Do you long to go family camping outside developed campgrounds, to wake up to truly secluded spots and spectacular views or the smell of pine forest - with no one else around?
But do you worry that you don’t have the right skills and setup for this type of primitive camping? For being self sufficient (or self contained) with no need of amenities? Do you believe that primitive is only for people with special off-road trucks or mad survival skills? Think again, my friend.
The most important thing you need for dispersed, or primitive, camping is a sense of adventure. The second most important thing (although some may argue the first), is being self-sufficient.
Whether you are new to camping or experienced - or worried how your baby or kids will do - you’ll be surprised at how little extra it takes to camp off the grid. Being self sufficient can seem intimidating at first, but if you are already camping, you are probably very close to being self sufficient already. If you are not yet camping, it doesn’t take much to get there.
The key when preparing for dispersed, or primitive, camping is to become more aware of your situation and to increase your safety and health consciousness so you can enjoy your adventure.
How to be self-sufficient for camping?
Now what does that mean in real life and how do you get there? It means, you need to be able to not rely on any amenities (running water, fire/fire pit, toilets, electricity, trash cans and bear boxes for food storage, gas, etc.). You have be able to get yourself in and out of your location and to leave the site in a better shape than you found it (Leave no trace).
Make sure to download my dispersed camping checklist (click picture below) to remember everything and to make camping planning much easier.
These 8 steps will get you ready for dispersed camping.
Even though the following 8 steps will get you ready for dispersed camping, there is always more to learn.
Educate yourself on the area and potential dangers - This includes the rules about dispersed camping in your given area (the type of public land you are on) as well as the environment: weather, terrain, altitude, plants, wildlife etc. Only when you are prepared for anything will you be able to relax and adhere to the best practices of dispersed camping. If you are camping in the desert, for example, you need to know about how to avoid snakes and scorpions, as well as dehydration. You also need to know about flash floods and where they occur. You need to know about altitude sickness for mountain trips as well as proper layering. And it’s important to be able to identify poisonous plants and how to treat rashes and bug bites for forest and East Coast Camping.
Closures and restrictions - always check with the local ranger / office (find the website or phone number for the specific district you will be visiting) for any current information about land closures and restrictions. Snow melt, snow fall, fallen trees and fires occur from one day to the next, so conditions change rapidly. In winter, you will come across locked gates for closed forest roads, so be prepared.
Leave No Trace - There are seven principles that you have to learn. The 7 principles are :
Plan and prepare
Dispose of waste properly
Camp on durable surfaces
Minimize fire impact
Leave what you find
Respect wildlife
Be mindful of others
The most important action steps to adhere to these principles are as follows:
Pack in and out - this refers to minimizing the amount of trash you take with you. Take nothing from the site and leave absolutely nothing behind, not even orange or banana peels (they take up to two years to decompose!). By reorganizing and repackaging food from home, you minimize what you take with you. Bring extra trash bags for potential leaks as well as trash you might find in your site (I fully believe in good karma as well as saving your dog or toddler from a cut on broken glass). Bring a bungee cord to tie the trash bag to the roof on the way home.
Overflowing trash bins pose a danger to wildlife - and attract more animals which poses a danger to future campers. So be mindful. Bring it home or dispose of it in a larger bin for public use elsewhere.
Setting up camp - look for already established sites. These are easy to spot on satellite view on a map and from the road. They can also often be designated dispersed camping sites. Stay within 150 ft from any road when you camp to minimize the impact on delicate plants and stick to established roads. Avoid meadows as well as dips in the ground. Also, avoid leveling the ground with a shovel or digging trenches around your tent. Look for higher and level ground instead.
Fire - minimize campfire impact and make sure to put out fires properly. A campfire is cold to the touch when it’s been put out correctly with water, or dirt if you have no water. Find out if there are any fire or open flame restrictions since this could also affect your cooking options. The summers get hot and dry and there are often fire bans in action, even for designated sites with fire rings. Use established fire rings or use a portable grill. You can get many fold-able compact ones that are easy to bring. Having a fire off the ground prevents scorching and scarring - and is a requirement in some areas. Remember, there should be no trace of you having been there.
Use only dead wood on the grounds and avoid cutting live trees for firewood. You may have to bring your own firewood from home depending on where you go.
Car and driving skills - you are limited to where your car - and your driving skills - will take you. Many forest roads are in decent condition, so you don’t need an off-road truck to camp off grid. However, road conditions worsen quickly, especially after heavy rain or snow melt, so take caution and plan your route. Carry tow rope as well as a shovel and planks/traction pads in case you get stuck. Most trail-rated cars and cars with high clearance will do great on rougher roads. Check with the local ranger to know the conditions of the roads in advance if you don’t want to be surprised.
Navigation - You need to have an understanding of what type of land you are on as well as where to look to find your way. Always carry a hard copy map (State maps, National Forest/BLM maps or downloaded maps that are more detailed than Google maps). Some apps make it really easy to find public land on the go, such as Caltopo (android), Public Lands, US Topo Maps, FreeRoam, the Dyrt, Gaia App, and Campendium. These are also great apps for finding established campgrounds near you so you have a plan B, but also to ensure you camp at least 1 mile from away from them (and any recreation area in National Forest).
Test your camping gear - Test your gear from home to make sure you know how it works. You may have to set up camp in the rain, so the quicker you can do it, the better. It’s also important to verify that all your pegs and poles are there. If you are just starting out, borrow as much gear as you can before investing in too much. It’s only once you are out there that you really know what you need and prefer. For example, we invested in sleeping cots and backpacker hand inflatable mats for our setup, only to find out that was way too bulky and time-consuming to set up for one night overlanding trips.
First aid and prevention - Keep a well stocked first aid kit handy in the car - and know how to use it. There are many free tutorials online that give you the rundown of basic first aid. Always carry extra water, sunblock, chargers/battery pack and blankets/jackets and good boots (you may have to walk far in case of car trouble). Keep an eye on the last place you had reception, so you know how far you have to make it to call for help. FreeRoam App lets you add a carrier layer to the map which shows you who will have reception in a given area.
And always leave your coordinates/planned destination and route with family/friends/coworkers along with a planned return time.
Cooking - Camping requires a bit of meal planning and organizing skills, so it’s a great idea to use a meal planner and pack accordingly (last food to be eaten at the bottom of the cooler box). Remember to repack (pack out) your foods to discard of unnecessary packaging before you leave for your trip. I suggest saving room in your cooler box by freezing foods (or water bottles) for the last day(s) of the trip to act as cooler elements.
Bring foods that are forgiving in terms of how they are prepared and what goes into the meal. If you rely 100% on a fire and a grill but it’s pouring down or there is a fire ban in action, you want to be able to cook it in an alternative way. We carry a propane camping stove-top (Coleman) which we use for 95% of our meals. But we also carry a Jetboil (mostly for quick coffee and oatmeal water). Always bring a meal that requires little to no cooking in case of anything: oatmeal, freezer dried backpacker meals, sandwiches, PB&J, tortillas and cold meats, pre-made chicken salad and bread, etc. And always lots of snacks for the kids (who always seem to be starving before you are anywhere near ready with dinner). Nuts, apples, mandarins, cheese sticks, boiled eggs, pretzels, and popcorn are some of our favorite snacks.
RELATED: Easy Camping Meals and Snacks for the Family - Incl. Sample Meals Plan and Food Hacks
The best advice for dispersed camping is: Be smart and come prepared
It is very likely that something unplanned happens. It might be colder than the weather forecast predicted (or you thought it would feel like). You might struggle to find an available spot to camp in on a busy weekend despite all your planning. Your children might get a fever. Or you might encounter more bugs than you hoped for. When you plan for all these scenarios and make sure you have a solution, you will find that primitive living can be relaxing and rewarding - and make you proud of yourself for trusting your own skills.
You are creating long lasting memories for your family and creating a team bonding exercise that brings you closer. Your kids will grow up looking at you as the hero who can survive in the wild, I mean, how cool is that?
Related
Where do I find dispersed camping sites and what if I am not ready for primitive camping yet?
If you are not sure if you're ready yet, I suggest starting out with some primitive camp sites or camping with friends.
We started out in very primitive designated camp sites (unmarked sites in designated camping area, often found in State Parks and National Forest) that usually had a vault toilet and maybe a fire ring and grill. It felt like dispersed camping, but the campgrounds were easy to find via Google or local camping books and we always had easy access to the sites. Try finding these sites through Google “primitive camping near me” in Google Maps. The Dyrt, Campendium, and FreeRoam App show you established campgrounds and dispersed sites as well. These are all curated so you get reviews and a lot of details. But keep in mind, if they are easy to find, other campers will also be headed there. Just remember to have one or two backup spots in mind.
My dispersed camping webinar talks in more detail about how and where to find out more about your specific location, but a Google search and camping apps and national websites such as Campendium, FreeRoam, Public Land, etc. will help a lot.