My friend and try to park with other cars and walk the rest of the distance. However, in a few cases, we've parked on the shoulder of the road. When we do this, we hang a cloth out the window to make it look as if we are having car troubles and will be back for it soon.

Posted by Emiliath My friend and try to park with other cars and walk the rest of the distance. However, in a few cases, we've parked on the shoulder of the road. When we do this, we hang a cloth out the window to make it look as if we are having car troubles and will be back for it soon.

Seems a bit risky to me. What if a cop radios it in, or stops to help?

Posted by Aran Seems a bit risky to me. What if a cop radios it in, or stops to help?

Cars breakdown and people leave sometimes.
As long as it's legally parked, cops won't tow it.
Provided of coarse they don't arrest you.
Near a well known location it's a dead giveaway.
Remember cops and game wardens are concern with poachers too in rural areas. Being a suspected poacher will bring unwanted attentions.
Had a state cop -wait- by my car one time because of just that.

Never leave the hood up or you may be missing your battery...

Posted by Aran Seems a bit risky to me. What if a cop radios it in, or stops to help?

I guess there will always be some type of risk associated with it, but we thought this would be less suspicious than just parking right in front of the building. I mean... cars do break down and if we weren't there when a cop showed up, I would hope he would think we were getting help.

Posted by Emiliath I guess there will always be some type of risk associated with it, but we thought this would be less suspicious than just parking right in front of the building. I mean... cars do break down and if we weren't there when a cop showed up, I would hope he would think we were getting help.

Problem being if it's a know hotspot the cop may investigate. He won't have to look too far; you dimed yourself out.
Gets on the bullhorn and calls you by name.
Calls for backup and a K-9 unit in when you don't respond... things slide downhill from there.


Hiking in removes the connection but can still cause issues both with cops and vandals. Nothing is fool proof and each site is unique.
That said, people are trouble. Avoid being seen whenever possible.

Parking has been one of the biggest reason's I've yet to explore any place yet. I live in a super small town where everyone knows everyone, and word travels fast. They definitely don't mind calling the cops, since they nor the cops have anything else better to do. They also don't mind ratting you out to the cops either. While parking a distance away and walking seems like a good idea, some locations I know of I run the risk of getting caught on the hike over too it. Shame too, since one of them are a abandoned factory.

Posted by Nitsud Parking has been one of the biggest reason's I've yet to explore any place yet. I live in a super small town where everyone knows everyone, and word travels fast. They definitely don't mind calling the cops, since they nor the cops have anything else better to do. They also don't mind ratting you out to the cops either. While parking a distance away and walking seems like a good idea, some locations I know of I run the risk of getting caught on the hike over too it. Shame too, since one of them are a abandoned factory.

Predawn entry, wait for light to explore, stay until nightfall if need be.

I haven't done much exploring, and where I have gone the neighbors really don't care if you do it, but I always park about 2-3 blocks away from the location. That way I'm close, but not conspicuous.

I usually park further away than is necessary. People have mentioned the risk of getting caught on the way there but I don't consider that an issue. As long as I'm not actively trespassing or breaking any laws the worst case scenario is that I come back another day. Living in the northeast, there are many locations that you can hike into undetected which circumvents that issue entirely.

Interesting thread.

There's a location that I'd like to check out, however the ONLY access point is an old road that connects right to the highway, and there's a metal gate which is only 10ft away from the highway. There's nowhere to park beside on the shoulder, which isn't allowed and will get you towed in under an hour.

Posted by Mickael Interesting thread. There's a location that I'd like to check out, however the ONLY access point is an old road that connects right to the highway, and there's a metal gate which is only 10ft away from the highway. There's nowhere to park beside on the shoulder, which isn't allowed and will get you towed in under an hour.

A bike makes miles seem like blocks.
A street legal dirt bike is another option.

I had my car towed on an explore once. I came back to a void in space and time where my car had once been parked around 10:00PM on a Friday night in a tiny town that could easily be confused as the armpit of america. I was alone, with nothing within walking distance except a prison and a nut hut for the criminally insane. Did I also mention I was about 400 miles from my house in a different state and that the tow truck guy decided to leave town for the weekend? Yeah. Parking is a real bitch sometimes. I'd love to do that location again (I've been two times and barely scratched the surface), but next time I'll suck it up and probably go the predawn route that Blackhawk mentioned. That seems to be the best way to mitigate the risks associated with visibility. I light paint too, so getting there predawn isn't always a bad thing - although I REALLY prefer to have scouted the area out in the daytime first. Things look incredibly different in the daytime. I can't count the times I've been shocked by some aspect of a potential site that I couldn't see under the cover of darkness... sometimes this is good and sometimes this is bad!
Sorry, I strayed from the point there for a moment.

Posted by blackhawk A bike makes miles seem like blocks. A street legal dirt bike is another option.

Already thought of that one. You can't ride a bike on the highway and there's no such a thing as a street legal dirt bike here.

It's a very secluded industrial location in a wooded area, surrounded by swamps.
I'll just wait for the swamp to freeze (it's -20 celcius today, shouldn't be long) and snowshoe in through the woods from the nearest road. It shouldn't take more than an hour and a half and it actually feels like an adventure

Posted by Mickael Already thought of that one. You can't ride a bike on the highway and there's no such a thing as a street legal dirt bike here. It's a very secluded industrial location in a wooded area, surrounded by swamps. I'll just wait for the swamp to freeze (it's -20 celcius today, shouldn't be long) and snowshoe in through the woods from the nearest road. It shouldn't take more than an hour and a half and it actually feels like an adventure

Nothing is never easy... just make sure it's frozen deep enough
Alternately have someone drop you off and do a pick up later.
Not knowing is part of the fun... just don't have too much fun.

Posted by Dee Ashley I had my car towed on an explore once. I came back to a void in space and time where my car had once been parked around 10:00PM on a Friday night in a tiny town that could easily be confused as the armpit of america. I was alone, with nothing within walking distance except a prison and a nut hut for the criminally insane. Did I also mention I was about 400 miles from my house in a different state and that the tow truck guy decided to leave town for the weekend? Yeah. Parking is a real bitch sometimes. I'd love to do that location again (I've been two times and barely scratched the surface), but next time I'll suck it up and probably go the predawn route that Blackhawk mentioned. That seems to be the best way to mitigate the risks associated with visibility. I light paint too, so getting there predawn isn't always a bad thing - although I REALLY prefer to have scouted the area out in the daytime first. Things look incredibly different in the daytime. I can't count the times I've been shocked by some aspect of a potential site that I couldn't see under the cover of darkness... sometimes this is good and sometimes this is bad! Sorry, I strayed from the point there for a moment.

I'm curious as to what you did after you couldn't get your car for the weekend?

Posted by Emiliath Posted by Dee Ashley I had my car towed on an explore once. I came back to a void in space and time where my car had once been parked around 10:00PM on a Friday night in a tiny town that could easily be confused as the armpit of america. I was alone, with nothing within walking distance except a prison and a nut hut for the criminally insane. Did I also mention I was about 400 miles from my house in a different state and that the tow truck guy decided to leave town for the weekend? Yeah. Parking is a real bitch sometimes. I'd love to do that location again (I've been two times and barely scratched the surface), but next time I'll suck it up and probably go the predawn route that Blackhawk mentioned. That seems to be the best way to mitigate the risks associated with visibility. I light paint too, so getting there predawn isn't always a bad thing - although I REALLY prefer to have scouted the area out in the daytime first. Things look incredibly different in the daytime. I can't count the times I've been shocked by some aspect of a potential site that I couldn't see under the cover of darkness... sometimes this is good and sometimes this is bad! Sorry, I strayed from the point there for a moment. I'm curious as to what you did after you couldn't get your car for the weekend?

I had to tuck my tail between my legs and call my mom and ask her to wire money to me so I could stay in a motel for the weekend.

Posted by Dee Ashley I had to tuck my tail between my legs and call my mom and ask her to wire money to me so I could stay in a motel for the weekend.

Oh, the pain...

I've had a few occasions where the only thing near a property was a stretch of road. I didn't want to park far away and walk down the road because that would be to suspicious. I decided on parking 50-100 feet past the location on the opposite side of the road off in the grass. I took an old white t-shirt and put it in my window to act like a broken down vehicle that had been left for later. Blended in perfect.

Obviously this isn't the perfect approach, point is sometimes it takes a bit of experimentation and creativity to find a spot. Always use your best judgement.

Watch out for fire hydrants, first time I ever went tunnel exploring I got a parking ticket for being near one... Pretty dumb mistake honestly

Posted by ty21 Watch out for fire hydrants, first time I ever went tunnel exploring I got a parking ticket for being near one... Pretty dumb mistake honestly

At least there wasn't a fire that needed that hydrant.
Firemen, if they have to will run the hose straight through the car, after they break out the windows.
Those hoses weep water like crazy too, so it will be flooded as well
Never block right aways either... towing isn't the worst that can happen.