Chapter 5 · Shelter
Planned campsite: how and where to put everything
In this section (5)
A well-laid-out camp prevents the most common accidents: tents that flood, sparks landing on fabric, water contaminated by the latrine, and animals drawn in by food. This plan works for several days with tents, whether it's a planned trip or you had to leave home. Distances follow the recommendations of Leave No Trace, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service.
Campsite mapDiagram, not to scale. Tap a number to see what goes there.
How to read the map
What goes at each number
- Blue dashed line: marks 200 ft (60 m) from the water. Between the river and this line, don't camp, cook, wash dishes or go to the bathroom.
- Blue arrows in the river: which way the water flows. The top is upstream: collect water there (9). The latrine (7) is downstream and far away.
- Black arrow, top right: where the wind comes from. Tents go upwind so smoke and sparks from the fire blow away from them.
- Black line with two arrowheads: minimum distance between the tents and the fire's cleared area: 15 ft (4.5 m).
- Short dash between tents: leave 10 ft (3 m) between one tent and the next.
- Red dashed circle: 10 ft (3 m) around the fire cleared down to dirt, with no leaves, branches or gear. The small blue square next to the fire is the bucket of water.
- Gray dotted line: the marked, lit path from the tents to the latrine, passing the handwashing station (8).
- Red dashed triangle (only with the bear switch on): tents, kitchen and food 200 ft (60 m) apart from each other.
- Red circles with a letter, red X and “No camping”: dangerous places where you never pitch a tent. A: under a dead tree. B: low ground or a wash, the first place to flood.
- Black numbered circles: each zone of the camp. Tap them to highlight; the list below explains each one.
- Brown band at the bottom: the exit trail. The car (10) is parked pointing toward the exit.
Choose the site
- Flat, firm, slightly raised ground that drains well. No dips where water collects.
- Away from water: at least 200 ft (60 m) from rivers, lakes and streams. It protects the water and protects you from a rise.
- Never in a dry wash, on a low riverbank or at the bottom of a canyon. A distant storm can send a flash flood even if it isn't raining where you are (chapter 12).
- Look up: no dead branches or dead or leaning trees overhead, and stay away from the foot of slopes with loose rock.
- Not on a hilltop or next to the tallest tree if a thunderstorm is possible (chapter 11).
- Off animal trails, ant mounds, hives and brush with poison ivy.
- Use established sites or durable surfaces (dirt, gravel, dry grass). Don't clear more vegetation than you need.
- Check the rules before you go: permits, fire bans and the weather forecast.
Where everything goes
| Zone | Where | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Tents | On the highest, flattest ground, upwind of the fire. Doors facing away from the wind. | 10 ft (3 m) between tents so stakes and guylines don't cross |
| Fire | Downwind of the tents, in a stone ring or an existing one, with the ground cleared down to dirt. | At least 15 ft (4.5 m) from tents, trees and brush; 10 ft (3 m) cleared around it |
| Firewood | To one side of the fire, never next to the tents. | 10–15 ft (3–5 m) from the fire |
| Kitchen | Downwind of the tents, on firm, flat ground. | With bears: 200 ft (60 m) from the tents |
| Food and trash | Closed cooler in the car or a locker. With bears: bear-resistant container, or hung 10 ft (3 m) up and 4 ft (1.2 m) from the trunk. | With bears: 200 ft (60 m) from tents and kitchen |
| Dishwashing | Next to the kitchen. Strain food scraps into the trash and scatter the gray water. | 200 ft (60 m) from water |
| Latrine | Downwind and downstream, with a marked, lit path. | 200 ft (60 m), about 70 steps, from water, tents, kitchen and trail |
| Handwashing | On the way back from the latrine: a jug with a spigot or a tippy tap, soap and a towel. | Between the latrine and camp |
| Water | Collect it upstream of camp and the latrine. Always treat it. | — |
| Car | On firm ground, out of washes, parked facing the exit. Keys in a place everyone knows. | Near the exit trail |
| Meeting point | An open spot visible from the tents, with first-aid kit, whistle and lantern. | In everyone's view |
How to set it up, step by step
- Arrive in daylight. Allow at least 2 hours before dark to set everything up.
- Walk the whole site before unloading: water, slope, trees, wind and exits.
- Find the prevailing wind with smoke, leaves or a ribbon, and decide where the tents and the fire go.
- Pitch the tents first, doors facing away from the wind, stakes firm and guylines tight. The ground tarp must not stick out past the tent or it will collect rain.
- Prepare the fire: clear 10 ft (3 m) around it and keep a bucket of water and a shovel next to it.
- Mark the latrine and the path with reflective tape or stones. Leave paper, a trowel, bags and hand sanitizer in a closed container.
- Put food away before dinner and put everything away again after. No food, toothpaste or trash inside the tents.
- Agree on night rules: who puts out the fire, the meeting point, and the emergency signal (three whistle blasts).
If the camp lasts several days or the group is large
- Trench latrine instead of individual holes: 1 ft (30 cm) wide and 2–3 ft (60–90 cm) deep. Cover each use with dirt and close it when it is 1 ft (30 cm) from full (chapter 21).
- Water: 1 gallon (3.8 L) per person per day for drinking and cooking, plus water for hygiene. Treat all water from rivers and lakes (chapter 3).
- Trash: in closed bags, inside the car or hung like food. Take it out of camp whenever you can.
- Watches: someone awake in shifts if there are fires nearby, a flood risk or large animals.
- Signal area: an open clearing where rescue signals can be seen from the air (chapter 8).
