GOt my baby back... Now, where to take 'er?

[lost1]

And strangely the worst weather I found was right here in Bend on my way home.

The jeep still needs ball joints, shocks all around(springs would be nice, but I be poor), and a good brake job, but seems otherwise mechanically sound. With the refreshed engine and rebuilt trans, I can honestly say I'd never fully felt a 360's power till I drove over the pass today. I can only praise dajeeps and Danbert again for their help in getting that engine in there, and dajeeps for being so generous.

Ooooh man I had goosebumps, especially when I've gone more than a month driving only my goofy (and tired) little nissan hatchback. It still doesn't match that first ride in it, but wow what a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Once I can get it stopping, steering, and bouncing better, I smell lots of road trips in the near future. Spring is coming, and I'm surrounded by state parks.

Question is... I want to be able to put up a primitive camp site out of the back of the jeep, and don't want pavement anywhere near me. Any of yall know of good, remote, LEGAL campsites that would be in our around Central Oregon? I am planning to meet some old friends up at the Battleground site up north but that's nothing like what I really like for campin.

I am reasonably sure these things don't count as OHVs and that opens things up a bit, but to be honest I haven't worried much in the past about camping out legally so I don't know my do's and don'ts very well beyond 'leave it looking undisturbed' 'safety first' etc.

[Tatsadasayago]

Nice to hear you got your baby back!

On the camping thing; Technically if you are pitching your tent on top of, or sleeping inside the rig, you aren't 'camping' in the literal sense. The Pakistani FSJ'rs gave me a good idea of using a roof rack as a tent platform. I like the idea and it keeps Ranger Rick from issuing raffle tickets for illegal camping. Of course, to get caught poaching a campsite, one must first be observed engaging in said activity. If the trail is rough enough and far enough away from a regular 'car' passable road...then the Ranger most likely won't walk fifteen miles to pay a visit.
I leave it as I found it whenever possible and that includes times when my tire might dig a hole. A few moments with the entrenching tool fixes things up and leaves nothing for the EnviroNazi's to whine about.
In logging country you can often get written permission to camp in company land as long as you abide by their rules regarding fire and access to certain areas. Should you go onto Forest Circus lands, it's easy to stop in at a Ranger's Station to get a often free campfire permit. It's also a good time to check for current closures, temp rules etc. You can usually get a land use map showing where you can and cannot go on the roads and off-trail.

I do well here in Cali where there are many rabid environmentalists just hoping to see a Wheeler doing something illegal so they can call the MAN.
My best method is to find a safe/secluded place to park the Jeep, then grab my tent, Shotgun, rucksack and hump a few miles beyond the nearest road or trail.
That's getting away from it all

[lost1]

Definitely the best way to go, leaving it all behind... but I'll be taking my kids along on a couple of these trips, and while one is a tomboy, the other is definitely a girly girl. 'Camping' out of the Jeep is my compromise with her.

Thanks for the tips, I'll be doing some calling around then!