How to Pick the Perfect Wilderness Campsite

By Maureen Hammerquist

You’ve got all the gear and know how to use it, and it won’t be long before your boots are tracking miles on the trail. Have you given thought to where you’ll be sleeping in the great outdoors?

If you use a little common sense, it’s not too hard to find the perfect campsite. Start your preparation at home by researching the area you’ll be visiting. You’ll probably be camping on National or State Forest land and the local land management agency will be able to tell you the dos and don’ts of camping in a particular area. In most cases you’ll need to take care of campground reservations and backcountry hiking permits before heading out. If you’re not planning on setting up your site at an existing public campground, there are additional things you’ll need to plan for, such as toilet needs, treated water and fire rings.

Ask your friends and family about places they’ve camped; word of mouth is often the best advice. You’ll get a better idea of where you might like to set up your tent—near that waterfall, on a ridge top or perhaps overlooking a forested valley. Have a backup plan, in case you get on the trail and discover your first choice is no longer available.

Make the search for the perfect campsite part of your wilderness hiking experience.

What to Look for
Trees, grass, even terrain—these things can make for an ideal site, but don’t start pitching your tent just yet. Think about the kind of view, the location that’s going to be the most relaxing. That’s when you’ll need to take a few steps to make sure that your camping experience will indeed be a relaxing one.

Before picking a site at an established campground, look around, taking note of settings that can provide privacy as well as “noise-makers”—things such as generators, large groups, even nearby train tracks. Some people don’t like to be awakened at midnight to the sound of a 30-car train rolling by.

Don’t wait until sunset to find your campsite; you’ll have less than 30 minutes of natural light left, which will make preparation hasty and you might overlook important details. Make your search for a campsite part of the backpacking adventure. The ground should be well drained, with a slight rise, and not in a depression where puddles can easily form. A durable surface like rock slab or bare ground is better than untouched vegetation.

Your site should be clear of potential natural hazards. Although nearby trees can offer wind protection and shade, don’t set up directly under trees because if the weather turns foul, you may have to deal with heavy rain drips or, worse, branches or even whole trees that could come down in high wind.  Rock croppings or large boulders can also be great wind blocks. Know how to spot poison oak and poison ivy and avoid them, and in rocky terrain keep your eyes open for snakes hidden on ledges.

Position your tent so that you’ll catch the morning sun; it will dry your tent and warm you up. Also look for where the shade will be to give you some relief against the hot afternoon sun.

As you’re looking over the area, also anticipate how weather patterns might affect your location. Cold air flows downhill, so higher land will be warmer at night. Hollows and valleys are most often wet, cold and foggy, and cold air has the tendency to collect in meadows.

Think about the kind of view you'd like to have from your tent.

That’s a Big Don’t
Everybody likes their privacy, so don’t set up too close to trails or scenic areas (most areas have rules about this, so check before setting up). Set up out of view of trails and other campsites.

Don’t set up your camp at the bottom of cliffs with loose rocks, and avoid areas where avalanches or rock slides are common.

Lightning is a potential risk in forested areas. Tall, dominant trees, single trees or small clumps of trees attract lightning. Lower areas, away from water and dense strands of trees, are your best choices.

Avoid low marshy places and tall grassy meadows. Mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers thrive in places like these. It’s best to steer clear of any area where there are lots of mosquitoes and other insects.

If you’re camping in a river canyon or dry river bed, stay above the high-water line so you won’t get caught in a flash flood.

Leave No Trace
Wherever you’re camping, the best policy is to have as little impact on the surroundings as possible. A little bit of effort will ensure that future campers get to witness the same spectacular scenery as you. Watching that waterfall or lake from your tent is peaceful, but make sure you’re camped and do your cleaning at least 200 feet from water. If there’s already an established campsite, use it instead of creating a new one. Keep fires small and only use official fire rings. Even better, use a camp stove for less impact. Fire rules vary greatly, so double check!

Check out these online resources to get you started on your search for the perfect campsite and a great camping experience. www.nps.gov www.fs.fed.us www.wildernesscampingguide.com www.hikecampfish.com