Wilderness Camping at National Parks

By
Lilly E
-

One of the best ways to travel for cheap is camping instead of paying for indoor accommodation. If you’re planning a backpacking trip to one of the U.S.’s many National Parks, it’s good to figure out the rules and options for camping in advance, so that you’re prepared.

The cheapest (and most authentic) camping experience is wilderness camping. This means not staying at a campground with bathrooms and a kitchen, but taking your tent, sleeping bag, and backpack, and setting up in in nature. 

It’s crucial to plan in advance so that you’re safe and respectful of the guidelines. Make sure the weather is right, get in touch to get the necessary permits, and find out what special equipment you’ll need. Make sure you test your equipment and that you organize emergency contacts as this is important to keep you safe.

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Campsite 4C1, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and surrounded by hot springs. The trail often goes right through thermal runoff…best be careful what I post or people will assume I was walking off boardwalk and was just another "touron" … Most people visit the Canyon for the Lower and Upper Falls, but they do not often realize how much volcanic and thermal activity is in the canyon. If you ever want to hike the nearly vertical walls of the canyon, try the Seven Mile Hole Trail. There are other wonders off this trail I plan to explore some day. – And this is a good way to avoid the coronavirus super spreader tourist craziness on the canyon rim near the falls. My goodness was it bad. Visit Yellowstone at yours and everyone else's peril, but if you are coming out here, find a quiet trail like this. – #yellowstone #yellowstonenationalpark #grandcanyonoftheyellowstone #wyoming #purewyoming #tenting #camping #backcountrycamping #backcountry #backpacking #nationalpark #myphotography #amateurphotography #hotsprings #canyons #hiking #takeahike #greatoutdoors #tent #thermals #campsite #wilderness #wildernesscamping #yellowstoneenthusiasts #canyon #peoplewhohike #hikersofinstagram #gocamping

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Leave no trace. Or even better, leave any location you camp in cleaner than the way you found it. Research the “Leave No Trace” principles and follow them.

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Hey y’all, I’m here with my first #leavenotrace principle with a story! The 1st principle of Leave No Trace: Plan Ahead and Prepare! – Y’all this principle played hard in this weeks adventure for @ollie.rankin, @pajamapantsboone, and myself! – First we planned a day doing a canoe trip down the river, but do to unforeseen unsafe conditions this was no longer a viable option. Luckily I had expected this knowing that we had, had a lot of rain the previous day, so I had a backup hike near Helen, Georgia planned. – Ollie and I checked the weather and saw that there was no rain forecasted, and quickly packed our adventure day bag. For this I like to stick to basics: Water, dog poop bags and water bowl (not picture), snacks, new clothes, a face mask, my inhaler, bag balm (for blisters), a bag to pack out trash and litter, and my favorite @patagonia backup. – I’ve almost got a complete bag for the day, but honestly I forgot a basic first aid kit #accidentshappen 🩹 – Also a new part of plan ahead and prepare due to COVID is willingness to change plans if the trail is too busy! We had to do this and ended up enjoying our hike so much more! We barely saw anyone! – I hope you enjoyed this! How do you plan ahead and prepare? Comment with what you enjoy having in your go bag for a day adventure? – #atl #urbanhiking #funday #optoutside #hikinginatlanta #hikingwithdogs #lnt #planaheadandprepare #adventurebag #nationalparks #goodstewardlifestyle

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Finally, make sure you don’t miss the wilderness program. Listen to the sounds around you, observe the open skies at night, and take in the view. That’s why you’re there, after all!

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Wildlife Wednesday: the Bear Necessities. . Don’t feed the bears! This was a very close encounter at Paradise with a youthful bear that has wandered down to the trails near the visitor center because it has gotten a taste for human trash. There was no momma bear around but that was my first fear; my second concern is that if this bear gets into an interaction with a park visitor they will have to euthanize it 😢. . Leave no trace = Pack it out. Take your trash home with you or put it only in bear safe dumpsters. Lock up your food in bear bins when camping. Carry bear spray [where you can access it] and know how to use it. . . These photos were taken with a 200 mm zoom lens but undoubtably I was too close. The bear came near a group and we all felt safe because there were rangers nearby, but we should’ve moved away faster. 📸🐻 . #pnw #pnwonderland #wildlife #wild #bear #bearnecessities #mtrainier #mrnp #nps #nationalparkservice #wildlifephotography #wildanimals #wildlifewednesday #leavenotrace #lnt #cascadia #hike #hiking #safety #staysafe #earthfocus #natgeo @natgeo #safari #wildlife_perfection #animalcrossing #optoutside #fujifilm #fujixt2 @glazerscamera #pnwshooters #igshooters

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