Where you can camp outside campgrounds on public land, common stay limits, how to find legal spots, and the habits that keep dispersed sites open.
Camping in Cold Weather: Staying Warm and Avoiding Carbon Monoxide
How to stay warm on cold camping nights with layers, sleeping bag and pad ratings, plus the signs of hypothermia and why heaters don’t belong in tents.
Choosing and Setting Up a Campsite: Ground, Water, Wind and Hazards
How to pick the best spot within your site or a dispersed area: flat durable ground, distance from water, wind and sun, dead trees and flash flood risk.
Camping With Your Dog on Public Lands: Leash Rules and Where Dogs Can Go
Where dogs are allowed in national parks, forests and BLM land, the 6-foot leash rule, heat and wildlife risks, and how to be a good neighbor at the campground.
Campfires: Fire Restrictions, Firewood Rules and Putting It Out Cold
How fire restrictions work on public land, why you shouldn’t bring firewood from home, and the drown-stir-feel method for putting a campfire out.
Food Storage in Bear Country: Lockers, Canisters and Camp Layout
What counts as ‘food’ to a bear, how lockers, canisters, vehicles and hangs compare, and what park guidance says to do if you meet a bear.
Before Your Child’s First Campout: A Parent’s Checklist
A checklist for your child’s first night camping: choosing a forgiving campground, sleep setup, packing for kids, meals, camp rules, and a bail-out plan.
Bear Canister or Bear Bag: What Your Trail Requires
Compare bear canisters and bear hangs on legality, weight, reliability and skill, and learn how to check the food storage rules for your route.