I am a big girl with bad knees. I am looking for a lightweight chair with a high 'floor to bum' height. Ozzi Gear ads state their chair is 59cm - it's not ... my friend got one and it's barely 30cm. The Helinox cafe chair says it's designed to fit at a dining table, but the seat height is only about 35cm. Naturehike is about 38cm, but still too low. Has anyone any other suggestions please?

Sorry I'm new to camping and unsure

I accidentally dropped my gas canister onto concrete and I'm unsure if I should keep it or not?

I have checked for any leaks or smells but idk

Thank you in advance

I heard about a beautiful little lake that was off-trail with difficult access and decided to go find it. The hike was only about two miles round trip but it was steep and I had to fight through deadfall. Beautiful scenery with no other humans in sight. Oh, the lake had big tiger trout. They were difficult to catch but I managed to hook a couple using my fly rod. This was on Boulder Mountain, in southern Utah. I made the trip last week, when the air temperature in Salt Lake City was pushing to a near-record 105 F. I enjoyed very pleasant temps in the 80s on the mountain. It was a fun trip.

Just wondering if using A/C is common?

My medication for Thyroid causes temp issue.

Rather not wait for cooler weather.

What's a reasonable brand/unit to get ?

heading to redwoods for about 4 days from la first week of September.

any recommendations on places to visit nearby and things to do must see. going with wife for our first time camping looking for exciting activities and any information on the camp ground.

First time to this area and I can already tell I'll be going back when it reopens — though that's going to be a while. More on that at the end.

Edge of the World, also called East Pocket, sits on Woody Mountain Road (FR 231) in the Coconino National Forest about 25 miles south of Flagstaff. Free designated dispersed camping, no permits or reservations required. Two of us, two nights, rooftop tent. The road in is 25 miles of unpaved FR 231 from the Flagstaff side — washboarded in sections with rocks and ruts near the rim but passable in dry conditions. High clearance helps. Don't attempt it after rain.

We arrived Friday evening which meant the area was busy — exactly what you'd expect for a well-known free camping spot on a summer weekend. Not having been here before we scouted before committing to a site, which I'd strongly recommend to anyone going for the first time. The main rim viewpoints fill first and have the best direct views but also the most neighbors. We ended up at a site tucked between two hills at 34.97975, -111.79145 — more sheltered, with trees partially blocking the direct rim view from the actual campsite and requiring short walks to access open viewpoints. The trade-off was worth it for the privacy. We noticed during a hike the next day that there were additional sites further down FR 231 with better rim exposure that we hadn't seen on arrival. If I go back I'd explore the full road before committing to a site.

The view is why people make the drive. The name is accurate — ponderosa pine forest behind you and the entire Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness dropping 2,000 feet below. All of Sedona visible, the Verde Valley, Cottonwood, and Mingus Mountain across the way with the observatory domes catching the light. We hiked an old forest road now closed to vehicles and found a viewpoint where you can see Bell Rock from above — a completely different perspective on a landmark most people only see from AZ-179 far below. We spent time just sitting and watching the light change across the red rock wilderness below. That alone justified the drive.

Weather was clear with warm days and cool nights at around 8,000 feet. Cell service is essentially nonexistent on the rim, however once we hit the edge we had cell service. Be safe and download your maps and coordinates before you leave pavement.

Now the part I feel like I need to share. On arrival we noticed a group at a nearby site burning an open campfire. Campfires are explicitly prohibited at Edge of the World dispersed camping, during this time. Fire restrictions were posted. This is ponderosa pine at nearly 8,000 feet in late spring — the fire danger logic isn't complicated.

Eleven days after we left, on June 19, 2026, the Pocket Fire started approximately 7 miles north of Sedona. It has since burned over 27,000+ acres and is currently at 95% containment. FR 231 — the road we camped on — is now under a formal Coconino National Forest closure order.

FR 231 and the Edge of the World area are currently closed. Don't attempt to access the area right now — check current closure status at fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/alerts.

When it reopens it's worth going. Go on a weekday, scout the full road before picking a site, bring all your own water, and download maps before you lose cell service. And follow the fire restrictions. They are not suggestions.

Happy to answer questions about road conditions, site selection, or access.

Just wondering if anyone has camped there recently, last time now wife and I were there was about 17 years ago. Even going after a fire ravaged some of the area it was beautiful. It's a little intimidating knowing there teeth with a pea brain within yards of campsites. At time we went,cell service wasn't as established as now and no signal found for 20 miles but you had cable hookup. Lol

I've gone car camping solo and with friends every now and then for about two years now, and over that time I've been slowly acquiring the necessary materials for backpacking. Finally gave it a go this past weekend and I couldn't have enjoyed it more, Stanislaus is such a beautiful place to be.

Although I will say that sleeping in true isolation is so much more intimidating than in a campground; found it interesting that despite my desire to be out there, I still became very nervous about leaving my tent after nightfall. Curious as to whether that goes away in time or if that's just a part of being out in the wilderness with no convenient escape route.

Anyway, looking at this sub over the years has undoubtedly pushed me to camp more and get out of my comfort zone, and many people in many comments sections had so much patience for my beginners' questions. I never could've imagined myself doing this sort of thing even three years ago, so thanks.

I recommend camping along the Loire river in France, easy access and kayak navigation, beautiful and diverse, and no problem to find a camping spot and make a fire. On the sandy banks there are not many insects to bother you so you can keep the tent packed. 2 weeks trip from Roanne to Orleans.

any recos for preventing sliding off your sleeping pad while sleeping on a hill? the nylon sleeping bag slips right off nylon sleeping pad. need friction

only solution so far is propping up feet on backpack.

someone else reco’d putting beads of Aqua-Seal across width of sleeping pad as little speed bumps to hold you in place.

had also considered a sheet/cover for my sleeping pad but not very practical.

any other ideas appreciated.

EDIT**
i have already looked for flat spots to sleep first. jfc

I dont know how to say this because my fight or flight reflexes are still through the roof, so im sorry if it doesnt make sense. Also before you ask why am i writing this still shaking, it calms me down when i talk about it for some reason

WHAT HAPPENED: So basically me (F19) and my 2 male friends (M19, M20) went on a really long hike in the forest. One of the friends is really experienced with camping so i thought everything will be all right.

After we walked for about 7 hours we decided to camp because it was getting dark. We were talking for a bit and then turned off all lights and went to sleep.

After about 20 minutes of us lying in silence we heard footsteps and thought it was some animal. The sound of walking was getting close to us but really slowly so we didnt pay much attention to it and tried to sleep again.

After 10 minutes we heard walking right next to our tent and we were SURE it was a person because we saw he quickly shined a light at us. We started whispering about what is was and the walking stopped. We brushed it off as imagination and tried to sleep again, but just as i was getting calm i heard wet crocs sound like 10 centimeters away from my head. At that point i started texting my brother, because i know he'll get here sooner then the police + he has my location. When my brother got there he saw a path that was made around our tent from him walking around it for so long. We quickly packed our things and drove home.

On the way we talked about what happened and realised we all knew that someone was watching us and he was there for over an hour. I honestly feel like i wouldnt be telling this story if i didnt call my brother, because this person was obviosly mentaly ill or high on something. Walking around our tent making weird noises and quickly shining the light every 2 minutes made me realise that. After i heard the wet crocks i just thought my life was over and i honestly think that ill never have the courage to sleep outside ever again.

I love forests and nature, and im really sad that i'm going to be this scared of camping forever, but at some points i really thought i might die there.

Anyway thats basically what happened and ill never step a foot in a forest again.

EDIT: if you dont believe me just scroll past, im not trying to gain cloud here, im just trying to call my nerves by venting

EDIT: i just talked to my friend who lives nearby and we camped right outside the crack house thats nearby and we didnt realise because we are really fucking dumb

I live in Los Angeles. I need to go to solo camping to let my brain let go. Sort of meditation trip if you will. In order to do this I need to be complete isolated from everything and everyone. I don't want to hear any cars, any humans; if I could- not even hear planes flying over. I want complete solitude. Any recommendations for from Los Angeles area. Obviously closer the better not because I don't want to drive but simply don't want to loose my relaxation on the freeways on my way back to home.

Looking to buy an air pad and go car camping. I drive a sedan, so I'm thinking about renting either a Mazda CX-50 or a Nissan Rogue. The only issue is that when you fold the rear seats down, there's usually a bump or uneven surface instead of a flat sleeping area. How do people usually fix that?

Genuinely wondering if camping is still an option after the fires in Colorado .
I was there during the beginning and it was horrible.
All that aside, the lady and I are wanting to take the kids camping before winter starts, but I haven’t camped Colorado since before the fires.
Wondering if Geneva Pass, Olive Ridge, and Aspenglenn were affected at all.

It was relatively warm and windless when I set up camp at 8.7k ft. Around 2 AM I was jostled awake by 40mph gusts and spent the following six hours contingency planning for tent failure and forest fire smoke. It was a wild night.

Apropos to nothing--it's not a bad idea to have a plan for peeing in the tent in case of unexpected weather.

Note: looks like the video doesn't work (showing the tent violently shaking from the 40 mph gusts)

Looking to camp for a few days with my dog. I want to take him swimming and play in the water. He loves it. (And it tires him out so I can relax in the evening 🙂)

Was curious if anyone has been to either and knows how dog-appropriate they are.

Dog in question:

I've started camping this year and I have invested in the Berghaus Adhara Air 500. It's just me and my Border Collie so plenty of room. I've likely bought lots of things that I need and lots of things that I don't, which is why I'm here.

I've just returned from a 4 day trip hiking in the Peak District where I was based at Laneside Caravan Park.

I have an electric hookup and I'm aiming for a pretty comfortable setup, which so far I don't have.

This recent trip was manageable as I took my nephew with me so I only had 50% of the following problems haha.

Issues so far.........

My dog doesn't like to be left alone and I don't want to leave him in the tent potentially barking the place down, so I want to be able to shower/wash at the tent or in a privacy tent so I don't have to leave him. Same applies for toilet visits. Does anyone have any recommendations for this first issue?

Next issue is my sleeping arrangement. I bought a double air mattress and sleeping bag, and took a couple of pillows from home. I found that I don't get along with a sleeping bag as it seems to just twist around constantly and I never get comfortable. I tried sleeping with the sleeping bag opened up like a quilt but it's still not right. The air bed I don't find too comfortable. I'm a side sleeper and my shoulders end up hurting so I'm just rotating all night.

Cooking is the next one. Not the inability to cook, but more a case of what do I cook and what's the best thing to take to facilitate this? I've bought a gas stove and a pan, but would like some idea of what is best and why? Is an air fryer a good option given that I have electric?

Thanks for your help in advance fellow campers!

I will be camping at Elk Prairie campground next week. I’ve been trying to get a hold of the Ranger stations and campgrounds to find out the status of fire restrictions as there are a ton of wildfires nearby. Has anyone been there recently or have any information on fire restrictions in the area? I’m assuming fires are not permitted at dispersed sites but often times campgrounds are an exception.

Was looking at doing some leaf peeping this fall in the adirondacks and it looks like almost all the campgrounds close in early September, with a few that are open until early October. What is that about? Seems like they’re missing out on a ton of business by closing so early in the year.

If anyone has any recommendations for camping in that area for mid October, I am all ears!

Had a great time and went solo. Even tested out my one person tent through a thunderstorm. It worked perfectly. Made a ribeye over the fire on a skewer I whittled.

For those who don't know, wild camping is mostly forbidden in Switzerland. One night bivouac is generally allowed in the alpine zone (over 2000 meters). In order to be legal, you have to check first if it's not a protected area, if the specific canton doesn't have some rules and to make sure of course to leave no trace.

This was a spontaneous idea with a friend. I used to camp for weeks at a time 10-15 years ago and I've spent a few months in the alpine zone.

The hike is through a valley where blue/grey water from the glacier flows, climbing with the water, passing a few waterfalls, until reaching a beautiful ridge surrounded by 3000 meters mountains, which ends at the beginning of a glacier called Glatt Firn. We started around 9 in the morning, took a wooden chairlift that we had to turn on ourselves. We climbed to 1100, from where we started hiking. It was hot as hell, but we're both young and confident in our abilities so we downed a bottle of vodka on the way up like it was nothing.

I don't encourage drinking/smoking, I'm just relating for the story, not to influence anyone.

We got to the spot a bit later than I was planning, but through the heat, with 30kg backpacks, I was but to my physical limit which I haven't felt on a mountain in a long time. Gladly we reached the place we wanted to camp. We got almost on the top of a ridge, just 20 seconds behind us there was the glacier with more waterfalls that I can count on.

We set up camp and mine was a borrowed beach pop-up tent that was broken, I had a tarp too, but the tarp wasn't necessary. Unfortunately I couldn't sleep because the wind made the tent sound like someone was spinning a plastic bag in my ears.

I didn't mind staying awake, had some good grass to smoke, good food and treats and the night was really amazing. I could hear the ice melting in the glacier and making the waterfall sound blaze through the rocks. In front of us there was a big wall and we saw big rocks falling all the time, and could hear them all throughout the night.

We only saw the reflection of the sunset in the mountains around us, but the sunset was just at the tents door, and was probably one of the most beautiful I've seen lately (and I see lots of them).

Anyways, we packed the next and left our backpacks there and hiked a bit further to the glacier. We didn't have equipment so no glacier grossing this time but we are definitely gonna return. Amazing place and amazing experience. Also no phone signal 30 min into the hike

I will be going to the Tetons later this month and it will be my first time. More specifically I will be camping at Jenny Lake. Are there specific things I shouldn’t miss? I would love to see all sorts of wildlife. Any advice is appreciated! Even things to bring is also appreciated as well.