of people out there anyway (unless it's around Christmas). And most people are looking for quiet and solitude just like you, so once they see someone has taken a site, they most likely won't take the site next to it.

I loved Nugent Mountain for the view at sunrise - about the only drawback was occasional traffic on the road nearby.