With rain in the forecast I wanted to put together a few tips for camping in the rain, so you can still get out there and enjoy your time in the mountains, regardless of the weather! When it comes to summer in the Rockies you can never guarantee what the weather is going to do and I’ve seen it impact many peoples trips, being prepared is the key to still having an amazing time camping even in the rain!
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Before You Go Camping
Check The Weather
It should go without saying but always check the forecast before leaving the house for a trip! Being prepared is key and knowing what you are in for helps to mentally prepare for the trip I find. I typically check at least two forecast websites before heading out and the weather network allows you to check the forecast in areas such as provincial parks. If I’m backpacking, I also use the weather forecast function on my Garmin InReach Mini, this allows me to plan my following day.
Take Care Of Your Gear
Tents do not stay watertight forever, it is important to make sure you take care of your gear. We typically do one annual clean and repair time, usually at the end of summer, prior to packing away or when we take our gear back out of storage before summer.
Check your tent seams annually and if they look like they are wearing or flaking, get some seam sealer, it is fairly inexpensive and easy to apply for the most part, just make sure to remove the old sealer first, this will help prevent any leaks on rainy days. If you get any holes in your tent, repair them during the season with proper gear tape to prevent any water getting in through any holes.
During Your Camping Trip
Set Up Camp Well
When it comes to camping in the rain, setting up camp well will help keep everyone dry. If it is raining when we get to camp I always start by setting up the dinner tent gazebo, this is a vital part of our car camping kit and we love it for wet camps as well as hot camp camps!
Once the gazebo is up, move it to where you want your tent to be set up, this way you can set up your tent in the dry! A tarp will also work and we always pack one in case of rain. However a tarp relies on tree placement at the site while a gazebo is a bit more versatile.
Once the tent is up we typically move the gazebo over the cooking area, aka the picnic bench, this gives us a dry area to hang out. If we can we will often string up a tarp over the tent to give it an extra layer of protection when camping in the rain.
Make sure to also pack towels or absorbent products, this means when you arrive at camp you can mop up any unwanted water from the picnic bench and any other spots. They are also super handy if, in the worst case, water gets into your tent, you can dry out the floor and soak up any puddles.
Activities To Do While Camping In The Rain
If you are expecting to be camping in the rain, it always pays to be prepared with some wet weather activities, cards or uno are a sure win and easy and small to always have in your camping supplies. I also enjoy packing a book, this means if you do find yourself camping in the rain, you can sit under the gazebo and read or lie in the tent and read. It is the perfect everyday activity.
With the right gear, it is also possible to do regular camping activities such as hiking and exploring the campground. A set of waterproof clothes will allow you to explore without worrying about getting too wet. A good rain jacket and waterproof pants as well as waterproof boots will allow you to keep exploring even when you are camping in the rain. When you get back to camp hang them in a dry spot to drip dry.
Wet Weather Clothing
Keeping dry when camping in the rain will make the whole experience better. This starts with the right clothing! Quick drying clothes are perfect and typically don’t absorb much water to drip in your tent later.
Pick clothing with a DWR finish for a slight resilience to getting wet, perfect for when you have to run to the bathroom. I love the MEC Wanderwall womens pants, they also have cuffs at the bottom so they don’t drag in the dirt.
A good rain jacket will also help for those times when you can’t or don’t want to hide from the rain.
Most importantly, always have a dry set of clothes on hand. I like to keep them in the car so they are safe but a dry bag in the tent will work well also.
Post Camping In The Rain
Dry Out Your Gear
It should go without saying but we’ve all been there, packed up in a rush, got home and been so exhausted from the trip, we’ve left everything in the car. It is important to take out any wet gear and dry it out as soon as possible. This could be the tent, sleeping pads, sleeping bags or even just clothes. This will allow you to keep your gear in tip top shape and means it’ll be ready for your next trip.
We like to hang out our tent in the shower so it can drip into the basin if it’s really wet, or dry it outside if the sun is out when we get home. Wherever possible though, we try to dry out gear at camp if the weather clears up before we leave, this means one less thing to do when we get home and everything can be packed up once rather than twice.