How to Use the Bathroom While Camping

Co-authored by Hannah Young

Last Updated: August 16, 2023

Camping in the wild where no toilet facilities are available is not everyone's idea of fun and not even legal in many locations. If you choose to go freedom or disperse camping with no facilities than those you carry with you, you'll need to know how to deal with body waste.

Steps

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1
Establish the boundary of your camp area and agree that all members of the group camping relieve themselves outside of the boundary avoiding streams, or, down stream if that's not possible. Dig a latrine area if desired, for communal use.
- Establish a place no less than 200 feet away from the nearest water source and camp-site.
Camping in the wild has risks, your group need to know to come look for you if you get into trouble. Bears, snakes, falls etc are risks you may face in the great outdoors. If you go off to relive yourself without telling anyone, especially at night, you could be stranded, injured for hours before anyone looks for you. Take a torch or flash light even if it's only dusk and not full dark.

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Take some toilet paper. If you have to defecate, be sure to take a small shovel with you to bury your waste. Take hand sanitiser with you if wanted and if required, something to carry used toilet paper back to camp in. You shouldn't contaminate pristine wilderness with toilet paper unless you have to.
Find a bush, a shrub, or a boulder for added privacy.
Make sure you're looking out in the direction any risks are most likely to come from.
Tug your underwear halfway to your knees.
When you think you are halfway down, stop.
Secure your shorts with the other hand.
12
Wipe with toilet paper or do a shake and wiggle to dry yourself. Pack out your used toilet paper with your garbage, burn it in your campfire pit, or drop it in your pee spot.
- Use a odor proof bag to pack up your toilet paper and bring it with you.
You're done!!
If you need to defecate, hike 200' out and find a thick tree. Go behind it.^{[1]
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This pit should be 6" deep and large enough to defecate into.^{[2]
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Pull your pants and underwear down halfway to your knees.
Throw it into the hole.
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Question

How do I pee when I'm camping and there are no trees?

Community Answer

If you are above treeline, just go ahead and pee, but you can also pee in a bottle.

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What if I cannot find any trees or bushes to pee?

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You can ask people around you to turn around, and you can pee outside your tent when no one is looking.

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What if my friend doesn't want to go in the forest but is about to pee her pants?

Community Answer

She can just go to the edge of the campsite. Just ask everyone else not to look.

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Tips

If you are going camping and on your period make sure to bring double supplies, if you are going with a friend ensure they have supplies just in case too!

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Everyone has to pee while camping--both boys and girls. It's normal and natural. Once you are comfortable going pee outside, you don't have to go as far away--especially if it's dark or raining. You can go pee behind the tent or at the edge of the camp site. If there isn't much privacy, you can ask others to look away.

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These methods aren't private. Someone might see you peeing. This is camping; it's okay!

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