Gale River Loop Road

Been coming here for years but this year felt different. Started out really nice made it out in early June and got site #3 and stayed for almost full 2 weeks cut it few days early. Plenty of river adventures and bike rides to keep us pumped. Prior to this I've never had incident with ranger or law enforcement out in national forest. About a month and a half later in late July I had the weekend off and decided to ride out for the 2 days and couldn't come across a spot. So there's a No overnight camping site that is directly on the river perfect for daytime recreation. Online says you have to leave by 12 midnight. Started out first day I had suspected there are locals in the area that call the rangers out because they don't come out for nothing. They pin pointed me like I wasn't enjoying the river like everyone else. But started out first day I was approached by very respectable forest rangers, they told me everything checked out, no tent, no fire, and everything's clean and even told me I'm good to be there overnight as long as I dont start fire or set up tent. Never know if someone is taking pictures of river at night or the constellations whatever it may be, I know my rights. I parked at trail head and slept that night just cause. Next day I'm enjoying the river, end up going on 15-20 mile bike ride and after I'm done I'm getting bikes all strapped up and good to go, it's about 7pm. Get everything ready to roll and as I'm started up about to pull out a law enforcement pick up pulls up behind me and turns on lights. He proceeds to tell me I'm camping here and that theres a trend going around of homelessness or whatever. It's a quarter til 9 and I just racked my bikes up after a long ride. He wasn't listening to a word he was a lost dog just ranting about no camp site and proceeded to tell me that there is no camp sites on this road. I stayed calm let him rant and I left and drove up to Maine to find some better camp. Not even joking this weekend I go out and secured site #11, beautiful spot! First day not even sunset and this guy comes barging though the woods talking about I remember you. I tried to fist bump him and I kid you not this guy looked like he was going to cry and then told me they found some litter some weeks after I was there and was certain it was me. He saw me drinking a Dr pepper and again I kid you not! He goes "yeah we found a Dr pepper can too". After awkward silence he just walks away with no closure to the incident or admits to this harassment. Told him he was wrong for messing with me at 9pm and he went silent cause I thought he was supposed to know the rules. His name is Officer Quinn. Kind of want to file a complaint because he ruined my mountain time but I don't want to be a petty person ever.

My sister camped here while she was visiting, told me she was really enjoying herself till today- called me crying that people stole not only her lot but stole her items as well. She said that they said the ranger did a walk through before they came- how can you miss all of her items set up to show the lot was taken? Not a safe place because the rangers allow people to steal and don’t check up regularly on the lots.

And for the people in Lot 9 who stole from my sister- you should be disgusted with yourself. You’re setting a TERRIBLE example as parents to your children. Showing them that stealing is ok and lying is ok. I mean come on, a “Bang Bus” school bus? That’s really gross for your children to be around. I won’t be recommending this place to anyone and everyone

This is a beautiful place- but I cannot give it a FULL 5 stars like I originally was going to. I was staying here on my trip through New Hampshire, and was invested in staying the full 2 weeks. I asked the ranger, and he said to“show that you are still occupying the lot, leave your camp gear up, that way no one will come and take your lot”. I work remotely, so Monday- Friday I come down the mountain and go to a local Walmart for wifi for a few hours, I come back and a man and his family not only took my lot, even though my foldable chair was there, mugs next to the fire pit, and my sleeping bag for camping was there- but they STOLE my foldable chair. They deliberately pulled their car into the opening of the lot so I could not get in, then proceeded, while my items were still there, to pull in a massive“bang bus” titled school bus, and another vehicle. When I confronted them about it, they lied and said the“ranger walked through” and gave them the ok to take my lot. The ranger ok’d taking my lot even though a person’s things were there? Even though it clearly shows a person is still occupying the lot? The ranger ok’d stealing my items as well? Ultimately, I was so disgusted with these people stealing from me, lying, and abusing the trust and basic decency that humans should have to one another, I left entirely. The system needs to be enforced more here, and lots checked up on regularly with who is staying there and for how long. not coming back again and will not recommend to anyone and everyone