State Parks and Forests
We come now to The State Parks and Forests. Most of the states own more or less extensive areas of land, much of which is in forest. Most states, too, have a forestry department. Where states have state-owned land there is usually no objection to campers using it temporarily. In many states, however, and particularly where provision has been made for the accommodation of campers, a permit is required which may be obtained from the local official of the Forestry Department. There is usually no charge made for the temporary use of a state camping site.
The following states have state lands which are available for motor tourist camping:
Alabama has state-owned forests which are in the control of the Department of Conservation, but has no State Forester and has no information relative to the state forests.
Arkansas has a Tourist Division of the Bureau of Mines, Manufactures and Agriculture, which issues a sumptuous booklet entitled “Playgrounds of [[188]]Arkansas,” bearing the invitation, “Let the State of Arkansas Help You Plan Your Vacation Trip.” This work gives valuable general information about the state and its climate. It is also copiously illustrated, and mentions the resorts that have camping parks for motorists. Obtainable on application to Tourist Division, etc., State House, Little Rock, Ark.
Florida is hospitable to motor tourists and has four State Parks. They are the Royal Palm State Park; the Natural Bridge State Park; the Port St. Joe State Park; and the Dade Memorial Park.
Illinois has a few State Parks under the supervision of the Department of Public Works and Buildings. These parks are mostly of a commemorative character and offer little in the way of accommodations for the motor camper.
The largest of these parks is Starved Rock Park, on the Illinois River, with an extent of approximately nine hundred acres. This park has much scenic beauty and is equipped throughout with artesian water, electric light and a sewerage system.
Indiana is interested in motor campers and issues a pamphlet entitled “Automobile Camps in Indiana,” which lists both the State Parks available for the camper and also the municipal motor camps. Obtainable on application to Department of Conservation, Indianapolis. The State Parks apparently number only five, of which the largest, the Clark County State Forest, is a tract of 2,800 acres.
Iowa has a Board of Conservation which maintains [[189]]sixteen State Parks, the largest of which, Backbone Park, has an area of 1,279 acres and is situated on the Maquoketa River. Lacey-Keosauqua Park is nearly as large—1,222.1 acres. These and several other of the larger parks are in the care of custodians who look after the requirements of campers.
Maryland.—The Maryland State Board of Forestry issues a pamphlet under the title “The State Reserves of Maryland, A Playground for the Public.” The most important of these reserves are the reserves of Garrett County on the crown of the Blue Ridge in the western part of the state, a reserve embracing about 2,000 acres. Permits are issued to campers without charge upon the applicant signing an application in which he agrees to abide by the regulations laid down by the Board.
Massachusetts has fifteen State Forests aggregating 50,000 acres. The greater part of them are not of much benefit to motorists, as they are not located on state highways, and many of them are in fact almost inaccessible to motor cars on account of the condition of the roads. There are three forests on the main highways, the Mohawk Trail Forest, the Erving Forest and the Otter River Forest. Improved camp sites in these forests await a legislative appropriation for the purpose. Massachusetts has five State Parks which are owned by the state, but maintained by the counties, and so under county jurisdiction. These are the four mountain parks: Wachusett (1,200 acres), Greylock (8,000 [[190]]acres), Sugar Loaf (150 acres), Everett (1,000 acres), and Tom (1,600 acres).
Michigan issues an illustrated pamphlet entitled “The Parks of the People,” which are under the control of the State Department of Conservation. There are twenty-three of these State Parks, mostly of modest size. The largest of these parks is the Hanson Military Reserve with an extent of 15,000 acres. No other exceeds several hundred acres. The appointments of the Michigan State Parks are excellent for campers. All State Parks are equipped with such conveniences as are necessary to make the camper enjoy his stay. The bathing beaches have public bath houses equipped in such a way that the bathers may place their belongings under lock and key. Outdoor fireplaces constructed of concrete will be found in all the park sites. An ample supply of good drinking water is also provided. There are also receptacles for waste paper and other rubbish, as also sanitary convenience stations. Michigan is not only surrounded on three sides by water, but, with a single exception, is said to have more small lakes than any other state. All of the State Parks are accessible by well-built state highways.
Minnesota has an area of some 350,000 acres in what is known as the “New State Forests.” With the advent of good roads and the increase in the number of automobile tourists a number of good camping grounds have been established in the Forest. These grounds are easily accessible and have a good supply of wood and water. The State Forester [[191]]warns campers that “it is unlawful to burn in this state when the ground is not snow covered without first obtaining a burning permit from the local Fire Warden or other authorized Forest Officer.”
New Jersey has state forests exceeding 17,000 acres in extent. The largest of these is the North Jersey State Forest of 7,200 acres. There are six others of lesser size. Camping privileges may be secured in each of these, without charge, upon application to the local forester. All these forests are fairly accessible by automobile.
New York has an imperial system of State Parks and Reservations. There are some thirty-three parks administered in various ways which are mostly of a commemorative character, such as Washington’s Headquarters at Newburgh, and a number of battlefields. The largest of the parks is the Palisades Interstate Park of 30,000 acres along the Hudson. The Conservation Commission of the State of New York administers the extensive forest preserves of the State. The largest of these, the Adirondack Park, embraces an area of nearly three and a half million acres and is slightly larger than the state of Connecticut. The Catskill Park has more than half a million acres, more than a hundred thousand acres of which are owned outright by the state. There are some seven forest tracts owned by the state. In these forest reserves, particularly in the Catskill Park, the state has constructed many trails, and along these trails there are many camping [[192]]sites, but usually not much more is provided than a fireplace.
North Carolina has one State Park which is reached through the property of the Mount Mitchell Development Company and is named the Mount Mitchell State Park. This park comprises 1,200 acres of rough mountain land, including the summit of Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. This park is accessible by motor, and the company owning the road makes a toll charge of $1.00 per person for all automobiles using the road. The company also rents tents at the end of the road which reaches the park.
Oregon owns 78,000 acres of woodland about equally divided between the eastern and western sections of the state. Little attention has been paid to providing camping sites in these State Forests, as many of them are inaccessible to motorists. However, a number of wardens whose districts include popular camping regions do erect fireplaces and devote some time to fixing up suitable camp grounds and keeping them in order for tourists.
Pennsylvania. The Department of Forestry of the State of Pennsylvania has developed and equipped eight public camp grounds in the State Forests for automobile tourists who carry camping outfits with them. All that is asked is that the camper be careful with fire and that he leave the camp as he would like to find it. These eight public camp grounds have been equipped with a space for [[193]]tents, a fireplace, a supply of pure water, two comfort stations, four garbage containers, four tables and eight benches. Where public camp grounds are adjacent to state-owned telephone lines, public telephones are installed.
Rhode Island issues “A Guide Book to the Reservations of the Metropolitan Park System of Rhode Island” which is illustrated and describes eighteen parks, the largest of which is the Lincoln Woods reservation with 458 acres. In most of these parks shelters and fireplaces have been located for the use of such camping parties as have applied for and received permission for such use.
South Dakota prides itself on its State Park among the peaks of the Black Hills and issues an illustrated pamphlet setting forth its beauties. The park is eight by twelve miles in extent and has an area of 61,440 acres. The park is called the Custer State Park.
Vermont has a list of thirteen State Forests ranging in size from the Groton Forest, 15,000 acres, down to the Arlington Forest of 225 acres. The only forests of more than a thousand acres, however, aside from the Groton, are the Mansfield, 5,000 acres, and the Putnam, 1,400. No provision has been made by the Department for campers.
Washington has a State Parks Committee which reports that “camp sites, not including those maintained by various municipalities throughout the state, are now being established through four [[194]]agencies, namely, the State Forestry Department, the State Parks Department, the Washington Forest Fire Association (an association of large timber land owners), and those established by private land owners.
“Camp sites prepared by the State Forestry Department are generally upon lands leased by the department, such lands being situated upon public highways and usually adjoining running streams of pure water, fireplaces and free wood being provided. There are twenty-one of these sites, mostly in counties in the western portion of the state. There are sixteen state parks, upon some of which camping sites have been established, and others will be provided.”
Wisconsin has eight State Parks, with the establishment of four others under consideration. The largest of these parks is the Peninsula State Park of 3,400 acres fronting on Green Bay. The state issues an illustrated pamphlet describing these parks, but no mention is made of camp sites, though probably such exist.
The rising tide of motor tourists has led most municipalities from the Middle States westward to lay out camping parks. In many cases no fee is charged. Mostly, however, there is a small charge per day, averaging probably not more than fifty cents.
California leads in the number of these motor-camping sites provided by municipalities. But while the California camping parks exhibit every quality [[195]]of attractiveness, they cannot exceed the appeal of many of the camping parks of the Rocky Mountain States, or even of those farther to the eastward.