Setting up your Camp ... Where

For best Camping Experience find the right Spot

Always try to schedule your day so you arrive at your campsite at least 2 hours before the sun sets. You will have lots to do to set up your camp comfortably and when the daylight is gone you should sit back and relax.
        ... Not here!   A few examples of picking the wrong spot:
1. The bank of that river or lake looks like a nice spot to set up the tent? …
That river or lake will probably have a lot of rising moisture (damp) in the early morning hours when the air temperature is much colder then the waters. Your tent will be soaked wet. Keep a little distance and go higher up-land. Probably there will be a lot of bugs and mosquitoes close to the waters edge too.
2. That large boulder in the middle of nowhere is where you want to camp? …
Unless you really need that boulder to protect you from strong wind, do consider that it might also be giving shelter to a lot of other creatures, which you might not want to encounter to close. Set up your tent a few yards away and admire the boulder from a distance. You probably see more that way as well.
3. That huge tree looks so attractive to set up your tent underneath? …
Huge trees are of age, and aged trees have a lot of ‘dead-wood’ which tends to fall down unexpectedly. Often this is in the shape of big branches, which could flatten your tent. Steer clear of huge trees!
        ... but here. Simply look around you in all directions...
Consider the following issues and find your best camping spot accordingly:
*Surface, * Trees * View * Bathroom * Neighbors * Shade * making a Fire *

Look Down: The surface should always be as flat and as horizontally as possible. You don’t want to sleep up-hill or down-hill, neither do you want sticks & stones pocking you.
A surface slightly elevated is best in case there is unexpected rain during the night, the water can run away from your tent, not towards your tent. Don’t set up your tent in a trench. Low spots collect water and can also be damp through out the year. A surface covered with light grass or lawn is much more comfortable and keeps dirt out off your tent, compared to a bare or sandy surface.
If you think you found the right spot, look for traces of animal or insect life before you pitch your tent (ex: ants will put up a heavy fight if you put your tent on top of their nest). The animals see you as the invader into their territory; they might put up a defense. Make sure you are not on an existing animal path or obstructing their way to the water.
Don’t harm any animal life. Don’t damage any plant life.
Look Up: As mentioned above, stay away from under big old trees due to stuff that falls down. Some trees develop gooey juices excreted through leaves or bark. You will not notice the effects immediately, but your tent will become somewhat sticky, and dust and dirt will cling to your tent!
Generally, the more clear sky you see, the better for your camping experience.
Look in front: Of course you came to admire nature and scenery, so do turn your tent at such angle that you can admire the most of what you would like to view.
If you intend to make a fire (read section: Making a Fire … where & how), take into consideration that your tent needs a space from the fire and that there might be smoke from the fire. Check the wind-direction and place the tent up wind from the fireplace.
Look Behind: Well, you will probably need a bathroom somewhere, so consider this to be placed behind you, out of your direct view. You never want to be to close to a bathroom (or ablution blocks), yet if it’s to far away it might become a mission to get there. So, do think about how far or close you want to be from a bathroom.
Neighbors: Are you alone on this campsite or are there fellow campers? Basic rules are not to crowd other campers, let everyone have some space. Don’t set up your tent where you obstruct the view that others came to enjoy, unless there is no alternative.
The noise level of some people is just a bit more than that of others and if you came for the peace and quite, you might want to consider this and increase the distance between you and the neighbor.
Shade: Probably you set up your tent in the afternoon. If you are planning to keep your tent up on this campsite for the next day, you need your tent to be in the shade for most of the daytime. Heat building up inside a tent from direct sunlight is unbearable. The air gets sticky and your food-provisions will suffer too.
Depending where on the globe you are and what month of the year it is, will determine where shade will fall. Be aware that this is not necessarily right underneath a tree, but might be away from the tree a few yards. Use your ‘better judgment’ to determine where the best shade will be during the midday-heat (if applicable) and position your tent there.

With this guide on where to set up your tent we hope you get the best out off your camping experience. Simply look around you first and weigh the pros and cons of each place you consider before making a final decision on your camping spot.
Be responsible, and treat the backcountry gently.

Happy Camping!

Please remember: Before departing, make a final sweep of your campsite to make sure that it is trash-free and that nothing has been left behind. Do your part to ensure that those coming after you can also enjoy this place.

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