The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
set up a few rules and regulations relative to your use of BLM land. The
following is by no means meant to be all inclusive or representative of
all the rules that have been established by each local LTVA (Long Term Visitor
Area) but should
give you a general idea before you get there. BLM offices or any
LTVA hosted site will be happy to give you information specific to each
boondocking site.
Most BLM land is open to boondocking (dispersed
or dry camping), as long as it does not conflict with other authorized
uses, does not occur in areas posted closed to camping or in some
way adversely affects wildlife species or natural resources. A
letter from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Cheyenne, Wyoming provides a
more precise description of
what you
may do on BLM lands.
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AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PASSES FOR NATIONAL
PARKS, RECREATION AREAS AND WILDLIFE REFUGES THAT CHARGE A FEE
Please note
that this pass does not apply to LTVAs (Long Term Visitor Areas).
Members of the
general public can obtain an annual
America the Beautiful –
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for $80 by
visiting a BLM office in person or by calling the nearest BLM field
office for instructions on buying it by mail. A list of where
interagency passes are issued can be found at
http://store.usgs.gov/pass/PassIssuanceList.pdf.
If you are a US
citizen (or permanent resident) 62
years or older you can purchase a lifetime
America the Beautiful –
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass - Senior Pass
(formerly the Golden Age Passport)
for a one time fee of $10. This pass may also be obtained by visiting a BLM
field
office in person or at the interagency locations found at the website link
previously mentioned. A copy of your driver's license or other
identification that contains your birth date and signature is required. |
GENERAL RULES: With
exceptions (including day use),
the following Arizona rules typically relate to all BLM sites.
Winter
visitors who wish to stay within BLM LTVA areas may purchase a long term visitors
permit for ($180.00 US - September 2007 price) for the entire winter (September 15th
to April 15th) or may chose to purchase a short term permit for $40.00
good for fourteen consecutive days with the option to purchase an unlimited
quantity of additional permits. For this fee you will receive a sticker, good for all LTVA's for the
year, that must be affixed in a clearly visible location on the bottom
right-hand corner of the windshield on all camping units. Permits
can normally be purchased at the local contact station (at the gate if there are
volunteer personal there) or the BLM field
office in charge of the area.
You
cannot reassign or transfer your permit.
Boondockers
who wish to stay on the desert outside of an LTVA may camp in one location
for up to 14 days in any 28 day period at no charge. After 14 days campers
must move to a new site not less than a 25 miles radius distance from their
original camp site.
The
28 day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location
on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number
of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation
during the 28 day period. Although the permit may not be reassigned
or transferred to another vehicle, two secondary vehicles are permitted.
After
the 14th day, the boondocker must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the
previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation. This
rule is in place to prevent damage to sensitive resources that might be
caused by sustained use of the area.
You
cannot have more than two secondary vehicles within the LTVA.
Your
LTVA camping unit or campsite cannot be left unoccupied for a period of greater
than 5 days without advance approval by an authorized BLM officer.
Boondockers
must not leave any personal property unattended for more than 10 days.
Boondocking
units or campsites cannot be left unoccupied within any LTVA for more than
five (5) days unless approved in advance by an authorized BLM officer.
A
minimum of 15 feet of space must be maintained between boondocking units.
Campers, trailers, and other units must remain mobile. (i.e.: wheels must
remain on all wheeled vehicles.) Pickup campers may be set on jacks manufactured
for that purpose.
Unless
otherwise posted, quiet
hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. in accordance with applicable state time
zone standards. Operation of audio devices or motorized equipment, including
generators, in a manner that makes unreasonable noise, as determined by
the authorized BLM officer, is prohibited. Amplified music is allowed only
within La Posa and Imperial Dam LTVAs and only in locations designated
by BLM or when approved in advance by an authorized BLM officer.
Motorized
vehicles must remain on existing roads, trails, and washes. Roads or trails
commonly in public use cannot be blocked by parked vehicles or by any other
means. The speed limit is 15 miles per hour unless otherwise posted.
Visitors
are cautioned to watch their pets so that they do not fall prey to coyotes
or other desert predators. They must be kept on a leash at all times
and owners are expected to clean-up and provide sanitary disposal of pet
waste.
Boarding
or keeping livestock (horses, cattle, sheep, goats, etc.) within LTVA boundaries
is prohibited.
Campfires
are permitted in LTVAs subject to all local, state, and Federal regulations
but no wood collection is permitted within the LTVAs.
A
maximum of 1 cubic yard (3' x 3' x 3') of firewood will be allowed per
individual or group campfire at any one time. The nearest BLM office should
be contacted for current regulations concerning wood collection.
LTVA
permits are required for dumping within all LTVA campgrounds.
Fixed
structures of any type are restricted and must conform to posted policies.
This includes, but is not limited to fences, dog runs, storage units, and
windbreaks.
Archaeological
or historical properties including, but not limited to, petroglyphs, ruins,
historic buildings, and artifacts that may occur on public lands cannot
be disturbed. (i.e. Do not alter the natural landscape by painting rocks.)
Use
of firearms or weapons is prohibited inside or within one half mile of
the LTVAs.
All
commercial activity requires a vending permit. The nearest BLM office should
be contacted for information on vending or concession permits.
An
authorized BLM officer may revoke, without reimbursement, your LTVA permit if
you violate any BLM rule or regulation, or if your conduct or that of your
family, guest, or pets is inconsistent with the goal of BLM's LTVA Program.
Failure to return any LTVA permit to an authorized BLM officer upon demand is a
violation of these supplementary rules. If the BLM revokes your permit, you must
remove all of your property and leave the LTVA system within 12 hours of notice,
and you may not enter any other LTVA in Arizona or California for the remainder
of the LTVA season.
EXCEPTIONS:
La Posa, Imperial
Dam and Senator Wash LTVA: In these areas the normal Long Term Visitor
Area Permit is valid for up to 7 months only, from September 15th through
April 15th of each season. From April 16th to September 14th there is a $10 fee for
day
use, a $15 fee for overnight use or $75 annual fee for up to 5 people per vehicle .
An additional $1 per person fee is charged for each person over the 5 person
limit.
Users can buy a
Short Term Permit a 14-day stay for $40.00.
This permit is only valid per vehicle and entitles the holder to access
all fee sites located in the Yuma Field Office jurisdiction.
Pilot
Knob, Dunes Vista, Midland, Tamarisk, and Hot Springs: Boondocking
is restricted to self-contained units only. They must have a permanent
affixed waste water holding tank of 10 gallon minimum capacity. (Port-a-potty
systems, or systems which utilize portable holding tanks, or permanent
holding tanks of less than 10 gallon capacity are not considered to be
self-contained.)
La
Posa, Imperial Dam, and Mule Mountain LTVA: Restricted to self-contained
camping units, except within 500 feet of a vault or rest room.
Hot
Spring, Tamarisk, and Pilot Knob LTVA: Boondocking is not allowed
within one (1) mile of the LTVA boundary.
Last Updated: March 20, 2010
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