Backcountry Camping Articles and Videos
Whether it’s under a tent, a tarp, or even under the stars, backcountry camping offers the solitude and silence you can’t get from crowded campgrounds. Let Trails.com help you plan your next backcountry camping trip with advice on camping in rain and thunderstorms, finding level ground, assembling a tent, repairing sleeping pads, and much more. No matter the season or the area, Trails.com has got you covered with free articles and videos full of the information you’ll need for a safe and successful trip into the wild.
A portable toilet is a camping accessory than can make extended trips into the outdoors a more comfortable experience. It's a kit that when assembled and set up provides similar function to an in-home toilet, sans plumbing.
A lot of outdoors enthusiasts are also gear-heads at heart. Backpackers are fixated on getting everything as light as possible, competitive mountain and racing bikers fixate on the latest heart rate monitor, and scuba divers swoon over a better d...
Found in many applications, from cell phones to automobiles, GPS units have become a familiar piece of equipment in daily life. With myriad features and functions, GPS units can seem like a greek textbook. Track smoothing, however, is a particula...
Knowing the ins and outs of wilderness survival is essential to anyone who goes outdoors beyond the city limits. Teaching wilderness survival can be a great way to get kids (or anyone about to head on a trip) excited about the outdoors. The mos...
A four-man tent is often the first tent for a family or individual camper. Knowing how to care for and set up a tent properly is an important part of camping.
Kelty has been in the camping gear business since 1952, and was one of the first companies to manufacture outdoor gear explicitly for civilian use. Their durable, flexible and lightweight tents have been especially popular over the years, and the...
Camping in the forest can be a great experience. There is nothing like sitting around a blazing campfire under the stars and trees. Inexperienced campers may wonder how to get firewood out of the forest. There are several things to consider when ...
Air beds are useful pieces of equipment during camping trips and can increase your comfort level dramatically when sleeping in a tent on rough or uneven ground. A hole in your air mattress is more than a minor inconvenience as the air slowly leak...
The L.L. Bean #2 Dome two-man tent measures approximately 8 feet by 5 feet and stands just under 4 feet tall. It offers a sealed bathtub floor, ventilated sides and a large rain fly. The tent also offers a vestibule for equipment storage and chan...
You always want to burn firewood when it is completely dry because the wood will produce the most heat when it has dried thoroughly. Damp wood will only begin to burn after the moisture is gone as the energy from the fire will be spent removing t...
Back-country camping is demanding in that it combines both long-distance hiking and camping, with the added caveat that all your camping gear and supplies must be carried in. A lot of gear is necessary for a successful back-country camping trip, ...
There is no reason to stay home and watch reruns on the tube when for a few dollars you can build yourself a basic tent and enjoy the outdoors. Using canvas and materials found at any hardware or camping store, complete novices can practice their...
A camping storage box can be a useful tool when it comes to keeping things organized and protected on a camping trip. On the drive to the camping spot, it can house everything from utensils to food. At the campsite, it can provide useful organiza...
Camping is an activity enjoyed by people all over the world. Whether taking a weekend trip with your family to a busy campground or trekking into the wilderness to enjoy seclusion, a grill is an important part of a gourmet campsite meal. Propane ...
Fivemile Creek drains a small watershed in the central Oregon Coast Range between Florence and Reedsport. The 6,700-acre basin of Fivemile and Bell Creek, its major tributary, hosts crucial fisheries and links diverse human and natural history. P...
Freeze-dried foods are a good backcountry camping staple as they are lightweight and easily transportable. Look for freeze-dried food options at the grocery store as well as specialty outdoor stores.
Crisis situations during a camp out almost always require you to break camp and take the affected member of your group to seek medical treatment. You can better his odds of a speedy recovery by learning how to handle common emergency situations o...
Sycamore wood can be one of the best types of firewood you will find. In some regions, using sycamore wood is the preferred way to build a fire not only because of the high-quality burn, but also because sycamores are an aggressive, invasive spec...
Stretching from southern Alberta to northern British Columbia, the Canadian Rocky Mountains offer campers unparalleled opportunities to bond with the natural world. Whether trekking within the boundaries of Jasper or Kootenay National Park, campi...
Camping tents are quick to set up, lightweight and give shelter from the elements. The tent is an indispensable piece of camping gear. The history and origins of the tent are as unique as the tent itself.
A dull knife is more likely to slip and hurt you or someone else. You are also likely to use more force with a dull knife, which adds additional risk. Sharpening a knife is relatively simple and can help keep those around you safe.
The teepee is a Native American variation on the tent. Made from parts that can be easily fashioned in the wild using only basic tools, the teepee is an eminently portable and practical shelter option.
The Thermarest Z-Lite sleeping pad is the most compact closed-cell sleeping pad on the market. Designed for three-season use, it can be used alone in all except the most extreme cold conditions. Made of laminated egg crate molded foam, the pad fo...
Being a survivalist means being prepared for potential disasters, including having the knowledge to respond appropriately to a variety of life-threatening situations. You and your loved ones can become better prepared for emergencies by following...
In most wilderness areas, it makes sense that if you are about to set out on a protracted camping trip you will rely primarily on wood as your source of fuel for heating and cooking. It behooves you, therefore, to know how to make a sturdy, relia...
