No reservation, no problem

It’s so frustrating when you want to spend a weekend out in the wild, but you just can’t find a campsite. It’s like you have to book them months in advance now!

Fortunately, there’s this thing called wild camping (also dispersed/backcountry camping), that’s allowed in National Forests and on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands. Basically, you can camp wherever you want, for free, as long as you follow some simple guidelines.

It’s like backpacking with your car.

Before Outlandish, the hard part was finding a good spot to set up camp. Now, it’s easy to find these wild camp “sites” and it’s even easier to mark them on the map to save for later and for others to find too.

how do i wild camp?

// Pack it in, pack it out

When you’re wild camping, you’ve got to bring everything you’ll need with you, and you’ve got to take everything you brought back with you. There are no water fountains, trash cans, or bear boxes. Check the forest’s website or call a ranger station to see if you’ll need a bear box.

// Get a fire permit

Even if you’re only going to be cooking with a propane stove, a permit is necessary. You can get one at a ranger station or even online. Please take a moment to check the fire regulations of the forest you’re visiting before you go. 80% of “wildfires” are caused by humans.

// Minimize your impact

Tread Lightly details a few, simple ways we can leave these wild spots still feeling wild even after we’ve camped the night.

// Follow Leave No Trace principles

These 7 principles will ensure we keep these lands open and healthy for years to come.