How to Use the Bathroom While Camping

Last Updated: January 14, 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

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.
2
Ensure your group, if you're in one, know where you're going. 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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3
Gather what you need to "go". 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.
4
Walk out of camp as far as required. Find a bush, a shrub, or a boulder for added privacy.
5
Go behind your cover. Make sure you're looking out in the direction any risks are most likely to come from.
6
Pull your garment down to your knees, or lift them out of the way depending in what you're wearing. Tug your underwear halfway to your knees.
7
Start pooping and keep looking forward. When you think you are halfway down, stop.
8
Adjust your underwear if necessary.
9
Hold yourself up by one hand. Secure your shorts with the other hand.
10
Squat the rest of the way down.
11
Begin to urinate.
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.
13
Pull your shorts up and go. You're done!!
14
Defecating while camping. If you need to defecate, hike 200' out and find a thick tree. Go behind it.^{[1]
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15
Dig a pit where your waste will fall. This pit should be 6" deep and large enough to defecate into.^{[2]
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16
Face away from the tree and look forward. Pull your pants and underwear down halfway to your knees.
17
Stick your bum out and over the hole.
18
Pull your shorts down to your knees.
19
Bend at the waist and at the knees.
20
Defecate.
21
Wipe with toilet paper or a leaf. Throw it into the hole.
22
Bury your waste.^{[3]
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Community Q&A

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.
Question

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

Community Answer

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

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.