Choosing a Campsite: Drainage, Deadfall and Distance Rules
By Trailbound Editors · Published · Photo: National Park Service — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Table of Contents
Quick Verdict
Pitch on ground that drains, not ground that looks flat and comfortable. Look up for dead branches, keep distance from water and trails, and pick a site you would be happy to find someone else had used. A bad site turns rain into a sleepless night.
A campsite is a decision you make while tired, hungry and focused on the wrong things. Most bad nights trace back to a site that looked fine in the last hour of daylight and revealed its problems at 2 a.m.
Reading ground takes a minute once you know what to look for.
Drainage beats comfort
The instinct is to pick the flattest, softest ground. The problem is that flat and soft is often low and damp.
What to look for instead:
- Slightly raised ground. Even a few centimetres of elevation changes where water goes.
- Firm, well-drained surface. Bare soil or compacted ground drains; thick grass and moss hold water and compress into a cold, damp mattress.
- Avoid hollows and dry creek beds. A dry creek bed is dry because water flows there. In a storm, it does not stay dry.
- Check for old water lines. Debris, flattened grass or a tidemark on rocks tells you how high water has been before.
If rain is likely, imagine water running across the site and pick the spot it will not reach. On a slope, the top edge of a gentle bench is usually better than the middle of the flat.
Look up
This is the check most people skip. Before you commit, look at what is above you:
- Standing dead trees, especially ones leaning.
- Dead branches hanging in the canopy — the “widowmaker” that falls without warning in wind.
- Loose rock on a slope above the site.
Any of these means choosing another spot. A campsite is not worth a head injury, and there is generally another option nearby.
Follow the distance rules
Most land managers publish rules for camping near water and trails, and the widely used figure is at least 60 metres — about 200 feet — from lakes and streams.
The reasons are practical:
- Water quality. Human waste, soap and food residue should not reach the water.
- Wildlife. Water sources are where animals drink, and they need undisturbed access.
- Your own safety. Water levels rise. Camping right beside a stream in a catchment that is getting rain upstream is a real risk.
Similar logic applies to trails: camp out of sight of the path, both for your privacy and so other people’s experience of the landscape is not a line of tents.
Pick an established site where one exists
Concentrating impact is better than spreading it. If a site is already used, camping there does less harm than creating a new clearing.
That principle has limits. Do not camp at a site that is closed, do not enlarge an existing site, and in genuinely pristine areas, the guidance shifts to using durable surfaces and leaving no visible trace.
Practical habits:
- Use existing fire rings where they exist, and do not build new ones unless the rules allow it.
- Keep your footprint small — one tent space, one cooking area.
- Do not dig trenches or clear vegetation.
- Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Camp where you would want to be found
A useful test: would you be happy to arrive and find someone else had used this exact spot? If the answer is no, you are about to make a mark you cannot undo.
Take a minute before you pitch. Walk the ground, look up, check the distance to water, and then commit.
Shelter and wind
Two last checks, both quick:
- Wind direction. Pitch with a low side into the prevailing wind, and use natural shelter rather than exposed ridges.
- Morning sun. A site that catches early light dries faster and is a great deal more pleasant to pack up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ground for a tent?
Slightly raised, well-drained ground with a firm surface. Avoid hollows, dry creek beds and obvious low points — those are where water collects. Compacted ground or bare soil drains better than thick vegetation, which stays damp and compresses under a tent.
How far from water should I camp?
At least 60 metres — roughly 200 feet — from lakes and streams is the widely used figure, and some land managers require more. The point is to protect water quality, avoid disturbing wildlife that uses the water, and reduce the chance of a surprise rise in water level overnight.
Why does it matter what is above the tent?
Because dead branches fall. Look up before you commit: standing dead trees, hanging limbs and loose rock above a site are a genuine hazard in wind. This is one of the most common things people forget when they are tired and focused on the ground.
Should I camp at an established site or somewhere untouched?
At an established site where one exists, and where regulations allow. Concentrating impact on ground that is already used is better than creating a new clearing. In pristine areas, the guidance is to use durable surfaces and leave no trace of your stay.
