Blue Creek Camping Area

public land records

Likely — The record is good enough to put a pin on, but thin in places. Treat the details as a starting point, not gospel.

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (NPS). Camping page https://www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/camping.htm (read 2026-08-16, page "Last updated: February 4, 2026") states, verbatim: "There are 10 RV sites at Sanford-Yake with electric and water hookups. These sites charge a fee and are available by calling 806-865-3131 for a reservation." and "All other sites and campgrounds are FREE and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis." STAY LIMIT, verbatim: "You may camp at any location within Lake Meredith National Recreation Area for up to 14 consecutive days within a 30-day period, but no more than 60 days per year. Hunters may set up a camp between October 1 and December 31, with up to 30 days allowed annually per hunter. It is prohibited to leave your campsite unattended for more than 24-hours." FIRE RULE, verbatim: "Fires are permitted only in elevated, above-ground grills and existing fire rings; fires are not allowed in the backcountry." The page adds "Check this website for up-to-date alerts regarding fire bans" -- check for a burn ban before you go. Also verbatim: "Digging or leveling the ground for a camp is prohibited." ENTRANCE FEE: none -- the park's Fees & Passes page https://www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/fees.htm (read 2026-08-16) states "An entrance pass is not required to access Lake Meredith National Recreation Area." and "Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is a fee-free park." Coordinates from the NPS official GIS layer NPS_Public_POIs_Geographic (https://mapservices.nps.gov/arcgis/rest/services/NationalDatasets/NPS_Public_POIs_Geographic/FeatureServer/0, queried 2026-08-16 by UNITCODE). NPS description, verbatim: "This area for off-road vehicles is located in the Big Blue Creek drainage on the northwest side of the lake. This area can be accessed from FM 1913." Amenities: "Off-road use in creek bed ONLY"; "Permints are required to use vehicles in the off-road area" [sic]; "Primitive campground"; "NO drinking water"; "NO flush toilets, vault-evaporator toilets only"; "6 campsites". PERMIT: the ORV page https://www.nps.gov/lamr/planyourvisit/ohv-off-highway-vehicles.htm (read 2026-08-16) says a no-cost NPS ORV permit is required to RIDE (apply by email to lamr_permits@nps.gov, calendar-year validity) plus a Texas OHV decal from TPWD. Camping itself is free. Coordinates are the NPS POI 'Campground - Blue Creek Bridge'; the GNIS mouth of Big Blue Creek is 35.72171, -101.66462, 100 m away, which corroborates the pin. Nearest incorporated town: Fritch, 6.7 mi (US Census TIGERweb Incorporated Places, straight-line to the place's internal point). | auto:agency-trust 2026-08-18: state agency GIS record with a source URL and coordinates, confidence not low. Fee value is the agency's own, not field-checked. Not field-verified -- confirm access, road conditions and fire rules before you go.

US DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center station locator, snapshot 2026-09-16. Straight-line miles to the nearest public, open, unrestricted station; restricted and planned units are shown but never counted.

On the agency's books. The land manager inventoried this site, so its existence is not in question — current conditions are. Nobody from here has camped it recently.