Camping at Tan Vat?

[flyphsh]

Is there a place to throw down a tent or two off the parking area at Tan Vat? We've rolled into Baptist late at night and camped until morning but this year were considering putting in at Tan Vat instead. Worst case we can sleep in the van again. Thanks.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I wouldn't do it. I think it is posted as no camping, but that hasn't stopped people (hoosiers). Go up the road 1/8th of a mile (towards Montauk) and camp at Eagles Nest.

[Terrapin Station]

I'll second Eagles Nest. Although you see some interesting folks camping at Tan Vat all the time. Just last fall I pulled into the lot early one morning and saw the most tattered set-up I've seen in a long while. Even through the early morning fog, I could see several kimonos drying on a clothesline and a pile of empty Old Crow bottles tossed into the firepit. The tent had definitely seen better days. From the sound of the snoring, it had been a late and inebriating night. When I returned to the truck later that afternoon, I heard the screaming a mile away (sounded like someone cussing in Japanese). As I packed up, an extremely scruffy individual asked me for a ride to the Montauk lodge. Seems his female companion had gotten ticked off and left him (for good this time). As we drove the short distance to the lodge and puffed on some cigars, he told me an amazing story of how he had been somewhat of a celebrity BASS fisherman and even hosted a television show in Japan years earlier. I sure wish I could remember his name.

[Snow Fly]

Last year you could camp there {very basic} Fished there two weeks ago and did not notice any signs posted stating otherwise.

[jdmidwest]

Unless they have changed it, there is an area to put up a tent at Tan Vat off of the parking lot but the river ford, but you would be better off at Baptist. There is not enough floatable water between the two to make a difference. There is camping at Baptist. The road to the left as you go down the hill leads to a camping area. Someone even pulled a popup down there. Any of the gravel bars on the current is fair game also. They have cleared an area by the parking lot also.

[Kayser]

I was down there this past summer, and while there were no restrictions on camping at Tan Vat (no signs, at least), I'm pretty sure that I saw a few signs at Baptist that have a crossed out tent. So I think there is no camping at Baptist (but I could be wrong).

Rob

[flyphsh]

Cool. Thank you all for the info, looks like we'll just stick with the usual plan and shack up at Baptist for a few hours and get out on the water. We come down from Ohio and usually don't arrive until midnight or 1:00 a.m. The sun starts coming up after a case of beer anyhow....

[Gavin]

The Park Service hasnt designated Tan Vat, Baptist as campgrounds, so they could give you a ticket if they really wanted too. The trail will take you to a decent gravel bar about 1/4 mile down from Baptist, and theres a decent spot about 50 yards upstream of the gravel lot at Baptist. Cheers.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I'll second Eagles Nest. Although you see some interesting folks camping at Tan Vat all the time. Just last fall I pulled into the lot early one morning and saw the most tattered set-up I've seen in a long while. Even through the early morning fog, I could see several kimonos drying on a clothesline and a pile of empty Old Crow bottles tossed into the firepit. The tent had definitely seen better days. From the sound of the snoring, it had been a late and inebriating night. When I returned to the truck later that afternoon, I heard the screaming a mile away (sounded like someone cussing in Japanese). As I packed up, an extremely scruffy individual asked me for a ride to the Montauk lodge. Seems his female companion had gotten ticked off and left him (for good this time). As we drove the short distance to the lodge and puffed on some cigars, he told me an amazing story of how he had been somewhat of a celebrity BASS fisherman and even hosted a television show in Japan years earlier. I sure wish I could remember his name.

Paul Dallas - yup thats him. My drunken father. Though we've had our differences, and he has attempted to kill me a time or two, it makes me smile to know he's still out there, down by a river somewhere, delivered there by way of a Burlington Northern boxcar, or his hitchikers thumb, living the hobos dream, constantly on the lamb, sleeping in cemeteries, winning prestigious tournaments but then having to forfeit for some extracurricular activity that usually involves sponsors wives. Always a half-step behind greatness, and a half-step in front of self-destruction. All the great ones were this way: Vincent Van Gogh, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Clinton, Mike Tyson, Jim Baker, Paris Hilton. Out there suffering for their art.