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5 Reasons to Go Camping in the Winter

Derek Hamilton|

Winter isn’t known as camping season, but just because the temperatures dip, it doesn’t mean you have to pack your tent away. If you haven’t gone camping in the winter before, I have 5 reasons you should try it this season.

1. Fewer Crowds

Like I said, winter isn’t exactly known as camping season, which actually works out in your favor. Fewer people go camping in winter, which means that if you do some research, you could probably find a spot to have all to yourself.

2. Winter IS Camping Season

I grew up in Texas. Winter was the only time we could go camping without sweating all night. Check out destinations in the desert for prime temperatures when the rest of the country is freezing.

3. You Don’t Need a Cooler

I love my cooler. I have a YETI that keeps my food and beverages cold for days during the warmer months. As much as I love it, it’s not super comfortable to carry very far. In the winter, however, I don’t even need it! I just pop my beers (or sodas) right in the snow.

4. Fewer Bugs

There are few things I loathe more than biting flies and mosquitos. They can turn a fun backpacking trip into the seventh circle of backcountry hell. But in the winter, you don’t have to worry about it! Not to mention, you also save the weight on bug spray.

5. It Makes You Appreciate Home

The thing about winter camping is that it can go from awesome to terrible in a matter of minutes, if you’re unprepared. I camped once with a sleeping bag that I thought would be “good enough.” After a sleepless night filled with chattering teeth, I packed up my stuff, went home, took a hot shower and bought a new sleeping bag.

Use these tips on how to stay warm while winter camping.

Where are your favorite places to go camping in the winter?
Derek Hamilton
Derek Hamilton

Derek Hamilton is a rock climber, biker, hiker, backpacker and enthusiastic novice of many other outdoor activities. He understands the need for good gear and a great cup of coffee. To fund his gear obsession and outdoor pursuits, he writes for REI. He’s been a REI member since 2008.

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7 Comments

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  1. Ron Rowan

    Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Mt. San Jacinto State Park.

    Reply
  2. Kay Hettich

    I started winter camping staying close to home (in northern California). One winter I went into the woods just above the snowline. That way, if anything unexpected happened, I wouldn’t be too far to hike out to the safety of an inhabited area. Trip #1: I found out right away that waterproof matches aren’t good enough. A lighter and any waterproof matches need to be transported in a waterproof container. Trip #2: There is no substitute for proper insulation between you and the ground when it’s time to sleep. There are different mattress pads for the winter, particularly to avoid condensation. The pad is as important as the sleeping bag. Trip #3: I was a little farther into the woods. If it snows at night, make sure that your tent or any tarp does not inhibit air flow. You don’t want to suffocate because your non-breathable tarp pressed down with snow on your tent, and you cannot breathe. I passed this test–barely, so I’m here to tell the story. Anyway, you get the idea. By the time I passed #10, I got the hang of things. Past #50, and I still had to pay attention. Winter camping is tricky.

    Reply
  3. Rick Mauk

    Allegheny National Forest. Snowshoeing along the Clarion River. Winter is THE best time for camping/hiking/backpacking/car camping. Closing in on 40 years in a row, and many times a year. Great friends and great area.

    Reply
  4. Marc Hoshovsky

    On cold nights in snow country, the moisture in the air crystallizes and the moonlight lights up the floating crystals like tiny twinkling faeries. And after a stormy night, the morning sun sparkles across the freshly fallen snow, noises are muffled into a peaceful silence, and no tracks disturb the beauty all around. It’s pretty magical. No, it’s not often like that with winter snow camping, but when it is…. wow. But go well prepared so you can enjoy it.

    Reply
  5. KCPhil

    I run the local Klondike Derby, a winter camping event for Boy Scouts. I’ve been on numerous other winter camping events – including a couple where it dropped below zero. If you’re properly equipped and know what you’re doing, it’s actually pretty enjoyable. Your biggest challenge is crawling out of your warm comfy sleeping bag in the morning.

    Reply
  6. Bill

    There is a big difference between winter camping and lite or ultra-lite winter camping.

    Winter Camping means you are Hot tenting. You have a small portable stove and a stove jack in your tent.

    Lite and ultra-lite means you are packing only what you need.

    You can winter camp with just a tent, bag and winter cloths.

    Lite and ultra-lite campers will watch out for bulk and weight so will choose Down cloths and bags, and lightweight tents.

    Hot tenters will be carrying more weight as the tent will be larger and heavier as it must be flame resistant. Sunforger is a common material made from Duck Canvas, called Duck because the weave is so tight it sheds water like a duck’s feathers. A Small wedge tent will weigh 25 Lbs and accomodate a mini- to small stove with a 3 inch pipe.

    Usually Hot tenters will be pulling sledges with gear rather than backpacks alone.
    The tent will weigh between 25 and 40 Lbs depending on size.
    Mini to small stoves accommodate any size of tent. Mini stoves fold up larger stoves come as is and can burn liquid fuel or biomass.

    For cloths fur is the best. The fur acts as a wind break keeping the cold wind from reaching the hide below by trapping air in the short, fluffy nap fur nearest the hide. It also sheds water though have a poncho anyway. A Duck canvas poncho would be best as it is tough as nails and can be mended. It fits loose on the fur so it doesn’t compress the fur and make it less insulating.

    Wool is second best for cold weather. Wool is slightly water resistant, and by getting a tight weave coat with added mantels covering the shoulders it will give you plenty of protection from all but the heaviest rains, but don’t push it, get under cover and have a poncho, again Duck canvas is best. Best of all wool keeps a lot of ints insulating value when wet, and in winter camping, keeping warm is THE ONLY THING YOU SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN, cold kills quickly, and saps you of your strength even faster. Everything is worse in the cold.

    If you take Down and or synthetics, you better keep dry or have a big fire going to dry off with.

    Hot tenting brings a big problem with your breath. Moisture will form on the inside of your tent. The tent material will be cold, and so the drops will condense on it and fill up your tent. When hot tenting don’t use a tent with a floor, go with an old fashion duck canvas tent with a flame retardant and stove jack.
    use a footprint that is water proof and insulating that doesn’t reach out to the sides of the tent. Leave 6″ bare so the water can run down the tent and land on the outer bare floor of the tent and not end up on you or your footprint. Obviously an insulated inflatable mattress is terrific, spend the money and get the best. If not buy two foam insulated mattresses for extra protection. They are very light so it is only a bulk issue.

    Bring a BEDROLL. Keep your sleeping bag in a waterproof Duck Canvas bedroll, or a bivi sack. they will act as a tent in a tent to keep your body heat next to your skin. They are water proof so any water that gets in your tent wont soak into your sleeping bag or blankets. When marching you can wrap yourself in that bedroll for extra protection from the wind. Remember, bedrolls were designed when people only had wool or buffalo hide blankets, they REALLY work well.

    Reply
  7. Ken J

    Western Sierra’s for us. Car camping mostly as travel is hard for the whole family. For a lot of the reasons above, quiet, no bugs.. always easier to warm up than to cool down

    Reply