August 2, 2024 — The Dyrt, the leading app for camping availability, photos, and reviews, has revealed that wildfires and natural disasters disrupted camping plans for 18% of campers in 2023. This figure represents a threefold increase from the 6% reported in 2019, illustrating a consistent rise over the past five years.
According to The Dyrt’s 2024 Camping Report, presented by The All-New Toyota Tacoma, the percentage of campers affected by such disruptions was 11% in both 2020 and 2021, rising to 18% in 2022 and remaining steady in 2023. West Coast states, particularly California, Oregon, and Washington, were identified as the most impacted by these natural events.
“The Dyrt has been headquartered here in Oregon since the very beginning, so we’ve seen firsthand the toll wildfires have taken on the Pacific Northwest,” stated The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long. “These unpredictable occurrences make it extremely challenging to plan ahead for camping. Because it can be so difficult to get a reservation at popular campsites, making a last-minute change of plans is exceedingly difficult.”
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The report highlights that 33.1% of West Coast campers experienced disruptions due to wildfires and natural disasters in 2023, a rate 2.5 times higher than the national average of 13.1% (excluding the West Coast). Specifically, 42% of campers in Oregon and Washington reported such disruptions.
“30 miles and millions of acres of burnt trees,” is how The Dyrt camper Robert D. of Oregon described a road trip from Yamhill to Redmond in 2023. “At mile marker #23, the devastation started. Because of the amount of trucks and equipment working to remove all the burnt trees, the speed limit was reduced to 40 mph. All I could see was burnt trees clear to the top on each side. Our favorite camping spot, Blue Pool Campground, was closed for over a year’s time.”
In a press release from the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest assistant fire director for operations Ed Hiatt remarked, “This is shaping up to be another monster fire year in the Pacific Northwest and it’s just mid-July. We’re at Preparedness Level 5, the highest level of wildfire response possible in the region and nation.”
Documentary filmmaker Trip Jennings utilized The Dyrt to find camping spots while working on “Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire,” a film that explores more effective fire mitigation strategies.
“We’re proud that a member of The Dyrt camping community is at the forefront of this issue and was able to rely on the millions of reviews from The Dyrt during the filmmaking process,” said Long. “Wildfires were one of the factors we had in mind while designing features for The Dyrt that enable flexibility for campers.”
The Dyrt Alerts help campers secure reservations at sold-out campgrounds, often at the last minute. Additionally, The Dyrt’s Free Camping Collection provides a curated map of 5,000 free camping locations, many of which can be visited spontaneously if wildfires or other factors disrupt plans.
About The Dyrt
The Dyrt is the most comprehensive camping resource with millions of user-generated reviews, photos, and tips for every RV site, cabin, glamping, and tent camping location in the United States. The Dyrt PRO offers campers reservations at sold-out campgrounds, advanced maps, discounts on camping, and more. The Dyrt, the No. 1 camping app, receives over 30 million visits annually. For more information, visit www.thedyrt.com.
Source: How Wildfires Are Disrupting Camping in the Pacific Northwest: Tips to Stay Safe
