So, I'm getting kind of tired of car camping, and want to try something new. But I don't want the full "back country experience" quite yet.

SHNF allows for primitive camping off the trail: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas/recreation/sam_houston/samhouston_gen_info.shtml

does that mean, I can like, park my car, hike a few miles, and then "veer left" off the trail a few (hundred?) yards, and set up shop?
Also, does that mean I can bury my "business" because I need to practice that...

Sorry, no SHNF experience for you. I have been to Enchanted Rock by Fredricksburg. It is state park with primitive camping. But, it is REALLY small. My brother-in-law and I went there for a 3 day and left early because we ran out of park to explore. And, we didn't spend a lot of time exploring, mostly rock climbing and caving.

You should note that not all the land in a National Forest is actually owned by the Government. You may need permission to camp off trail in private land. For the same reason that someone should get your permission before camping in your front yard.

However, on government land, if it is permitted, you can go some distance off the trail to make your own camp. Depending on detailed regulations for the National Forest you are visiting, there may be restrictions on things like Fire/Campfire, Minimum distance between your camp and the trail, sanitation requirements on disposal - such as hole depth and covering and TP.........

It is your responsibility to find out what the regulations are, just as it isn't the responsibility of the local police to educate you on the laws of the city and until they force feed you the "education", you can do whatever you like and not worry about going to jail because you weren't told.

There are usually big signs of regulations posted near visitor centers. You may be able to get some forest maps and they may have summaries of the key regulations. You can also ask at the visitor center, or call by telephone to ask, the basic regulations for the activity that you plan to pursue while in the National Forest.

Sam Houston National Forest looks interesting. May be good hiking within 50 miles of Houston, and that is important because I may move to Houston.

I'll call the number listed on the website you linked to, and I'll ask for maps and regulations to be sent to me. Hey, you might do the same thing.

Hi,

I've never been there either but see if you can get your hands on a copy of "Hiking and Backpacking Trails of Texas".

http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Backpacking-Trails-Texas-backpacking/dp/0884153258

After checking it out from the library a half dozen times, I bought a copy and have kept it stashed in the car ever since.


Also check out "Nocona on the Lone Star Trail's 2006
Lone Star Trail Journal" at http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=123027 and http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=6923.