How to Build Shelters With Tarps

Tarps can make an excellent shelter when other options are unavailable. Much like a tent, a tarp will be able to shield you from the harsh elements of nature and make it possible to survive outdoors. Building a shelter with tarps can be done in a few short minutes and both stakes and hammers can be improvised with things found in nature.

Things You'll Need

  • Tarps Rope Stakes or sticks Hammer or Rock
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a clearing where you want to pitch the tarp shelter. Clear the ground of any large rocks, fallen branches and any debris. Gather any pointed sticks that you will be using as stakes; you will need eight total.

    • 2

      Tie the rope between two trees at an appropriate height. The tarp will be thrown over the rope so that it will straddle both sides. The height of the rope should be slightly lower than the length of half of the tarp.

    • 3

      Throw the tarp over the top of the rope to create a simple triangular tent shape. Half of the tarp should be on one side and half on the other. There should be about 2 inches of tarp on each side touching the ground so that you will have room to place stakes into the tarp.

    • 4

      Hammer stakes into the ground through the tarp. There should be four stakes on each side of the tarp, evenly spaced. These stakes will help to keep the tarp shelter secure during inclimate weather.

    • 5

      Add branches or palm fronds to the outside of your tarp shelter for additional security from the elements. Large amounts of dry grass can be added to the floor of the shelter to act as bedding.