You’re out on the trail having an awesome trip so far.
The weather has been great, you’re seeing nature in it’s (almost) untouched form, and just enjoying the hike.
It’s now getting to that point where you need to set up camp soon.
But what’s a good place to set up your campsite?
Seeing as everyone will be camping in different conditions and on different trails (some won’t even be on a trail), it’s difficult to give just one solid answer.
But there are some commonalities to look for when picking the best spot to set up for the night.
Let’s take a look at the ideal things to look for when choosing a campsite.
Note: this assumes you’re allowed to camp wherever you’d like. Some campgrounds and parks only allow camping in designated sites. If that’s the case for where you’re at, it’s best that you follow the rules and choose one of their predesignated spots.
A Safe Place Is The Best Place
This is what I would consider before anything.
It’s not worth the risk to camp in dangerous places!
For this I would scout the trees around you.
Are there any dead trees that could potentially fall?
Move on to the next spot.
Same goes for any low areas where a flash flood might occur, and staying out of the immediate dangers of a thunderstorm is also a big consideration.
I’ve probably said this in most of my posts on this blog, but I’ll say it again: it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Reasonable Access To Water
It’s obviously not a good idea to run out of water, so if you can help it set up your camp near a water source.
Again you’ll want to make sure that you are set up in an area where flash floods aren’t likely to occur.
Having a water source nearby makes your camping experience more convenient.
It’s no fun having to hike 5 miles round trip just to fill up water.
And it can be even worse if you’re restocking your entire water supply.
If possible, try to set up camp within 1 mile of a source of water.
If you are planning to dry camp away from water, just be sure that you have enough of a supply of water for yourself and anyone you are with!
Flat & Dry Ground
Flat ground is great when setting up camp.
It makes things easier, nothing rolls around, and you stay in place while sleeping at night.
It’s unlikely you’ll set up on a steep incline anyways, but figured it’s worth mentioning.
The last thing you want to do is wake up away from camp because you rolled over in your sleep and just never stopped rolling!
Camping tip: if you are sleeping on a slight slope, sleeping with your head on the higher end is often way more comfortable.
When setting up, look out for any sticks or rocks that could make your night uncomfortable or even rip your gear.
It’s not a bad idea to lay down your ground cover and test the ground first before fully setting up shop.
This will also give you an idea of just how level the ground really is.
While looking for the perfect campsite, you’ll want to be looking for dry ground as well.
It doesn’t have to be super dry, but it’s also no fun when all of your gear gets muddy either.
Muddy gear is heavier gear, and wet clothes from laying on super damp ground just sucks.
Try to find some dry ground if you can help it!
Optional: Pick A Site With A Good View
While this doesn’t fall under safety or comfort when it comes to picking a campsite, you are out there to have fun and relax, so I’ve added it to the list.
Finding a campsite that has the above necessities AND a good view of the sunrise, what can beat it?
Or what about close enough to hear a waterfall in the distance?
Finding the necessities is top priority, but it’s always nice to find those hidden gems while out on your trip.
Keeping Leave No Trace In Mind
Leave No Trace (LNT) is a mindset that promotes the conservation of the great outdoors.
Keeping these principles in mind and practicing them will allow you to camp without impacting the wildlife and will also keep the trails and campsites pristine for the next group of people to come exploring.
Applying these principles to finding the best campsite means:
- Setting up camp at least 200 feet (roughly 70 paces) away from the water’s edge. This will animals to access the water without feeling threatened.
- Try to camp on durable, impacted ground that won’t affect the wildlife. A lot of times these spots have already lost vegetation or don’t have any natural vegetation, or are on soft sand or bedrock.
- Camp off the main trail. Camping away from the trail (at least 50-100 paces) will allow future campers to enjoy the area in its most natural state.
- If possible, camp on already highly-impacted ground. Rather than choosing a new spot, try to camp where others have already camped to minimize our impact on the wildlife.
There are more principles when it comes to Leave No Trace, but following these will help minimize impact on choosing a campsite and conserve the wildlife.
Applying Everything To Find The Best Campsite
There are some pretty amazing campsites across the globe, ready for you to set up at them.
Using the principles mentioned, you’ll be ready to go out and find the best campsite possible.
Just make sure you leave enough time to find a campsite that fits your needs.
Wandering in the dark can be very dangerous.
And as always, have fun on your adventures!