Bold, Brave, and Beneath the Stars: A Woman’s Guide to Solo Camping

The question I get asked most often from other women is, “Aren’t you scared?” Normally it comes after I post about a solo camping experience or solo hike. “Aren’t you scared to camp alone?” 

“Yes,” I reply. Every. Single. Time. 

So why do it? 

I don’t know. I have to, I guess. I feel like I should be able to. Men do it. 

One time, I was camping outside of Idyllwild, CA in the San Jacinto wilderness. I had made a reservation for the spot which is not something I normally do. Normally I find BLM spots. 

BLM stands for Bureau of Land Management and they provide inexpensive or free camping sites that are often underdeveloped or primitive in comparison to regulated campsites. The Bureau of Land Management monitors more than 240 million acres and has over 400 campgrounds in the United States.

Making a reservation at a regulated site made me feel safe. I was on record of being there. A park ranger checked me in and knew my vehicle, that I was alone, and that I was there. My campsite was not far from the ranger station but just far enough away. 

A man was camping alone nearby. I wondered how aware he was of me and if he knew how very aware I was of him. The thought made me kind of jealous. Envious of his perceived comfort. His solitude uninterrupted by thoughts of stranger danger and especially of strange men. 

I set up my tent, hung my hammock, unpacked my supplies, and built my fire. That night I didn’t sleep for even a single minute. I just powered through till sunrise dreaming of morning coffee in the hammock and the warmth and safety of the sun.

When I had to pee I would work up the courage to unzip the tent door. My thin plastic and nylon fortress. For some reason, I always have to pee more when trying to sleep in a tent and trying to avoid going outside.

I had been inspired to camp alone by other women. I had read, WILD by Cheryl Strayed. When Cheryl was in her twenties she hiked the Pacific Crest trail for months, sleeping alone on the trail with only whatever she could carry in her pack. Women camp alone, I told myself, and I was going to be that woman. 

So much of my experiences are based on learning through making mistakes and I don’t want to take that away from anyone. But if pain and discomfort can be avoided and safety can be prioritized. I’m all for it. It’s def more fun that way. 

Research gear 

I ordered a tent after reading a bunch of reviews on Amazon and REI. I ended up with the Coleman Sundome Camping two-person tent because I wanted enough room for an air mattress but small enough for just me. I also liked the netted top so I could see the stars at night. The reviews said that it was easy to set up and it was within my budget.

I practiced putting up my tent in the living room. I had some tent experience but had never really had to rely on just myself to put it together. I broke it down and then put it up again. 

Then I purchased a mini camp stove, fuel, portable cooking pots that fold up and fit in my plastic travel tote, a Yeti coffee mug, a waterproof camping tarp for the ground under the tent, and a sleeping bag. The sleeping bag I chose was waterproof and lightweight but I would learn my first night that it wasn’t very warm. 

It was cheap and that says a lot when buying camping gear. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on gear but an investment in the right gear is super necessary. 

BLM Land and finding a spot 

BLM camping is referred to as “Dispersed” camping. There are often very limited to no services with dispersed camping unlike what you will find with an established campground. Meaning there might not be bathrooms or a campsite host or running water. If you are camping alone for the first time you might want to make a reservation at an established campsite for safety reasons and access to services. 

My first solo camp trip was in Mammoth, CA. I was on a long road trip and traveling through Mammoth and had mapped out a few different dispersed campsites. What I didn’t know was that dispersed doesn’t mean that you can camp just anywhere. 

I found a spot by a little creek that looked cute and allowed for my car to be nearby. After having unpacked my gear and set up my tent a concerned local came by to tell me that I was not allowed to camp there. I was hungry and so tired but I had to pack up my stuff and move on. Good thing I had practiced breaking down my tent. 

I left and continued my search for a spot not having any luck as it was high tourist season in Mammoth. There were no hotels and no short-term rentals available. That’s a scary situation to be in when on the road. I knew that worst case scenario, I could just keep driving, but it was getting late and I was tired. 

Trust your gut 

I finally found what seemed like a spot, driving down a winding dirt road near one of the many lakes. I liked being on the lake on the other side of the highway from the woods because it was bear season, and a few of the sites had signs that warned of aggressive naughty bears. 

As I was surveying the site I noticed that there was a man camping in what looked like a pretty solid setup and that he had most likely been there for a few days. He had a truck with a converted trailer, an outdoor kitchen, and a pop-up potty tent. He had a couple of cones blocking half of the site.

When he saw me looking around I told him that I was having difficulty finding a site to camp for the night and he offered for me to share his spot. He said the cones were there to save the spot for his friends who were coming the next day.

He was a young guy, probably around my age and he was warm and kind. The wind was blowing as I worked to put up my tent and he never offered to help, which I felt was a good sign. I think he recognized that I was out to do this thing on my own and he allowed for me to have that experience.

After I got set up he asked if I would like to cook dinner with him. We cooked and laughed and played with his dogs and shared stories and songs. He was a wonderful and talented musician. 

My first time sleeping alone in a tent in the outdoors was not alone. The man slept nearby in his cozy converted trailer and I hardly slept in my tent but I felt safe. Had I gotten any weird vibes or cause for pause off the man I would have turned around and kept it moving. But my gut told me he was safe, and he was, and we are still connected to this day via social. He helped to make my first solo camping experience so special.

Pack supplies 

I started my period that night in the tent. I also had a super bad kink in my neck that was causing me pain and limiting my mobility. It was awful. I was cold, bleeding through my sweatpants in immense pain and just waiting for morning. I had forgotten to pack any feminine period products. 

I also forgot to pack an air mattress. Or any mattress at all. It was just me, my sleeping bag, and the cold hard ground. Oh, and I forgot a PILLOW. I rolled up a sweatshirt and used that with my badly kinked neck. 

Supplies while camping are key to a good experience.

I always always pack feminine products now and keep some in my camping tote for emergencies. I pack bug spray and sunblock. Ibuprofen. Tylenol. Tea. A headlamp, a lantern, and a flashlight. Toilet paper. A small cooler, coffee, soups, and snacks like jerky and crackers. Water, water, water. 

I bring bear spray and have practiced using it. I like my bear spray because it shoots far and wide and I wouldn’t have to be a great aim for it to be effective. I have other weapons as well such as a taser flashlight, a handheld smaller taser, a very loud alarm device, a loud whistle, and mace on my keychain. I carry a pocket knife. 

For safety, you could also purchase a satellite phone. There are many different options on the market. When in Mammoth there is zero cell service and being able to text my mom that I had found a site and who the guy was I was camping near would have given everyone a lot more peace of mind. 

After that trip, I purchased a really nice camping air mattress and a battery-powered air pump. Sleeping on the hard ground is fine and doable especially when you are young, but if you want to be comfortable, get a mattress. 

A camp chair is also clutch or a hammock or both. 

Leave it better than you found it and be mindful of the rules 

I always check the campfire rules. In California, you need a campfire permit and should get one before your trip. It’s important to keep your campfire small and your footprint small. Most sites do not allow camping within 200 feet of water. 

You should store whatever food in a bear-proof container especially in bear country. 

In dispersed camping it’s important to pack out your trash as there might not be trash services. It’s always important to pack out and leave no trace that you were there. Make sure your fire is properly extinguished. 

Yes, Women do camp alone 

The thing is, women camp alone. We hike alone and we road trip alone and we are capable and brave and can do anything. Every single morning after a long sleepless night in my tent I feel silly for the thoughts that raced through my mind keeping me awake. Thoughts of an attacker or an animal and realizing it’s just me in the wilderness. 

Then I drink my coffee in the warmth of the rising sun and feel so proud of myself. Even though I may be scared, I’m not going to allow that to stop me from doing what I want, and what I want is to be out in nature, solo, me and the moon, me and the fire, me and my thoughts. Just me.