by Sherry Horton Blake

Created on: February 23, 2010

Try to plan your camping trips so that you arrive at your campsite while it is still daylight.  Choosing a site and setting up your tent at night can be difficult.

Choose a relaxing site with a beautiful view.  If there are already established campsites in the area where you are camping, it is best to use one of those so as to have less of a negative impact on the environment.  If there are no established campsites, then you will have to choose your own.

Set up your tent on even ground of smooth soil or grass.  The ground should be free of twigs, rocks and animal burrows.  Do not place your tent under dead trees and branches.  They may fall on your tent.  Avoid tall, grassy meadows as they may be infested with chiggers, ants and other pests.  If possible, place your tent where it faces the east or southeast to catch the morning sun.  This will allow your tent to dry out in the morning, and you will have shade in the afternoon.

Ground that is fairly level with good drainage is important in case you are caught in a rainstorm.  It is not a good idea to put your tent on top of a hill or mountain as there will be no protection from hard winds and lightning.  On the other hand, you do not want your tent in the lowest area as you could get flooded.  An area with some elevation is best.  If you want trees for shade around your tent, choose dense trees about the same height in a fairly low area that is away from water so as not to attract lightning.  Large boulders or rocks can offer protection from high winds.    

Having a water supply nearby is definitely a bonus.  If there is not clean drinking water available, you will have to bring your own water to the campsite.  If you need wood for cooking, select a campsite with dry wood on the ground.  However, some places require that fires be built only in designated areas, and gathering of wood may be prohibited.  Check for any existing rules and regulations. 

If you are backpacking in the backcountry, it is especially important to choose a campsite which is low impact on the environment.  When you move back and forth to camp, use different routes unless an established trail already exists.  Do not set up your campsite right by a water source in order to avoid polluting the water.  When using the bathroom in backcountry, it is important to be at least 200 feet from any water sources. 

If you are going to build a fire while camping in the backcountry, it is important to use extreme caution (once again, be sure you know if there are any regulations about fire in the area where you are camping).  Use only dead wood on the ground.  The area where you will be building your fire should be clear of leaves, twigs and branches.   Try to clean up all traces of the fire when you leave.

Choosing the right campsite will help to ensure that your camping experience is everything you had anticipated. 

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