A sheltered-looking hollow can be a tempting tent site. But low ground can collect runoff when a storm arrives, leaving your sleeping area wet even if your tent is in good condition.
Before you stake the tent
- Look for drainage channels, debris lines and signs that water has pooled.
- Choose durable, permitted ground that drains well, away from washes and flood-prone streambanks.
- Look overhead for dead branches or unstable trees.
- Check wind exposure and the forecast; avoid steep, unstable slopes.
- Keep water sources protected by following local camping setbacks and Leave No Trace guidance.
This is a common camping lesson, not a claim about a trip our team personally experienced. What’s one campsite-selection lesson you learned the hard way?
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