How I Choose Wild Campsites: Stealthy Spots for Peaceful Nights

Not knowing where I’ll sleep each night is one of the great little thrills of bikepacking. But it can also be stressful, at least for me. Yes, most people are good, but I’d rather not meet the one who isn’t in the middle of the night.

On a more mundane note, I’d rather not be caught somewhere I’m not supposed to be. When night falls, I’m in search of a quiet, secluded spot to spend the night where I won’t bother anyone and no one will bother me.

If you’ll be making your own campsites on an upcoming trip and you’re feeling a little nervous about it, read on to learn about the approach I’ve used for the better part of 20,000 miles. Not every spot has been perfect, but I’ve always found one when I needed it, and (knock wood) I’ve always made it to sunrise.

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Know the Local Rules and Norms

This is a little note about something big enough to be its own article. The bottom line is that countries, and even regions within them, vary widely. There are places where wild camping is both legal and culturally acceptable, places where it’s neither, and places where it’s one but not the other.

I’ve yet to pedal through a “right to roam” country, where travelers are legally allowed to set up a low-impact camp while moving through most places including private land, but it sounds like paradise to me. Norway, Sweden, and Finland, you’re on my wishlist!

The United States might well be the opposite. Here you generally do NOT want to camp on private land (unless you’re given permission, of course). You also don’t want to be caught camping on publicly owned land that prohibits it, for example a small county park that closes at sunset. The rules are pretty clear in the US: if you want to sleep wherever you find yourself at sunset, it’s best to be on National Forest or BLM land.

A number of places I’ve pedaled – Morocco, Kyrgyzstan, Patagonia – are grey areas. I always try to avoid private land, but sometimes it’s hard to tell. In places with nomadic cultures, land ownership is a more fluid concept anyway. These are generally great places for wild camping, at least in rural areas, but do your research and stay aware of the local vibe because it can change quickly from place to place. And don’t be surprised by a visit from a local goat herder or curious kids.

Remote vs. Populated

I’m usually more concerned about people than animals, so I’ll take a remote wild campsite over one in civilization any day. In the United States, give me National Forest or BLM land and I can disappear off the dirt road without a trace, passing a peaceful night in a place no human would ever find me.

I rarely camp in towns unless the town is very small and the area is considered very safe. In the United States my rule of thumb is: if the town is big enough to have a 24 hour gas station, it’s too big for me to camp outside of a developed campground. This rules out a lot of towns! But I have, on occasion, pitched up beside the local school or church in the kind of tiny town where everyone knows everyone else.

The in-between areas – the edges of towns and outskirts of civilization – are what really keep me up at night. I try to follow this rule: either no one knows I’m here, or many people know I’m here. I’d rather not be discovered by the only person around for miles.

Personal Comfort Level

There are certainly people who’ve pedaled across the United States and stealth camped most of the way, in a variety of cheeky locations close to civilization. These folks will say, “Show up after dark, keep a low profile, and leave before sunrise and you won’t have any problems.”

Everyone is different! If I were braver – or maybe just bigger, taller, and male – this might be my approach too. But I am who I am, and I like to get a good night’s sleep (well, as good as possible) when I’m on the road. So I honor my current comfort level and I don’t think there’s any shame in that.

Choosing a Campsite

So you’re in a good area for stealth camping, the sun is getting low in the sky, and your legs are feeling heavy. It’s time to camp! What should you look for?

Over the years I’ve developed a bit of a sixth sense for sniffing out good wild campsites. If I had to boil it down to some concrete guidelines, here’s what I look for.

Places to leave the road. Even on dirt roads in in National Forests, I don’t like to camp within view of motor vehicles. As a cyclist I can slip off the road into the surrounding landscape where no one would ever think to look. I practice Leave No Trace while I do this, but I don’t limit myself to previously used sites where RVs and trucks park.

Ravines and ridgelines. In mountainous areas, sometimes the only way to leave the road is via drainages or ridgelines extending into the surrounding landscape. These tend to be places with more moderate slopes and natural features for cover. Anywhere I can easily push my bike more than 20 feet from the road is a great candidate.

Forests of ideal density. The high desert pine forests of Arizona are my favorite place in the world to stealth camp. There’s a type of forest that’s easily passable on foot, with bare ground and countless easy paths, but thick enough to provide cover with distance. I feel relaxed riding in these types of places because I know I can stop pretty much anywhere and enjoy a great stealthy campsite.

Gentle slopes and small hills. Even in a mostly flat landscape I’ve found very stealthy places on the far sides of small rises. If I can squat down with my eyes at tent peak height and not see the road, it’s fair game. In desert landscapes, the combination of distance and slight folds in the landscape can work wonders.

High places. Some of my most satisfying wild campsites have been high perches quite close to the road. As you’re looking for your site, don’t forget to look up! If you can find a way to drag your bike up there, the top of a steep hill or edge of a roadside bluff can be an excellent stealthy option.

Out of headlight range. It’s easy to think you’re hidden in the fading afternoon light, only to have your bike reflectors lit up like a Christmas tree by the first vehicle that passes after dark. The insides of curves are best for avoiding this, since headlights sweep the outsides. High spots or low spots also help.

Look for signs of use. If you spend a minute in your tentative campsite, do you notice signs of use? Are they from people, animals, or both? Animal trails are some of the best ways to get distance from the road in dense foliage, and aside from the animal poop they usually lead to great campsites. But consider whether the animals are likely still nearby, and whether they likely have a human herder with them.

Assess the vibe. Sometimes there’s no good way to explain it, but I just don’t feel good in a place. Unless I’m really desperate for a spot, I keep moving. It’s probably nothing, but I don’t want to lose sleep over it.

Keeping a Low Profile

If you find yourself camping in a spot that’s not as stealthy as you’d hoped, you’ll want to focus on the “stealth” part of stealth camping. These are mostly self-explanatory, but always good to keep in mind.

Arrive late and leave early. The less time you’re there, the less chance you’ll be discovered. Arriving after dark can be helpful, but not if you’ll need light to set up camp.

Minimize light from your headlamp, stove, and electronic screens. Smoke from a camp stove can also give you away.

Tent as bivy: If you need to keep a literally low profile, crawl into your tent without the poles as if its a bivy sack. I originally left this one out because I thought I might be the only one who’s done it, but after two commenters suggested it below I’m adding it in!

Lay your bike down and cover reflectors on your bike and gear.

Stay still when someone passes by. Motion is often what catches the eye.

In Conclusion

Looking back at this post, nothing here is rocket science. There isn’t a single magical method for finding a great campsite even in the sketchiest of places. Sometimes you just have to do your best.

If experience has taught me anything, it’s that a passable spot is likely just around the corner. If you’re patient and look carefully, it will reveal itself just in time. And when it does, the satisfaction of creating your perfect little temporary home wherever you find yourself in the world will be worth the stress of the search.

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Or visit the bikepacking home page for lots more!