Find that aurora!
Photo by: Brian Stevens (Stock Exchange)

It’s only October, but tent campers know that the best way to get the prime spots at many parks and campgrounds is to plan ahead; and if you’re feeling adventurous this winter, then it’s always best to be prepared!

Yes, while winter sees many camp grounds around the U.S. close down for the season, there are always those that stay open year round. The intrepid tent camper can also look for backcountry adventures – only for the outdoors expert, of course!

Today, AllCampgrounds will review some nifty sites on the web for those who plan to brave the cold and enjoy some winter camping this year.

Winter Camping and Backpacking: From REI’s impressive (and growing!) roster of expert advice comes a great general overview of camping in the snow. You’ll get a big boost from the pre-trip checklist and detailed advice on the best clothing for a cold weather excursion. Also includes a winter camping checklist that’s indispensable for making sure you don’t leave anything out. If you’ve never done any winter camping before, check this first; you won’t regret it, and if there are any areas where you need a little more detail, you can always supplement this guide with another one, such as …

Outdoor Action Guide to Winter Camping: Covering both basic and intermediate topics, this guide goes into a bit more detail on subjects that REI leaves out. You don’t have to know all there is to know about winter camping to do it, but it does have its own special challenges (and potential dangers!) so additional sections on food, winter water, avalanches, snowshoeing, and winter rescue will go a long way toward rounding out your knowledge. Concerned about the fundamentals? You’ll also learn how to properly set up a campsite in winter and maintain your tent. Great for backcountry campers.

Winter Campers: WinterCampers.com is the leading site and community on the internet for people who relish the unique sights and challenges of winter camping. There are a slew of truly intriguing things here, from a huge archive of articles down to a webcam of the Adirondacks, videos, a blog, gear reviews, and tons more. If you want to know everything there is to know about cold-weather camping, and connect with plenty of others who are invigorated by the cold, this is the hub. Even if it doesn’t make your day, you might find it a good place to get your burning questions on the subject answered.
Next time on AllCampgrounds, we’ll be sharing a list of camping destinations all around the U.S. and Canada known for providing exceptional cold-weather and winter camping opportunities. Until then, stay warm, and we’ll see you next Friday.

Boat dock at Glacial Lake.
Photo by: konikaori (Stock Exchange)

Howdy, campers!

In today’s article, we’d like to introduce you to a great new resource for learning the skills that will bring you fun and safety in the outdoors.

REI is a great supplier of outdoor gear like backpacks, tents, canoes, and much more.

But did you also know you can go to their website to enjoy a great archive of articles and videos about a whole slew of topics for tent camping and RV campers alike?

We’ve gone through the whole library and picked out some of the best for you to enjoy.

How to Load a Backpack: If you enjoy hiking, especially day hikes, one of the first things you should know is how to pack your backpack right! Choosing the wrong backpack or distributing your supplies incorrectly can cause trouble down the road (literally!) and contribute to exhaustion and dehydration. Likewise, there are advanced tips and tactics for backcountry campers and those braving the wild in winter. You can combine this article with REI’s camping checklists to make sure you don’t leave anything out.

Ultralight Backpacking: If you’ll be breaking camp and going on longer trail excursions, check out this article to discover ways to take that neatly packed backpack and lighten it up. “Pack smarter to feel lighter, go further, see more” is the motto of this article, which can help you take your existing pack down to the “ultralight” range under 20 pounds, or even “minimalist” levels: under 12 pounds, usually reserved for top survivalists. For most campers, though, it’s a case of “everything in moderation.” Don’t go too far either way.

Caring for Your Tent: In most tent camping parks and camp grounds, the tent is going to be “home base” for your whole stay. Did you know that a well-constructed tent can offer enjoyment for years? That even includes advanced weatherproof tents that are a costly pain to replace! There are a lot of powerful tips here, including ways to keep your tent from getting damaged by abrasion, water, sunlight, and a bunch of other incidentals. Keep these in mind to get the most value out of your home away from home.

Navigation Basics: Map and Compass: If you’re planning a real adventure, there’s a lot you need to know about your compass. A traditional compass, rather than a smartphone or other replacement, is one of the most reliable instruments out there, but only if you pair it with a good map. This article and its two great videos cover choosing and using a compass, selecting a map, and how to use topographical maps for long sojourns outdoors. This is a great resource, since most campers won’t be familiar with topo maps, and they can really come in handy if you plan to be traveling a while.

A young bear
Photo by: Tobias Zierof (Stock Exchange)

Welcome back to AllCampgrounds!

Bears are in the headlines again, with a fatal grizzly bear attack at Yellowstone making big news around that park.

The attack took place at Wapiti Lake Trail, known as a trail for backpacking enthusiasts who want to get off the beaten path.

This is the only such bear event at Yellowstone in over 25 years, but it isn’t the only place bears have been spotted lately: at Grand Lake, Colorado, a group of 7th and 8th graders were thankfully unharmed when a bear wandered into their campsite, rummaged through their foodstuffs and helped himself to some granola bars.

This is all despite chaperones taking the right precautions in keeping the food away from the camp!

So, now seems an important time to remind our readers about bear safety.

Here are some resources on AllCampgrounds you can use to prepare for bear encounters:

All About Bears: A quick overview of bears, their habitat, and basic behaviors.

Bears and Camping: Campsite selection and food safety to avoid bear approaches.

Meeting a Bear in the Smokies: What to do if you encounter a bear while camping.

Bears and You: What to do before, during, and after a bear encounter.

The best way to deal with bears is avoid them completely. However, it’s not always possible to keep clear of bears in their habitat, even when you’ve followed every precaution. Lately, there’s been a huge proliferation of bear repellent sprays on the market. Most commercial options are “pepper spray like” and are intended to be used when the bear has already spotted you. Consult with your local camping gear store and get recommendations from other campers before deciding on the right spray for you.

A bear’s sense of smell is very sensitive, and bears are often attracted to scents like food (cooked or otherwise) and animal waste; for that reason, some campers swear by ammonia as a bear repellent. Ammonia cannot (and should not!) be “applied” to the bear; but rags soaked in ammonia or bleach and placed strategically at areas of interest are known to keep mildly interested bears from proceeding into camps. This is a good way to add another layer of protection to your camp grounds, especially if you have children, a pet, or other special reasons to be concerned about wildlife attention.

Not all parks and camp grounds are in bear territory, and a bear attack remains an exceedingly rare event. For the most part, bears do not want to interfere with humans, and the few bear attacks that take place usually involve a mother bear who has been frightened in some way. Nonetheless, be aware of bears and other critters when you camp, whether you’re tent camping or out in your RV. Picking the right site, being careful with “bear bait,” and knowing how to handle an emergency will make that “lightning strike” chance of camping trouble all the less likely.

River eddy in the Missouri River Photo by:
Robert Linder (Stock Exchange)

Hello and welcome to AllCampgrounds!

This week, we’ll be sharing some great camping news for all you tent camping and RV camping enthusiasts.

The summer camping season still has a lot of life left in it, so this won’t be all!

We’ll return to our usual (and unusual) coverage of the best RV parks and campgrounds, tent camping parks, and other top quality camping destinations next go around.

But for now, it’s time for news: AllCampgrounds has you covered with the very latest on the camping scene.

First off: Yellowstone National Park needs our help! After the recent rupture of an ExxonMobil pipe, forty two thousand gallons of crude oil have been spilled into the Yellowstone River. An oil cleanup effort is ongoing. Though the national park extends for over two million miles, damage to this nearly 700-mile tributary of the Missouri River could have a profound effect on the local wildlife. More than 100 calls have been received to date from concerned locals – many of them campers, I’ll bet! – who want to help out with the clean up effort. Good luck, everyone!

What’s Next for Privatized Camping in State Parks? asks the Florida Independent. Not much, to judge from the public’s overwhelming reaction to Governor Rick Scott’s plans to partially privatize Honeymoon Island State Park and create a selection of “high impact” tent camping and other camp grounds. “Nearly every Florida lawmaker was opposed to the plan,” says the article, and no follow-up plan is anticipated for right now. Of course, we want to hear from AllCampgrounds viewers: how do you feel about state park privatization? Have you had better camping experiences in private or public lands? Let us know with a comment.

Here’s a question many campers have asked already this season (and in seasons past): Camping With Kids: Are We Crazy? Read the adventures of a couple who brought their toddler and preschooler out to enjoy the great outdoors out in Canton, Massachusetts. Not to spoil the ending, but good fun was had by early – proving that it’s just about never too early to start enjoying your tent camping. Congrats to mom and dad for taking the plunge and finding a new family hobby.

Finally, check out safety tips for hiking and camping in bear country. This is a subject we’ve devoted a lot of attention to here on AllCampgrounds, but it’s worth repeating, especially after the fatal bear attack earlier in the month. In addition to a great listing of what to do to prevent and respond to bear encounters, this article offers a video on bear safety that will help you keep the local critters from sampling your food.

Brilliant fireworks and camping opportunities abound ...
Photo by: Eric Ortner (Stock Exchange)

Good morning!

It’s time for AllCampgrounds, and today we’ll be revealing some of the best tent camping and RV camping for one of the biggest camping events of the entire year.

Last year’s July 4th Camping Special brought us to Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.

There are awesome camp grounds to visit around the nation’s capital and all around the country.

Join AllCampgrounds for this whirlwind tour of Independence Day camping!

Lots of people will choose to go camping around the D.C. area for the National Mall celebration and annual fireworks, but there are plenty of other fine choices. The Vee Bar Guest Ranch in Laramie, Wyoming has an “Independence Day Jubilee” planned, with camping to suit your tastes and a whole variety of Old West-style events: cattle herding, river tubing, horseback riding, fishing, and hiking are some of the headliners.

Centrally located to some of the country’s most thrilling parks and monuments, Custer / Mount Rushmore KOA is a prime destination in July. It welcomes tent camping and RV camping alike, and provides the amazing array of activities and amenities you expect from KOA: you’ll enjoy chuckwagon breakfasts, a heated pool, and much more. Definitely a top pick for the 4th, with tons of holiday events all around the local area.

Colombia State Historic Park isn’t quite the kind of “park” we look for in camping, but it’s a hub of 4th of July activities and convenient to traditional camp grounds in the California state park system. To find out about a whole bunch of other events throughout California for the 4th, swing by the main California State Parks website. The search function pulls up all kinds of fun for the big holiday weekend – and check out Wilder Ranch State Park! Thirty-four miles of trails await for hiking, biking, or riding!

You can probably tell that, here at AllCampgrounds, we’re looking forward to camping on the 4th. For a contrasting viewpoint, check this out: We Don’t Camp During National Holidays Anymore. An entertaining article from writer Bill Barker reminds us that there are some challenges to hitting the trail on major holidays! If you’re reading this and haven’t made plans yet, don’t wait; reserve your camp grounds now and have fun later!

Last, but not least, two more important throwbacks: Camping Near Mount Rushmore is a great resource if you’re trying to get up close to the famous annual fireworks display and want options other than the KOA above. And finally, what about the enterprising campers who’ll be setting off their own holiday fireworks? Update your knowledge with Fourth of July Fireworks Safety for Campers. Hope you enjoy your Independence Day, and see you again at AllCampgrounds to help plan your next camping trip

Whitewater rafting fun in Alberta
Photo by: Jeff Mackay (Stock Exchange)

Last time on AllCampgrounds, we got started looking at the thrilling and often challenging world of river rafting. Now that we know the basics of finding a river and a raft – and that you don’t have to bring Jean-Claude Van Damme along to safely work your way through a beginner river – it’s time to look at some basic techniques for navigating that current.

Tips and Tricks for Your First Rafting Trip

Get informed before you go: Not all campsites are right for rafting, but there are thousands of camp grounds around the U.S. and Canada that offer guided trips downriver. For your very first trip out without a guide, you definitely want to select a camp that focuses on its rafting as a main feature, even if only to find out from experienced rafters what kind of challenges you might face around the bend. In many places, you can get handy river guidebooks to study, too.

Make sure everyone is comfortable: When it comes to rafting, there’s safety in numbers, even in well-developed camp grounds. To get the most out of your trip, you’ll need at least a small crew of friends. Make sure everyone is “on the same page” and understands the river, the currents you’ll be up against, and procedures in case of emergency. We’ve all seen the cartoon where one guy on the boat is facing the wrong way – don’t let this be YOUR team on your first time out!

Always start on Class II rivers: It’s a good idea to get some professional instruction in water rescue and emergency response before moving on to Class III river rafting. Besides that, a few good trips on Class II rivers will teach you the vital skills to keep an eye out on what’s ahead and anticipate any trouble, without losing the concentration you need to keep your raft on track. There’s no stop, slow, or reverse on a raft, and even for the best, the decision-making skills take a while to cultivate.

Take things head on: It may seem counterintuitive at first, but the main thing to remember in rafting is that you can’t fight the current. If, in spite of everything, you’re going to hit an obstacle, it’s almost always better to hit it square-on. This reduces the odds that your raft is going to tear, turn, or flip over. And speaking of which, be prepared to (safely!) “abandon ship” if need be, floating downstream with the current to a safe exit point. The best way to do this is on your back, with your legs out in front of you.

River rafting on a quiet day
Photo by: alpeviolen (Stock Exchange)

Millions of people go camping around the U.S. every year, and we all have our favorite things to do outdoors. Some of the best tent camping anywhere is found on lakes and rivers, and getting out on the water can really help you enjoy camping to the fullest: just take a look at your favorite angler, getting up at dawn to find the best fishing spot, and you know what I mean!

But fishing is serene and quiet … what if you want a little more action? If you’ve never been rafting before, you might have a “Hollywood” vision of white rapids and a buff Stephen Seagal-type navigating some dangerous jungle river – but the truth is, with a little preparation, anyone can enjoy rafting at a range of skill levels. Today’s AllCampgrounds will tell you all about it.

Getting Started in River Rafting

Some of the best tent camping grounds anywhere are right on rivers, and no surprise; early nomads loved to settle down close to these excellent sources of water and fish, so their “camping” history is almost as long as their natural history. If RV parks and campgrounds are more your style, you’re still in luck: RV camps tend to be off the water, but you can always drive down there. The question is, what river do you need, and how should you prepare for your first rafting trip?

Rivers are rated from Class I to Class VI, with the Class I flows being calm, and Class VI being the stuff of Hollywood movies (well, approximately). Rafting has a reputation for danger, but Class I and Class II rivers are suitable for beginners, and plenty of family-oriented tour operators offer rafting under safe conditions. If you’re going to try it out on your own, you need two things: a raft and a crew. Of course, the size of your crew will determine the size of your raft; six people require about a 12-by-6 raft, and so on. Just like you wouldn’t go out onto the road with bad brakes or steering, the features of your raft go a long way to determining your safety and convenience.

Picking Your First Raft

Now, I’d suggest hooking up with a good rafting tour company for your first couple of excursions. It’ll help you learn whether rafting is right for you and give you starter techniques for rowing and navigation before you make the hefty investment for your own raft. You can also get a lot of good tips from experienced rafters during your trip. But sooner or later, you’ll be looking at rafts, so let’s talk about a few basic features.

Material: The most obvious feature is the material your raft is made of. The tradeoff here will usually be durability versus heft. Materials like nylon or cotton may wear out or tear in use, while synthetics and heavier materials can be heavy, hard to maneuver, and ultimately harder to repair; you may have to replace the raft completely.

Buoyancy: Buoyancy is largely determined by the size of the raft’s buoyancy tubes. Larger tubes mean better buoyancy, which can help prevent loss of control or capsizing in the water. Smaller tubes leave more room in the raft’s structure and generally translate to more responsive handling.

Safety features: Raft safety features vary considerably. No matter what the safety features of your raft, there’s some equipment you should definitely bring on every voyage: a waterproof flashlight, emergency light, safety whistle, and emergency rope. If forced to abandon your raft, these will help you get to safety as quickly as possible.

Other things to consider: Rafts can be difficult to sit and balance on without cross-tubes (called “thwarts”); these take up room, but provide more natural seating. Also consider how the raft will be packed, maneuvered to the waterfront, and inflated; a good pump is essential, and check out Army-Navy stores for suitable storage containers.

Lightning: Beautiful, deadly, and a real concern for hikers!
Photo by: Thomas Bush (Stock Exchange)

Welcome one and all to AllCampgrounds, where we’ve been learning all about hiking lately.

It’s a great activity that you can combine with tent camping, roughing it in primitive backcountry camp grounds, or just about any other visit to your local park.

No matter where you’re staying, though, the very first thing to be aware of is the weather: and if you’re in an area where lightning is possible, you know that it can whip up suddenly and unexpectedly.

Here are some tips to make sure you stay safe and sound, even if there’s a thunderstorm when you’re well along the trail.

Double-check the weather before you leave: Many camp grounds are equipped with plenty of options for keeping up to date on the outside world, including cable TV, radio, and internet access. If you’re in a public park, the ranger station is your best bet for news on the weather conditions, trail closures, and any dangers that might be looming. Don’t plan to hike on days when the weather will be against you, especially if your trail brings you through backcountry where you may be far from established shelters.

React at the first sign of an oncoming thunderstorm: If you can hear thunder, you’re near enough to be struck by lightning. Listening carefully to thunder in relation to the flash of lightning can tell you how far away the center of the storm is, but not which direction it is moving or how large it is. As soon as you hear the first rumble of thunder, even if it’s quiet or distant, take stock of your surroundings and enact an emergency plan. If you know that you’re close by a safe, well-supplied shelter, turn around. Otherwise, take action based on the surroundings you’re in.

If above the treeline, be extra careful of water: It’s an essential fact that lightning is most likely to strike the tallest object around. Seek out the lowest point you can find, in an open area far from trees; lone trees are more likely to be struck. Make yourself as small as you can by picking a dry spot and squatting down, but don’t lie down! This increases the danger by making you “larger” and widening your point of contact with the ground, which could be wet. Don’t settle in an area with running water or flooding potential.

If below the treeline, take shelter as best you can: Buildings are your best bet in severe weather, and most cars with full roofs are a good alternative. Be aware of dangers like overhangs, lone tall objects that might act as lightning rods, and metal items. If you have no alternative, consider abandoning metal objects, including cell phones, tent poles, cookware, and other items that conduct electricity. Shallow caves that might flood are not safe, but deeper caves might be a safe alternative if you know that you won’t be disturbing animals such as bears or other potential predators.

Whoo! Getting caught out in lightning far from safe camp grounds is a scary thought, but you can minimize the danger by being prepared and keeping a cool head. Remember that, even though a lightning storm can be lethal, about a third of lightning strikes occur at work, not during camping trips; and the odds of being struck by lightning are very low, something like 1 in 84,000! Nature is powerful, but fear is much more likely to put you in harm’s way. Always have a plan!

Thanks for visiting with AllCampgrounds! See you next time with more hiking, camping, and everything else you need outdoors!

Another great fireworks display
Photo by: Nimalan Tharmalingam (Stock Exchange)

Good morning, campers! On today’s blog we’ll be talking about fireworks safety for your Memorial Day and Fourth of July festivities. Whether you’re tent camping or live the RV life, everyone has to be careful of starting fires in the backcountry. But there are some private camp grounds that provide areas for enjoying fireworks; and even if you’re only pitching a tent in your backyard, there are some things to keep in mind. In the interest of keeping the 4th safe and fun, and helping protect great holiday traditions at the same time, a little reminder on firework safety.

Consider seeing a sponsored fireworks show: The easiest way to ensure firework safety is to go to a fireworks show by a local organization or government. Many cities spend a lot of time and money to ensure their annual displays are spectacular and everything is kept safe. As we mentioned before, there are terrific July 4th displays in Washington D.C., at Mt. Rushmore (usually) and all over the country; but even if you’re from a small town, there’s almost always a local alternative. Pick out some great nearby camp grounds and let the “professionals” handle the explosions.

Select minimally hazardous fireworks: All fire deserves respect, but not all fireworks have to be dangerous. Sparklers, “black snakes” and several other kinds of fireworks are fairly safe if handled properly – but they still have to be treated with caution by responsible adults. The further your fireworks travel, and the more sparks they throw off, the more dangerous they are. A big part of selecting fireworks is making sure they’re considered legal and safe; don’t patronize shady roadside stands or take a seller’s word for it.

Make sure you’re in the right area: There are public parks and other spaces where certain areas may be designated for fireworks. This is also true of some private camp grounds. Follow all the guidelines, and call ahead to discuss your plans. Many, but not all campsites, will not permit use of any fireworks at all – for example, most national parks allow no fire in the backcountry, and in some cases campfires can only be made in raised, “safe” fire rings at certain developed sites.

Be careful of “wildfire fuel”: There are lots of factors that can aggravate the likelihood of a fire. If it’s been particularly dry season, the risk of fire goes way up. Always ensure that matches, lighters, and other sources and fuels for fire are kept under control, and embers are stamped out. Be careful of litter and waste that might serve to turn a spark into a fire. As in any camping situation, your goal is to “leave no trace.”

To introduce the topic of fire safety to your kids, don’t forget good old Smokey the Bear, who recently celebrated his 65th birthday.

View of the Smoky Mountains from Tennessee
Photo by: Rene Kelley (Stock Exchange)

Good day!

Today’s AllCampgrounds blog will introduce our new National Park Spotlight feature as we move into the Great Smoky Mountains.

Around here, we think it’s pretty great that some of the most majestic natural features in the U.S. are on protected land for everyone to enjoy, so we’d like to highlight some of the best national parks.

And where better to begin than the state we’ve been touring lately, Tennessee?

Naturally, Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers some of the best camping opportunities in the foothills of this picturesque range. Though it’s not the oldest national park around, its unique blend of an incredible array of animal life, breathtaking hiking opportunities, and welcoming mountain culture has come together to make it the most visited national park in the United States.

The inception of Smoky Mountains as a public park dates back to 1926. Though it was declared by Congress in that year, there was no federally owned land in the area that could serve as the “seed” of the park. The beauty of the Smoky Mountains summoned up a lot of financial support in a very short time, including a sizeable contribution by legendary industrialist John D. Rockefeller. In the 1930s, the land was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and by the mid-1970s, the park was attracting international recognition. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

All About Smoky Mountains Camp Grounds and Activities

With about 500 miles of trails appropriate for visitors from beginner to advanced, Great Smoky is a paradise for hikers, inviting you to experience closeness with the local wildlife on dozens of backcountry and developed trails. There are ten separate locations filled with developed camp grounds, all of which include restrooms: but sorry, RV fans, there are no electrical or water hookups to be found anywhere in the park. Frontcountry camp grounds can be reserved from May 15th to October 31st. See the Frontcountry Camping Fee Schedule and park maps for more information.

Many of the most challenging and rewarding trails in the park traverse the backcountry, and might require at least an overnight stay in “primitive” camp grounds and shelters. The Backcountry Camping Map comes in handy here, and also marks off the locations of all official trails. Backcountry permits are free, but some sites require advance reservation. Also be aware that, though you can have an amazing time in the backcountry, there are some specific restrictions: no tent camping, no pets, and fairly strict regulations on the amount of time you can spend at individual shelters or sites.

A Reminder to Be Bear-Aware

An earlier post discussed bear safety, but this is particularly important around the Smoky Mountains since its entire extent, pretty much, is black bear country. In short, it’s never appropriate to assume you’re completely “in the clear” with bears in this area. That means everyone needs to take precautions and know just what a bear is all about. Though they can’t see very well, the American Black Bear has some surprising talents: they can swim and climb trees, and even at a hefty 500 lbs, they run about 30 miles per hour at full tilt. Check out the previous post on bears, and consult with the local ranger station for the latest warnings before you venture out for the day.