How to Choose a Good Campsite

A good campsite should be a safe and comfortable place to sleep, cook and perform camp-related activities. It should also not infringe on the experience of other hikers or cause lasting damage and alterations to the landscape when you leave.

Avoid camping on sloped surfaces, as rainwater may pool or flow into your tent. Choose a site away from animal trails to allow nervous woodland creatures an unobstructed path to water.

Location

The location of the campsite plays a significant role in how well you sleep. You want to avoid depressions that could collect rainwater or flash floods and ridgelines where you are exposed to lightning storms. You also want to be at least 200 feet (61 meters) from the trail so that you and hikers passing by can enjoy solitude and not disturb your tent.

Look at a terrain map to see how much of it has been impacted by previous campers. A good campsite will have a flat, usable surface, with minimal tripping hazards and no areas of debris. Avoid campsites that hikers have overused unless you want to risk getting your tent stuck in the mud or leaving a mess behind you.

Think about the wind, especially in a high alpine environment or a windy plain. If the weather will be a factor, choose a site protected from the wind by a boulder, a stand of trees or a ravine. This will help you slumber soundly and avoid annoying tossing and turning as the wind agitates your sleeping bag. Also, avoid a site directly under tall dead trees that could fall on your tent in a storm.

Weather

Choosing a suitable campsite can make or break a backpacking trip. A good site can turn a mediocre experience into one that’s truly memorable, while a lousy site can make a trip miserable and unpleasant. When selecting a camping spot, consider the terrain, weather conditions, and what’s nearby that will affect your comfort and safety.

For example, if you’re not a morning person, select a site sheltered from the sun so you don’t wake up to a blazing sun broiling your tent. And if you’re in an area where the wind is gusty, try to find a nook or a site protected by boulders or trees for a more comfortable camp.

In addition, if you’re camping in an area that could be affected by flash floods, look for higher ground when possible. Also, don’t camp too close to a water source since this can put you at risk of getting stuck when the river rises.

Finally, choose a campsite with durable surfaces that you can stake into. Avoid rock or overly impacted sites that can be difficult to get a tent peg into and will quickly become swamped during a rainstorm. Also, avoid camping on bare ground, as it can be freezing and hard to sleep on.

Terrain

Whether you’re glamping in an RV, cowboy camping with your tent, or backcountry backpacking on a permit-only basis, the suitable campsite can make or break your trip. A bad site can leave you waking up to flooded tents or exposed to storm-driven conditions that could lead to injury or death. A good campsite will have solid ground for sleeping and cooking and a place to set up guy lines to keep your tent from blowing down in a windstorm.

A few key things to look for in a campsite include:

How will the location of your campsite affect the surrounding environment? This includes the durability of surfaces and vegetation, frequency of use, and group size.

In a dispersed camp situation like the one shown below, the campsite would likely lose its bedrock surface for sleeping and cooking. Multiple groups have trampled the vegetation over long periods, and the proximity to water increases the likelihood that the soil will erode into the lake.

In the backcountry, avoid sites many people have already impacted. Instead, find a site that looks unoccupied or is surrounded by other campsites. This will minimize your impact and keep the surrounding environment a more pleasant place to camp for everyone else who will visit that area in the future.

Safety

Good campsite choices include ensuring that your tent, camper or trailer is screened from trails and neighbouring sites by natural features such as trees, bushes and the terrain’s shape. This helps keep you safe from others and their campsites and keeps noise minimum if music plays. Where fires are allowed, look for a site with an existing metal fire ring well-encircled with rocks and a cleared area around it to prevent embers from falling out of control. Also, never leave a campfire unattended, as carbon monoxide poisoning can occur.

If you are an early riser, choose a site out of the way of the morning sun to help you sleep longer and deeper. Also, consider how the site will drain – especially in hilly environments where rainwater often flows across the surface instead of penetrating it. It’s best to avoid areas impacted by other people and always pack up all trash before leaving for home.

If you’re new to backpacking, take some time to learn and understand the backcountry camping rules in the area where you will be camping. Not only will it improve your experience, but it’s the right thing to do for those who come after you. Using the campsite-selection tips described above will make it easier to find the perfect spot to set up camp and enjoy all that nature has to offer.