Choosing the right camp site can make all the difference in how much you enjoy your camping adventure.  You want to be comfortable AND safe.  Check out these helpful tips so you can choose the perfect camp site on your next adventure!

Ten Features of a Perfect Campsite

BEFORE you even head out, check with rangers or the website to determine the guidelines and regulations for the area you will be camping.  It’s no fun to get a ticket from a ranger or be forced to move because you aren’t following the rules.  Also check on camp fire restrictions as well.

Here are the ten features to look for when choosing a campsite.  Full details below the checklist.

1. Water availability and source : it’s no fun to lug water
2. The terrain : find a level spot so you don’t feel like you are rolling down a hill
3. A hazard free zone : look around for potential hazards like dead trees/branches or from flash floods, etc.
4. A site suitable for the expected weather : don’t pitch your tent in a low spot in case of rain, or on the ridge in a thunderstorm
5. The proper size for your party :  make sure you have enough room for all the tents, kitchen/dining area and play area
6. Bonus amenities like stone or stump chairs and tables :  are there any ‘free’ boulder or tree stump chairs to relax on?
7. A perfect mix of sun and shade : open tent to morning sun, afternoon shade and a sunny clotheseline area
8. Which minimizes negative impact on the land and the wildlife : use existing sites or try not to disturb the vegetation
9. Is private : away from other campers and the trail
10. Is pest free : use the wind to your advantage

Check before you head out: 

 What are the regulations for the area you plan to camp?  The national parks, national forests, BLM lands and state parks all have different rules and restrictions.  Obviously honor the rules as they are trying to keep things nice for all of us. If you need a reservation, make one.  If you need a permit, get one.  You certainly don’t want to get a ticket from a ranger or be forced to move because your didn’t pay attention to the guideline.  While you’re at it, find out the campfire rules, too. 

IMPORTANT :  Allow Enough Time to Find a Campsite!

 I start looking for a campsite about 4pm.  If you are super tired and the terrain and water situation is not optimal, you may want to start looking earlier.  Also if you are tired, you may want to hide you pack (and make note of where you put it) so you can scout ahead without carrying the weight.  This way you’ll be more likely to seek out a good site instead of settling for the first adequate one.

 So what does a good campsite look like?

1. Water

A great campsite has a reliable source of quality water nearby so you don’t have to haul it too far.  You can learn about portable water treatment options on Episode 003. You’re going to need water to drink, cook, and clean up.  My favorite water is a spring, then a stream. My least favorite is a lake. Lakes can collect bad things like E-coli and it’s hard for the bad things to get out.  Rivers also collect all the run off, and it was from the river at Linville Gorge that I got giardia, a most unpleasant experience. With a suitable portable water treatment system, you can drink from any of these source.  There are few places I go that I don’t treat my water before drinking it.

Remember that you want to camp at least 200’ from a water source, well off the trail and not in the path of the local wildlife’s worn path to the water’s edge.  

2. Consider the terrain

Unless you are using a hammock, you want to find a level site so you don’t feel like you are rolling down the hill when you lay down.  Even a slight pitch is unnerving. Also make sure you don’t set you tent on an area where water can collect should it rain.

3. Look up and around for hazards

Dead branches and trees can fall on you.  If you see piles of rock and debris, you might be in a flash flood hazard area.  Site selection is critical if you are in a canyon and bad weather comes in quickly.  You may not have time to escape a flash flood. This is a good thing to check with rangers beforehand.  If you are camping on a beach, make sure you are well above the high tide mark, which you can see by the debris the waves leave behind.  In winter, don’t camp in avalanche prone areas, or any time of year in rock slide areas. Don’t camp by the lone tree that welcomes a lightening strike.

4. Consider the weather

If the forecast and your visuals indicate a pleasant evening, camp higher up in the mountains.  You’ll have a better view, will see the sun earlier, will have more wind which means less bugs, and if it’s chilly out, the cold air collects in the valleys, so you’ll often be warmer.  If there is a chance of thunderstorms, head down from the ridge and avoid the lone tree.

5. Campsite Size Needed

If you are camping with others, is the site large enough not only for your group, but also for a gathering area, a kitchen AND an activity area?   What do you want to do while you are out there? If you want to throw a frisbee, you’ll need to find a place with some room.

6. Look for Natural Amenities

Can you use any natural features such as boulders or fallen trees as camp furniture?  I don’t pack a camp chair, so I often like something to sit on or lean against. I carry a small piece of ripstop fabric to not only keep my butt dry, but it also acts as a barrier to chiggers and other unpleasant bugs you might sit on.

7. Best Tent Positioning

When possible, face your camp door towards the morning sun.  You can use your compass to get a reading. This will help you wake earlier and it is so much more pleasant.  I prefer a shady spot that gets the morning sun, but has a sunny area nearly. And If you find a sunny place nearby, you can tie a rope to make a clothesline (I carry strong but lightweight parachute cord).  Tie your rope across two trees to make a clothesline to help dry out some of your gear.  With a little luck and a breeze, you can dry out anything that may have gotten wet from an afternoon shower or if you need to wash your ‘delicates’.

8. Leave No Trace and Minimizing Negative Impact

If you see a camp area that has been previously used, use it rather than hurting other vegetation.  Obviously you don’t want to puncture your tent floor with rocks and sticks, so gently clear your little patch of heaven and then try to put it back the way you found it in the morning.  In the winter, camp on top of the snow.  Whenever possible, pitch your tent on the bare ground to minimize harm to vegetation. If you see animal footprints, remember to give them the ‘rite of way’ so you don’t disturb their behavior. Animals stick to habits just as we do.  And if they have a favorite path to the water’s edge, you want to make sure you’re not camping on it.  Reminder:  Camp at least 200′ from water.  Learn more about outdoor etiquette and Leave No Trace principles HERE.

9. Privacy

If there are other campers nearby, respect each other’s privacy.  If possible you want to camp where you can’t see or hear each other, and preferably where people on the trail can’t see you either.  Don’t assume other campers want company. Many people head to the woods for solitude, so please respect that and don’t take it personally.  Check out the Wilderness Etiqueete Episode 10.

10. Wind and Pest Control

Take advantage of the wind as an organic pest control. A breeze will help keep away mosquitos and other pests.  As will avoiding setting up your tent in damp areas or still water. However, if it’s really windy, you’ll want to look for a natural windbreak like large stable boulders or a block of trees. 

If you are lucky enough to check the box on all ten of these suggestions, you have found the perfect campsite!  

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