Earlier this year I was able to pull the trigger on 40 acres of land atop a small mountain in southeast Missouri. I’ve been a lifelong haunter of both the Missouri and Arkansas ozarks and it was my dream
to finally own some land in this beautiful, often glossed over part of the country, and now that dream has come true.

Initially got it as hunting land and perhaps to put a tiny home on one day, but for right now it’s mostly a camping and “get away from it all” place. No cell reception, no amenities, just miles of rolling hills and steep forest service roads between me and anything remotely resembling civilization.

Finally got to camp on it after a long brutal summer (I don’t summer camp, heat intolerant and it’s just miserable down here in swamp east Missouri) and it was life changing to say the least, being able to truly do whatever I wanted, not having to worry about park fees, camp neighbors, seeing littering and dealing with noise pollution, or any of the other downsides to public land camping. I may have cried out of sheer gratitude just knowing this little plot is mine and mine alone when I woke up that first morning to nothing but the sounds of the mourning doves and squirrel barks.

Anyhow, here’s some pics. The saint Francis river runs close by, and 30 mins away is tom sauk mountain. Most of the weekend was spent fishing, squirrel hunting, scouting for deer sign and catching up on some reading. Cannot wait for actual winter time up here. I’m one of those weirdos that thrives in the cold and melts in the heat.

On my way to New Mexico, I took a detour and spent a couple of days in Rio Grande National Forest. It was absolutely beautiful warm during the day and very cold at night.

I spent most of the time exploring around and took these pictures along the way. The exact spot where I parked was 37°33’21.1”N 106°42’01.2”W.

I was there from Sunday to Tuesday, so it was very quiet. I saw a few cars passing by, but I didn’t meet another camper the whole time.

Also, the town of South Fork is gorgeous. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re in the area. 🏕️

we were camping the time there was an insane wild fire that spread hectares and hectares of land, we almost got evacuated one day because the fire was so close, there were firemen camping at our site just incase!

I spent this past weekend canoe camping with a good friend in Michigan’s UP. Saturday and Sunday were warm… but we enjoyed a few lake dips and otherwise really mild weather and a lot of sun poking through the autumn foliage.

We caught several fish - but unfortunately none for keeping and eating. Thankfully our food stock was otherwise healthy.

The avian wildlife was plentiful. We saw eagles, grebes, loons, hawks, and swans.

I really enjoyed visiting here. It reminded me a lot of my camping trips back home in VT.

Getting ready for three days and two nights at Big Meadows in Shenandoah this month. Planning a couple of short hikes and some time along Skyline Drive to see the fall colors. Leaving plenty of time to just sit around camp too.

This is the tent setup. Two cots with foam pads, pillows and extra blankets, with sleeping bags coming along for the colder nights. The little table fits between the beds, although the Jackery and lantern have claimed most of it.

First time taking the Jackery camping. Planning to use it for phones and topping up the rechargeable fan and lantern as needed. Food’s going in a cooler, and we’re bringing a propane stove for cooking outside and making coffee in the morning.

Going to charge it fully before leaving and see how much we actually use over the two nights. Mostly looking forward to a morning where making coffee is the only thing I need to do right away.

Anyone else heading to Shenandoah this month?

We are looking for some new campgrounds in Florida that we can use our roof top tent. We like national forest or state forest style sites that are semi secluded and not right on top of the next camper. The problem I run into is that most primitive sites seem to be setup for ground tents where they have barricades to park and carry your gear in or the RV spots are pads with no space or privacy between them.

We have stayed in the Ocala National Forest before and are looking for similar spots that can provide some privacy where we are not a bother to our neighbor. Im not asking anyone to give away their secret spots. You can DM me any information and we can chat there.

so i've never really been camping beyond once or twice when i was in the scouts but i live in Oregon and there's quite a lot of BLM land up here that allows dispersed camping.

so do i just like take a tent and just wander into the woods or...? like im not 100% sure about protocol here

any advice would be great, thanks in advance

Bald eagles, mountain lions, a herd of elk, excellent swimming holes at the base of massive bluffs, the best pizza I’ve ever had in downtown Jasper, friendly banded water snakes, box turtles, and an armadillo compadre who wandered his way into our camp while we were enjoying a quiet morning coffee that we named 'Mahogany Jones' and got matching tattoos of.

Shoutout to Springbar. This Vagabond 8x10 shelter has gone with me through many trips and refuses to give up. It has kept me dry in severe thunderstorms and cool in 85° sunny days. Delightful.

Hello I am a field technician with a small budget who needs a one-person tent for next year’s season. I camp 10 days at a time and have to take down and set up my tent every day, so im looking for something quick and simple. However, I need a tent that can withstand the wind and rain. This year I used a small backpacking tent I was gifted but it was very frustrating to be in because you cant sit up, so i would like something I can sit up and dress in. the other thing is that the ground I’m camping on is very hard and my stakes were all bent by the end of the season. If anyone has recommendations for a tent and some strong stakes, please let me know!! Thank you :)

My second time camping at 23! It’s been so fun especially as a city girl from NYC. I absolutely love the woods. Would love some suggestions for my next solo camping trip :).

Hey there! I’m somewhat new to the eastern NC area, I know forest camping can be a little tricky to find out here. I live about 40 mins from Croatan and would love some tips for campsites there, especially with hunting season in mind and wanting to be off a main gravel road a bit. Don’t want to be right next to a game clearing haha.

Uwharrie is about 3 hours away, would be super open to exploring there as well. I’ve got a 4x4 with big tires so send me your favorite campsites!!

Hello, I've been looking at getting a bell tent and stove set up for the next set of LARP events I'm going to, but I had one thing I'm trying to figure out while shopping.

The websites that sell the flashing kits for the stove have two options, one that's a regular flashing kit, which obviously is straight up and down.

The other is a 45 degree, like this, which is approx £5 more:

Is the only difference that they help prevent water from entering with the 45 degree flashing kit? Thank you for the help!

We have a favorite campground that we've gone to for the last 11 years, and it was just sold this year. The new owners changed the checkout time from 1PM to 11AM, This just seems unreasonably early. I mean, if we are to get up, take showers, make breakfast, and tear down, we would have to get up at like 7 or 8 am (following a camping Saturday night).

And the new owners created "Site Categories" where you pick your "Category" and then they will place you on a site, but if you want a specific site, you have to pay $5 a night. Is this normal?

Got to the sunset location and realized I had everything I needed for dinner....except the stove 🤦‍♂️

Ventured up into the UP this weekend for some fall camping and I could not have asked for a more picturesque and remote campsite. Between the Two Hearted River flowing directly behind my site to Lake Superior being only a 1-2 mile hike from camp via the North Country Trail to the clear skies and 70° days.... My heart and soul is full. Here's some shots from camp and the areas we explored by foot nearby.

Camped at Reed & Green Bridge State Forest Campground off of Co Rd 374 site #4.

I went backpacking in August in Banff starting at Sunshine Meadows. 4 nights, 5 days to Mt. Assiniboine and back. >60 km in total! Gorgeous trip! The last night the temps dropped like crazy and I woke up to snow nearly caving in my tent! Backcountry Permits required, and they go quickly so I booked them exactly 3 months in advanced through Parks BC.

Went camping near the Crystal Mill in Marble, CO a week ago. Peak fall colors combined with a waterfall near our campsite and a clear night sky giving way to just about every star you could possibly see with the naked eye. (The picture doesn't do it justice) Cooked burgers for dinner and sausage, egg and potato burritos for breakfast while watching and listening to the waterfall. Absolutely magical.

Years ago I had a luggable loo and used the blue chemical sold in the rv aisle at walmart and it was basically the same exact stuff they put in porta pottys and it worked amazingly. Fast forward to my camping trip this weekend, I bought what aestheticaly looks to be the same thing but it was so bad, it actually made it worse, like it already came smelling like shit. Does anyone know where to get the old stuff?

Hey. I am new to camping and could use your help. Our first trip doesn’t have a toilet in site so we are bringing along a Trelino compost toilet. I was wondering: 1) Do you put the toilet and the waste from the day locked in the vehicle to not attract critters or is it ok to leave out at night?; 2) What other options do people use?
Thanks in advance.

Saves money and allows for sudden temperature shifts. If it gets warm unzip it. Hot, sleep on top. I'm mainly asking as someone who will be backpacking for months and will be in both temperatures.

Looking to do a small hike in trip in the Pisgah, park at a trailhead or campsite and hike with heavy packs ideally less than 5 miles to the top of a peak with great views to camp. We've done this in the Grayson Highlands and it's gorgeous and tons of places to camp with 360° views.

We've never been camping in Pisgah so if anyone has any tips or suggestions for spots that would be awesome.

Like so many folks, I seem to get caught in the allure of a hot tent and tent stove. I’ve looked at a lot of stoves and tents. Pomoly seems to come up a lot, and the tents are really inexpensive for what you get.

I would be carrying the setup and hiking to nearby spots. I’m in North Carolina so I don’t need crazy -50 degree protection…

All that being said, the one thing that I’ve heard only mention a few times is that the foldable tent stoves burn out super quick and it’s a chore to keep it going… that isn’t a dealbreaker, but I would appreciate some feedback on do’s and donts from others that do 1-2 day solo camping using tents and stoves.

Thank you in advance!

I'm doing a off-road motorcycle trip this weekend in Wisconsin, basically driving my truck to the campsite, then riding all day then going back to the camp site for the night, it's currently 80 degrees but this weekend will be 28 degrees. I am ill equiped for the cold right now, my tent is a cheap truck bed tent with an air mattress, and a 35 degree sleeping bag. The site will have electricity but I don't like the idea of running a space heater in the tent, heated blanket a better choice? Or just toss a heavy comforter over my sleeping bag? What other tips/ ideas for making it more tolerable?

Spent 2 nights camping near the lake in Norway
Hiked about 3 miles in to get to this spot. The weather was crisp and chilly in the morning, so having hot cocoa by the campfire with this lake view was incredible.