For many long-distance touring cyclists, wild camping is one of the favorite aspects of their trip. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy the solitude of camping alone, with fantastic views of majestic mountains or expansive desert landscapes?
Not only is it cheap (free!), but it also allows them the flexibility to stop whenever they want. Sometimes, it’s simply not possible to reach a hotel or paid campground within a day’s ride, so it’s always good to know that you can wild camp if need be.
But for those new to bicycle touring, the idea can seem a bit daunting.
Here’s a short list of wild camping tips, along with a curated selection of web pages offering more in-depth information on stealth camping during a bicycle tour.
Tips
1. Find a hidden spot where you can’t be seen from the road or via car headlights.
2. Green and beige tents blend into the landscape better than brightly colored ones.
3. If you can’t find a spot, ask the locals for a place you could pitch your tent.
4. Be on the lookout for a suitable spot at least an hour before you plan to stop.
5. Don’t camp in dry riverbeds.
6. Finally, don’t leave any litter behind.
Websites
You can’t go wrong by reading Tom Allen’s take on the subject. It’s titled; How to camp anywhere and not get busted.
Stephen Fabes of Cycling the 6 writes; “I have probably spent around 800-1000 nights rough camping over the six years I was on the road, so there have been a remarkable number of nights without fire ants and the threat of rabies.” He also explains in the article why he didn’t do it in some countries.
One of Ed and Marion Shoote’s tips is to avoid leaving your shoes outside your tent while stealth camping, as these places are often teeming with creepy crawlies. The rest of their informative article can be read on their website, We love mountains.
Legality
Every country treats wild camping differently. In some places such as Oman and the Pamir Plateau, no one will bat an eye if you free camp there. But you might think twice about stealth camping on private property in America. So, it helps to do a bit of research beforehand.
For those planning to cycle through Europe, check out Diane Vukovic’s page on wild camping laws in Europe.
Safety tips
If you think wild camping isn’t a good idea for solo female cyclists, Heike Pirngruber aka Pushbikegirl believes otherwise. She has put together the excellent article “Safety tips shared by 6 experienced solo female cyclists”.
Heike’s interviews are full of in-depth information, and the straightforward advice given is also applicable to male cyclists and couples.