• Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Rss
Bear Gallagher Cole Wild West Explorer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
    • Go Outside
    • Explore
    • Gear Up
    • Wild West Survival Academy
    • Wild West Survival Fitness Academy
  • Bookstore
  • Shop
  • Social
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Writing
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • Rules of Camping

    So you decide to pack up and head out into the Great Outdoors for a good ol’ camping trip. Sounds like a great idea. Follow these simple rules to make sure your family or group doesn’t wreck it for everyone else.
    Scroll Down to Learn

    Desert-Camp-camping-etiquette

Camping Etiquette – Your Weekend Vacation Isn’t the End

Oh how great be the freedom of the outdoors. To camp is to become in touch with that primitive beast that sleeps inside you. One of the best things about the outdoors is the ability to do as you please. You are not surrounded by other people and their judging eyes and limiting rules.

Though the outdoors is free, their are still rules you should follow when you head out into the wild to camp. These rules are not to limit, but to make sure that we keep these places pristine and leave them as is for the next visitors to enjoy. Camping Etiquette is real, and it is important.

I get it. You probably won’t be laying out a fancy white tablecloth and worrying about what order you place the silverware in on your next camping trip. I hope that you get in touch with your primitive self and leave the restraints of today’s society behind. After all I am all about Becoming Primitive. Camping Etiquette is still extremely important. Following these rules will keep you, the environment, and future campers safe and happy.

Just because you are out on vacation for the weekend, and most likely on your only camping trip of the year, doesn’t mean this is the last trip for everyone else too. Most likely, their will be people camping around you while you are there. Also very likely, someone else will be using your spot soon after you leave. Leave your camp site as you would hope others will leave it for you.

Camping Etiquette Basics

  1. Pack it in, Pack it out.
  2. Leave no Trace.
  3. Alter the environment, and affect the surrounding wildlife as little as possible.
  4. One of the reasons people head into the wilderness is to enjoy the sounds of nature and silence. Try to keep your noise to a minimum.
  5. Try to find an existing camp spot if at all possible.
  6. Keep food out of your camp site!
  7. Someone else will be there after you. Leave your site as you would hope others would leave it for you.
Mountain-Tent-camping-etiquette

The Camp Fire

Please read these other great posts about Camp Fire Safety.

  1. How to Keep a Safe Camp Fire
  2. How to Put Out Your Camp Fire When You’re Done

Let’s start with my favorite part of camping, the camp fire. The camp fire was the main source of night time heat, entertainment, cooking, and even sterilization for thousands of years. It is an amazing gateway to our primitive selves. Therefore, understanding fire and how to control it is important.

There are some important Camping Etiquette guidelines for your camp fire. Following these guidelines is not only polite, but just might save your life.

  1. Bring your own wood if at all possible. If you do need to search around your camp site for wood, only use dead fallen wood. Do not cut live branches from trees or shrubs, and DO NOT CUT DOWN TREES!
  2. Do not leave your camp fire burning when you leave. Make sure that you have completely distinguished the flames before leaving a campground. Here is an article about putting out your campfire you may find helpful.
  3. Do not throw food in the fire. Just because it is burnt does not mean it will not attract animals and bugs.
  4. Always use a fire ring or mound fire.

Leave No Trace

Many of the concepts taught in this article are included in Leave No Trace. Others are my own opinion, and things I have picked up over the years on hundreds of camping excursions. Leave No Trace is an important idea and teaching, and classes are available on their site. The program consists of seven key principles. I recommend you take sometime to learn the principles, or even get more involved and become a trainer or part of the program.

Read an article I wrote about Leave No Trace ethics here

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Bio
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • Latest Posts
  • Exploring the Southwest
Bear Gallagher Cole

Bear Gallagher Cole

Professional Explorer, Writer, Photographer. at Exploring the Southwest
Howdy Explorers. I am Bear Gallagher Cole, the Wild West Explorer - I was Born & Raised in the Grand Canyon National Park and have been to the bottom over 100 times. I am a Certified Wilderness First Responder, ACE Personal Trainer, Web Professional, and Audio Engineer. I focus on getting people Outdoors, Healthy, and Motivated to enjoy every day they get. You can keep up with me @ WildWestExplorer.com and BearCole.com.
Bear Gallagher Cole

@wildwestexplore

- 6 years ago
Bear Gallagher Cole
Bear Gallagher Cole

+Bear Gallagher Cole

Bear Gallagher Cole

Bear Gallagher Cole

Bear Gallagher Cole

Latest posts by Bear Gallagher Cole (see all)

  • The Philosophy of Survival Fitness - October 11, 2016
  • Old Caves Crater Trail Hike - August 30, 2016
  • Why Going Outside Is A Key Component To Survival Fitness - August 30, 2016
  • The 5 Elements of Survival Fitness - August 30, 2016
  • Merrell Moab, An Affordable Hiking Boot That Is Great For Beginners - August 11, 2016
Bear Gallagher Cole
Exploring the Southwest If you live in or are planning a trip to the Southwest United States we have the perfect adventures. Visit ExploringtheSouthwest.com
10% Back in Reward Points at Moosejaw

Search by Categories

Please Subscribe

Popular
  • Wild-West-Explorer-Header-Grand-Canyon-Bear-Gallagher-ColeGet a little more personal with Bear Gallagher Cole the...April 19, 2016 - 2:07 pm
  • Bear-Gallagher-Cole-Wild-West-ExplorerHow Bear Gallagher Cole Became the Wild West ExplorerApril 20, 2016 - 1:37 pm
  • 21st-Survival-MovingBear Gallagher Cole helps you prepareApril 27, 2016 - 5:57 pm
  • New-Extremes-of-the-Outdoors-part1New Extremes of the Outdoors Part 1May 12, 2016 - 12:14 pm
Recent
  • philosophy-of-survival-fitnessThe Philosophy of Survival FitnessOctober 11, 2016 - 1:25 pm
  • Old Caves Crater Trail HikeAugust 30, 2016 - 6:07 pm
  • Going-Outside-Survival-Fitness-Wild-West-ExplorerWhy Going Outside Is A Key Component To Survival Fitnes...August 30, 2016 - 1:57 pm
  • 5-Elements-Survival-FitnessThe 5 Elements of Survival FitnessAugust 30, 2016 - 1:25 pm
Comments
Tags
Bear Gallagher Cole Blogging Tips Extremes Photography Share Nature Survival Wilderness Writing

Free eBook

Click To Get Your Free Copy of Go Outside!
Followon TwitterSubscribeto RSS Feed

Facebook

Blogroll

  • @Survival.Fitness
  • @WildWestExplorer
  • Bear Cole – Professional
  • Exploring the Southwest
  • Facebook – Wild West Explorer
  • Free the Line Designs
  • Nat Park Explorer

wildwestexplorer

Baby Tree 🌲 #pine Baby Tree 🌲 #pine
Out exploring again. I love hiking around Flagstaf Out exploring again. I love hiking around Flagstaff and catching the peaks from so many different views. At this point I think I have seen them from every possible angle, and it still never gets old. These mountains are such an important place spiritually, and I’m lucky to enjoy them. If you are ever out exploring in this part of the world, please remember these mountains are not just a place to ski, hike, ride your bike, or play. You are walking in a place with huge significance to people. This is a spiritual place, and deserves your respect and protection. Give love to this place and you can feel it come right back to you. #sanfranciscopeaks
Foot traffic only from this point on. Foot traffic only from this point on.
Why so angry #miniwolf? @akaithekleekai Why so angry #miniwolf? @akaithekleekai
#flashback to hiking with my favorite hiking buddy #flashback to hiking with my favorite hiking buddy. This guy is way bigger now, and a pro hiker, but I remember his first few hikes through the #sanfranciscopeaks with me.
Yup, let’s go up there! Some nice rock formation Yup, let’s go up there! Some nice rock formations in the #sanfranciscopeaks
@akaithekleekai was loving the snow on our hike to @akaithekleekai was loving the snow on our hike today!
How many of you use the #cairnapp . I am going to How many of you use the #cairnapp . I am going to use Cairn just for the Safety Circle function. Really cool when we are going out for a few. If you have used, any hints or tips? I am not affiliated with this company in any way - just asking advice from you guys who might have used on a hike before. 🤠
Please let it warm up just a bit so I can jump in! Please let it warm up just a bit so I can jump in!
My buddy and me @akaithekleekai My buddy and me @akaithekleekai
No hike for my bday and valentines this year due t No hike for my bday and valentines this year due to weather. We made a quick loop around Buffalo Park right as the storm settled and beat it home. There was a seriously cold wind from the Northwest. The hard wind blowing against us just made for a better workout. Got some good snow fall so we can’t complain.
My puppo Mealle is ashamed of you for leaving your My puppo Mealle is ashamed of you for leaving your trash out in beautiful nature. She is so ashamed she won’t even look at you! Properly dispose of your trash or me and Mealle properly dispose of you ❤️ Capisce?
Tree #wildwestexplorer Tree #wildwestexplorer
Another hike in the books - let’s go home and ea Another hike in the books - let’s go home and eat! #hikelife
Sound on for water vibes. Perfect reflections in a Sound on for water vibes. Perfect reflections in a pool of slowly moving water. #reflections
Things keep changing, but one thing remains true: Things keep changing, but one thing remains true: Real Men, and Real Cacti aren’t afraid to wear pink. #pink
Dreaming about some #adventure Dreaming about some #adventure
Way up on a hill in the rain and overlooking the # Way up on a hill in the rain and overlooking the #vermillioncliffs
Snow was higher than the doors on our #jeep #haoli Snow was higher than the doors on our #jeep #haoligirl . Couldn’t open! I had to scrape snow to get in and warm her up. Time for some adventure. #snow
Ummm - it’s going to take some digging before we Ummm - it’s going to take some digging before we go out 4 wheeling this weekend 🤠 I love #mountainlife
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
There has been a problem with your Instagram Feed.
© Copyright - Bear Gallagher Cole Wild West Explorer - Site Designed by Free the Line Designs LLC.
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Rss
  • Exploring the Southwest
  • Nat Park Explorer
  • 21st Century Survival Tips
  • Free the Line Designs
  • Bear Cole Portfolio Site
  • My Music
Scroll to top