Vermont land managers are reviewing a proposal that would reshape how primitive camping is handled on some public lands, the first revision to those standards in more than three decades, with an emphasis on preventing wildfires and reducing damage to soil and water.
- The plan would bar cutting or burning live wood and require campsites to sit farther from water than the current standard.
- Enforcement would expand, letting wildlife wardens and other officers issue trespass notices to campers who ignore the terms.
- Public input stays open through early October, with two in-person sessions scheduled during September.
Why the Rules Are Being Revisited
The state Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is behind the effort, which would replace guidance that has stood since 1993. Officials describe primitive camping as staying in remote spots that lack running water, electricity, trash collection, and bathroom facilities, leaving campers to rely on the surrounding environment. Oliver Pierson, who directs forestry work for the department, has framed the update as a way to make expectations clearer as more people head into these areas. As the department tells it, rising use has made it plainer that better habits are needed to keep sensitive forest ecosystems intact for both residents and visitors from outside the state.
What Would Change for Campers
Two shifts stand out. Campers would no longer be permitted to cut or burn living wood for fires, a limit meant to lower the chance of a blaze igniting and spreading. Only downed wood would count as acceptable fuel. Campfires themselves would remain allowed, and officials have stressed that they are not trying to ban them; the focus centers on how a fire is built and, importantly, making sure it is fully put out before anyone leaves. Campsites would also need to be pitched 200 feet from rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands, double the current 100-foot buffer, a change aimed at guarding water quality and shoreline habitat. Pack-in, pack-out cleanup, already practiced at some sites, would become mandatory.
Enforcement and Where the Rules Apply
The proposal would also tighten enforcement. Fish and Wildlife wardens, together with other law enforcement officers, would be able to issue trespass notices to campers who disregard the terms. The scope is narrow. The revised standards would cover only lands overseen by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Areas managed by the Fish and Wildlife Department fall under a separate rule and are not part of this particular change.
How the Public Can Weigh In
People who want to respond have until October 9 to submit feedback. Comments can be filed through an online form, or shared at either of two scheduled in-person gatherings. One is set for the Manchester Community Library, on the 22nd of September, while the other follows two days later at the Waterbury Town Offices. Officials say the open period is meant to gather reaction before anything is finalized.
Mixed Reactions Among Campers
Feedback from longtime campers has been varied. Some welcome the direction, expressing mild surprise that certain habits, such as carrying out all trash, were not already required. Others, while supportive of respecting the land, have raised concerns about the fallen-wood-only rule and questioned whether a year-round restriction is the best fit, suggesting seasonal timing tied to drought conditions might work better. A recurring worry is that tighter limits could eventually push toward removing campfires altogether, penalizing responsible campers because of the occasional careless one.
Planning Ahead for a Low-Impact Trip
For campers setting out from Carmel, Indiana or anywhere beyond Vermont, the proposal is a reminder to check the rules for the exact public land they plan to visit. Fire restrictions, shoreline setbacks, waste rules, and permit requirements can change by place and season, so a low-impact trip starts with current guidance.