How to Build a Campfire Ring

Photo by Johnnie Chamberlin

One of the most enjoyable parts of camping is sitting around a campfire. Campfires are used for warmth, cooking food and telling ghost stories. Read on to learn how to build a campfire ring that will shelter your fire from the wind and lower your risk of starting a forest fire.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Rocks Shovel (optional)
Rocks
Shovel (optional)

Step 1

Someone built their fire too close to dry grass. Photo by Johnnie Chamberlin

Clear the area. Remove plants, dry leaves, and any other debris from the area in and around your campfire ring. Burning embers can fly a surprising distance. It is a good idea to clear dry leaves and grasses within 10 or 15 feet of the campfire ring when possible.

Step 2

Dig out a fire pit (optional). If you have a digging implement or loose soil, you can provide extra wind protection to your fire ring by digging a 1-foot-deep pit.

Step 3

Collect rocks. Do not get rocks from lakes or streams, as they might explode when heated.

Step 4

Outline your fire ring with the rocks. Most rings are 2 to 5 feet in diameter.

Step 5

Stack rocks around your ring until it is 1 or 2 feet tall. Make the rocks fit snugly together to maximize stability and wind protection. Fill large holes with dirt or smaller rocks.

Tips & Warnings

Rocks with flat or jagged edges are easier to stack than rounded rocks.

Avoid using rocks from lakes, streams or wet areas. Rocks with moisture trapped inside can explode when heated rapidly.

Article Written By Johnnie Chamberlin

Johnnie Chamberlin lives and works in Bloomington, Ind. He holds a Master of Science in civil and environmental engineering from Duke University and a Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley. Over the last five years, he has written numerous articles for several magazines, trails.com, and other websites. He is the author of "Trails of Little Rock."

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