Boondocking Timber Company Lands

With US timber companies owning millions of acres of land across the country (Plum Creek Timber, the second largest private owner says it holds nearly 8 million acres) that's a lot of land with potential for recreational use. In some cases its a bonus for boondockers. Much of the recreational use of these lands is managed by the companies themselves; in other cases local governments handle recreation while the companies tend to the timber.

Many timber companies recognize the "recreational aspects" of their holdings and make their lands available for public use. With that hospitality comes responsibility to those of us who use the land. Most things are pretty straight-forward and simple:

Leave gates as you find them--or as posted, be it open or closed.

Don't leave litter or dump your tanks.

Be careful with campfires where permitted, and where they aren't DON'T have one.

Follow any rules or requests the company makes.

What about costs? Some timber outfits welcome recreationists with open arms, and no fees. Others are "discovering" that charging a fee can help them out--the policies vary by company. Recently, Potlach Corporation decided to begin charging fees in some of its Idaho forest holdings--to the tune of nearly $100 a year. Depending on your use, that may actually be a bargain.

How do you find out about boondocking opportunities? We'll list a few of the big company's web sites in a second, otherwise, you'll need to do a little detective work on your own. You could check out local phone books under "Timber" for possible leads. Many outfits post signs on their holdings (which may or may not include phone numbers) which at least give you an idea of who owns the property.

On to the list:

Weyerhaeuser: This company owns land in both the south, midwest, and northwest. While lands in the south are typically "leased" for recreation, in the northwest much land is open to the public. In Oklahoma, some is managed by the state's Department of Wildlife Conservation (with fees ranging from $16 to $25). Check out the company website for more information.

Plum Creek Timber: A BIG concern as we mentioned. Their website mentions recreational opportunities, but is short on details. Their toll free number is (800) 858-5347, and they may be able to direct you to an appropriate local number for more information on recreational opps.

Out in New Hampshire, the state manages the recreational use of land owned by the Connecticut Lakes Timber Company. Some "boondocking" opportunities there are truly boondocking in primitive campgrounds. Other RV recreation is in more developed campgrounds, and of course, fees apply. Check out the state's website for more details.

Map: Courtesy Weyerhaeuser. Photo: State of New Hampshire