The leaves are turning and the temperatures have definitely dropped, but that doesn’t mean we have to put our camping gear away just yet. This is actually a wonderful time of year to get outside. First of all, no bugs! That in itself is reason enough to go fall camping. The colours are also beautiful. It’s a lot quieter, the big crowds of summer have finally retreated. The sunrises and sunsets this time of year are extra stunning. The list goes on.
If you want to take advantage of some fall camping this year, here are a few things to make sure it’s an enjoyable experience.
When the weather dips, you will want to make sure you have a weatherproof tent. It’s bad enough waking up to water in your tent in the summer. In the fall when it’s super cold that can actually become dangerous. Make sure you have a reliable tent that can hold up in a rainstorm.
You may experience freezing temperatures this time of year. You will want to make sure that you pack a sleeping bag with good insulation. Your sleeping bag will tell you what temperatures it is rated for. The warmer the better!
Here’s a great tip to make sure you stay cozy in your sleeping bag. Try using a water bottle as a hot water pillow! Make sure you use a waterbottle that can withstand boiling water. Nalgenes work great for this. Boil some water before bed, pour it (carefully!) into your waterbottle and then place it into your sleeping bag ~10 minutes before going to bed. You will crawl into a nice and warm sleeping bag that will stay warm for most of the night. And in the morning, you have water ready to drink!
In addition to a good sleeping bag, you will want an inflatable sleeping pad. If this is something you sometimes forego in the summer, make sure to pack one for fall camping. Having a layer of air between you and the cold ground can make all the difference in whether you stay warm at night or freeze.
This time of year there may be hunting near you. It’s safest to wear bright orange clothes to make sure you are clearly visible from a distance.
Don’t forget that this time of year the sun sets much earlier and you will be in the dark for longer. Make sure you have reliable flashlights/headlamps with extra batteries so you don’t get left in the dark.
You will be burning more calories to stay warm in colder weather, so make sure to pack extra food and snacks to keep energized and feeling full. This is also a great time of year to pack warm comfort foods. Bring on the soup! Anything that just requires adding boiling water or warming up over the fire or stove are great options.
This time of year animals are preparing for the winter ahead and gathering as much food as possible. Be sure to take the proper precautions to keep any food or scented items out of your tent and properly stored using a bear barrel and bear hang set back from your campsite. All of our campsites have pre-hung bear hangs and you can borrow a barrel from us to make sure you aren’t attracting animals to your campsite.
