8 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Backpacking Campsite

Choosing the right campsite when backpacking is essential for your comfort and safety. Here are some tips to help you evaluate potential campsite locations.

1. Camp near a water source

After you have just hiked all day long, having a campsite close to a water source of some kind is important so that you’re not stuck having to go very far to replenish your water containers.

(However, sometimes there is an exception to this rule. Some of the best sites I have camped at have been on the tops of mountains with spectacular views that have no water sources. In these situations I usually make sure to bring extra water with me that will last the whole time I’m up there.)

2. Find a campsite that’s relatively flat

For comfort try to find a site that’s relatively flat to sleep on. If you can’t find a site like that, then look for one with a slight slope to it and sleep with your head up high. Also, make sure to avoid campsites that have a depression where water can collect during a rainstorm and flood your tent.

3. Look for potential hazards

When choosing a campsite, you will want to look around for any potential hazards. For example, if you’re camping in a forest, you will want to make sure there are no standing dead trees (widow makers) nearby that could fall over onto your tent. Also, if you’re in a rocky and mountainous area, you will want to look for and avoid areas where there could be possible rock slides.

4. Make sure the surface is free of rocks and roots

Trying to sleep on top of a pointy rock or having a root jabbing you in your back can really ruin a good night’s sleep. Even if you have an inflatable pad, sometimes you can feel them right through it or you could even puncture your pad. So, when you’re deciding where to set up your tent, make sure you find an area that’s clear of all rocks and roots.

5. Avoid compacted ground

Some campsites are used over and over again by hikers, especially ones on popular trails. As a result, the surfaces will become compacted. In heavy rain, the water won’t penetrate the ground, but collect on the surface and could swamp your tent. When selecting a campsite, try to find one that will drain well - look for surfaces that are covered in things like pine needles, leaves, grasses, or uncompacted dirt.

6. Camp at least 200 feet away from water

Camping 200 feet away (or more) from a water source will help prevent condensation from forming inside your tent. Camping away from the water will also reduce encounters with nocturnal animals like bears (who have become nocturnal in places of high human use in order to avoid people). Water also attracts bugs like mosquitoes, so camping away from a water source will help you from getting bitten up. Now sometimes there are instances when it’s hard to resist those gorgeous campsites by a lake or creek. In those situations, you will have to weigh the pros and cons and decide if it’s worth the extra hassle and danger.

7. Try to find a location with a breeze

A light breeze at camp can be beneficial in keeping bugs at bay, help in reducing condensation in your tent, and keep you cool at night on a hot summer day. Finding a good breeze could mean camping slightly higher up in elevation or camping on a certain side of a mountain.

8. Avoid exposed campsites in bad weather

Camping on top of ridges or hilltops in bad weather can leave you vulnerable to high winds. The wind can cause your tent to flap at night and create a lot of noise, thus affecting your sleep. It could also cause your tent to collapse or even damage it. Instead, reserve hilltop campsites for nice weather, and then, when bad weather does occur, try to find an area down in lower elevation that’s sheltered by trees, boulders, or a hill.

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