How we find and enjoy public land with our dog
Almost 40% of the United States is some sort of public land. We love that we have access to so many beautiful, free environments. And we want to keep it that way!
National forests and BLM areas are some of my favorite spots to stay while living full time in our van. We feel like we’re in our own little world, Scout can usually be off leash, and Hermes is self contained so we’re just as comfortable without hookups.
Here’s how we try to enjoy these spaces responsibly.
How we find public land to visit
When we first started dreaming about living in a van, I had no idea how to know where you could and couldn’t sleep. Thankfully it hasn’t been as complicated as I initially worried.
Most BLM areas and national forests allow you to park and camp off of service roads, provided you don’t stay longer than 14 days at a time and follow any location-specific instructions.
When in doubt, we’ve had success calling ranger offices directly to confirm if we can stay and if Scout can be off leash. (We’ve done this twice at the time of writing.)
It’s easier than ever to get up-to-date info about public land accessibility online! The BLM website is a great resource; most national forests have their own domains; and there are tons of van-life blogs out there compiling favorite spots, regulations, and advice.
We also use apps like iOverlander to find areas people have recently stayed. We generally don’t rely on this in cities or places where we want to be “stealthy”—too many vans showing up in the same spot, over and over, can make communities uncomfortable—but it’s perfect for public lands where camping is expressly allowed.
Why respecting public land is important to us
I hope this section goes without saying, but it’s always worth reiterating
Help keep public land accessible
One reason I’m big about following guidelines in shared spaces? The more we respect the rules, the more welcome we are! I’ve seen the unfortunate inverse of this reality with dogs in particular. Many spots choose to ban pets entirely when owners don’t respect regulations.
By taking a few simple steps to treat our public lands well, I can sleep well at night knowing I’m not contributing to giving van lifers or dog owners a bad name.
Beyond that baseline accessibility of us being allowed to use public lands, taking care of them also just makes the experience more enjoyable for everyone who comes after us. I appreciate when we arrive somewhere new and find it clean with nature minimally disturbed. I want to do the same!
Preserves sensitive habitats and wildlife
Selfish reasons aside, it’s important to preserve environments for their own sake—not just because it means we’ll be allowed to return and enjoy them.
Living in a van has made me feel more connected to the world around me than ever before. (Yeah, yeah, a cliche… but it’s true.) Being able to be simultaneously in my house and also outside in a remote patch of nature is indescribable. Any steps I can take to keep those environments thriving is so worth it.
Keeps us and our dog safe, too!
Finally, common sense and respect towards others on public land results in increased safety and comfort for us, too. A true win win!
While backcountry spots are delightful, they can also be dangerous especially for dogs. Rattlesnakes, coyotes, all sorts of other wildlife, toxic plants… the list goes on. Extending thought to the space around us and considering how we can make sure Scout doesn’t disturb the environment automatically means she’s better off in the long run too.
General guidelines for staying on public land with our dog
Read up on local wildlife ahead of time
We’re prepared to recall Scout (or just keep her on leash) when necessary. It’s their home—we’re just visiting!
While we do allow Scout to chase prey like squirrels in some safe public spaces (like city parks with lots of trees) we do not disturb critters in wilderness areas.
Leash up whenever we pass by someone else
Even in off-leash legal areas, Scout needs to be under voice control. Public land has far fewer restrictions than most city or suburban environments—but that doesn’t mean it’s a free pass to throw respect to the wayside!
Pack out whatever we brought in
Dog poop is an environmental pollutant. We have a little tailgate dumpster on the back of our van to store Scout’s waste and can also put it in our human composting toilet in a pinch.
Stay on roads, trails, or previously used paths
This goes for both walking and driving, particularly in desert environments with cryptobiotic soil (living crust) that can take decades to restore itself. We call Scout back if she ventures through plants or sensitive terrain.
The exception to this is large grassy fields (like those covered in dandelions in the spring) or other hardy environments. We use our best judgment and refer to posted regulations when needed, which are easier to find than ever on the internet.
Don’t block entrances
Hermes doesn’t have high clearance or four-wheel drive, so we stick to hard packed surfaces. If we’re pulling over to the side, we try to park far enough off roads so fellow visitors can easily go around. Sometimes “easily” is debatable depending on the state of the forest road… but we do our best.
Secure cattle gates or other barriers behind us
I was initially surprised by how many public land areas are open grazing for cattle. We don’t want to accidentally encourage our hoofed friends to wander onto main roads!
Keep fires in designated rings
We respect burn bans, consider wind conditions even when there’s no strict ban in place, and drown our fires when we’re finished. We have a BioLite fire pit that’s easy to pack up in the “garage” of the van (beneath our bed), which makes things simpler especially in remote spots without prebuilt rings.
Don’t overstay our welcome
We’ve been enjoying moving around frequently so far, so we haven’t come close to the typical 14-day stay limit yet. It’s especially important to keep in mind in busier spots though!
Really… just try to be nice
We try to respect the rules in place, search online or call ranger offices to confirm if we have questions, don’t park right next to someone else, avoid making a bunch of noise… It sounds simple, but the common sense stuff goes a long way.
Specific obedience commands and training skills we use with Scout on public land
Off-leash reliability, including solid recall around distractions like wildlife. The fact that I trust Scout to come back to me when asked—even if there are critters to chase or scents to sniff—is what gives me the greatest confidence to let her roam near the van.
Ability to relax and sleep around wildlife sounds, smells, and sights. I initially underestimated how important this would be. As a herding breed, Scout is naturally very aware of her surroundings—but she needs to be able to rest even when interesting things are going on!
Impulse control to leave droppings and otherwise not scavenge. Knowing Scout can explore without gobbling up something dangerous is huge for our peace of mind.
A little thought can go a long way
We are by no means perfect stewards of our public lands. We’ve made our fair share of mistakes like forgetting poop bags in the van and getting distracted before returning to pick up Scout’s waste, or not realizing we were walking off the faintly marked trail. But we’ve learned from those moments—and I hope to keep figuring out how we can do better and minimize our negative impact moving forward.
It’s not about being a flawless environmentalist who never puts a toe out of line. It’s about about caring enough to try.