How to Choose a Wilderness Campsite

Taking a few minutes to assess the terrain can increase your potential for comfort while minimizing your impact on the environment.

Things You'll Need

  • Waterproof Matches
  • Fire Logs
  • First Aid Kits
  • Swiss Army Knives
  • Backpacks
  • Camping Stoves
  • Camping Trowels
  • Tarps
  • Tents
  • Flashlights
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose an established campsite in high-use areas rather than tramping down a new spot.

    • 2

      Find an area that drains well to avoid flooding if it rains.

    • 3

      Camp at least 200 feet from lakes or streams to protect them.

    • 4

      Set up away from other people since most people go to the wilderness to experience solitude.

    • 5

      Avoid camping beneath large dead trees and branches that can come crashing down in the night.

    • 6

      Be careful traipsing around to avoid injuring fragile objects such as seedlings and wildflowers.

    • 7

      Camp above the high-water mark in desert canyons to stay beyond the reach of flash floods.

    • 8

      Consider the benefits of receiving the morning sun and being shaded from the hot afternoon sun when picking your location. Also think about potential windbreaks.

    • 9

      Leave the site in better condition than you found it.