Website And Apps List Public Campgrounds
For eight years, the Ultimate Public Campground Project has been compiling data on a wide range of public campgrounds in the United States and Canada. More than 31,000 locations are listed, including municipal, county, state, and federal parks, as well as trail camps and river camps. Campers can gain access to the information in the following ways:
- A free web-based map at www.ultimatecampgrounds.com displays each of the camping locations. Points of interest (POI) lists for importing into a GPS are available for the United States ($4.95) and Canada ($2.95). The POI lists are one-year subscriptions.
- Apps for Apple and Android products are available through the iTunes Store, the Mac App Store, or the Google Play Store. The apps allows users to set filters to narrow the type of campgrounds they’re searching for. For example, filters can be set for RV suitability; shower facilities; fees; campground elevation; and more. A favorites function allows for saving campgrounds you wish to find quickly. A map-routing feature directs users to selected campgrounds. Embedded phone numbers allow you to call from the app. Weather forecasts and campground images are available for some locations.
The price of the Ultimate U.S. Public Campgrounds app is $3.99 for Android and iPhone/iPad; $7.99 for Mac computers. The Ultimate Canada Public Campgrounds app is $1.99 for Android and iPhone/iPad; $2.99 for Mac computers. For more information, visit www.ultimatecampgrounds.com.
Outdoor Recreation Leaders Focus On Infrastructure
Most everyone agrees that the United States’ infrastructure needs modernization and expansion. That’s why the nation’s outdoor recreation leadership wants to ensure that the definition of public infrastructure includes the roads, trails, and facilities Americans need to enjoy the outdoors, and that the new infrastructure push extends well beyond urban road tolling.
In February 2017, the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable (ORIR) delivered testimony to two congressional committees, one in the U.S. Senate and one in the U.S. House of Representatives. The testimony outlined decaying roads, extensive deferred maintenance, dated and worn-out campgrounds, and large expanses where lack of broadband internet access threatens safety and enjoyment.
The recreation industry’s strategy relies on private investments, voluntary fees and taxes, and leveraging of federal funding to deliver world-class outdoor opportunities in line with existing top facilities on public lands, including famed ski areas and outstanding national park lodges.
To read the ORIR testimony, go to www.funoutdoors.com/recreationinfrastructure.
California Campgrounds Swell In Spring
Expectations for outstanding wildflowers could help fill campgrounds throughout California this spring, and the season’s mild weather is also likely to draw people to desert areas of Southern California for excellent hiking, rock climbing, and camping opportunities. That’s according to the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, which hosts the statewide travel planning website, www.camp-california.com.
The state’s spring wildflowers are expected to be especially beautiful this year because of the rainfall from frequent winter storms. Among the state parks recommended for spring and early summer wildflower tours are Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Azalea State Natural Reserve, and Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.
Meanwhile, the weather through April, and sometimes into May, typically attracts hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to RV campgrounds in the Palm Springs and Borrego Springs areas, including Indian Canyons, Tahquitz Canyon, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.