How to Make a Fire Pit in the Sand

A fire pit, commonly used when camping, is an essential part of fire safety, keeping the fire where you want it and limiting the risk of spreading it. Whether in the desert or on the beach, sand can make for a quick, easy fire pit because it's soft and easy to shovel.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Shovel
Rocks or bricks

Step 1

Verify the rules on campfires. If you're at a beach or in a wilderness area, check with the appropriate authority on whether campfires are permitted and what regulations relate to their execution. Areas such as deserts often house fragile ecosystems, so it's important to respect campfire regulations.

Step 2

Set up your fire pit on a flat, open area that is 15 feet or more from anything flammable. This should be easy on a beach or open sand lot, but look around to ensure there isn't anything like logs, low branches or brush that could catch fire. Clear any small objects such as sticks and grass from the campfire area. You should have a cleared area of roughly 10 feet in diameter.

Step 3

Trace out your fire pit. One advantage of sand is that it's easy to mark exactly where you want to dig. Use a stick or your foot to make a circle in the sand. Two to 3 feet is a good starting point for a regular fire, but you might want to make it larger for a bigger fire. Remember to follow any rules on fire size.

Step 4

Dig the pit. Dig into the sand so that you clear out a 1-foot hole.

Step 5

Use rocks or bricks to circle the lip of the fire pit. Place the rocks next to each other so that they're touching. If you don't have rocks, pile up sand around the rim of the fire pit.

Tips & Warnings

Always keep several gallons of water on hand near the fire pit when building a campfire.

If water is scarce, keep the shovel close by and shovel sand or dirt onto the fire should you need to put it out.

Someone should always be nearby tending to the campfire. If you leave the site, be sure to fully extinguish the fire.

Article Written By Joe Fletcher

Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.

Editor's Pick

Backcountry Camping Tips

You've already tried car and RV camping. You've camped at commercial campsites that had a convenient restroom and water supply. Now, you want to explore the road less traveled. Backcountry camping, also known as primitive camping, is a wonderful way to explore the remote...
More Backcountry Camping...
Popular Article

Beach Camping Near Pismo Beach, California

Pismo State Beach, California, has many attractions and activities including camping, swimming, hiking and wildlife viewing. Birdwatching is one of the primary activities in the area. The park also has the largest over-wintering colony of monarch butterflies in the natio...
More Beach Camping...
Featured Video

Common Sense Hiking Tips

The first and most fundamental thing is never hike alone. There are too many situations, especially as an unexperienced hiker, where you may find yourself without anyone to help you. So the buddy system works and applies very much in hiking.
More Camping Basics...