Cowboy Camping - A Guide For Camping Without A Tent

Aug 27, 2021 by Mark Wilcox

If you click and purchase with one of our links, we earn a commission. Thanks.

Are you ready for a camping challenge?

Cows kill more Americans each year than snake bites. According to the CDC, 5 Americans per year die from snakebites. While cows, kill 22.

If you are ready for a change in your camping habits, give cowboy camping a try.

Cowboy camping is when you sleep at night without a tent or camper. You just use a sleeping bag. This style of camping gets its name from how cowboys slept in old western movies.

My favorite TV western is Cheyenne. It starred Clint Walker as Cheyenne Body. Walker was a big man but Cheyenne was a kind-hearted drifter who helped right wrongs in the cities he visited.

James Garner who if you’re over 40 you will remember as Rockford and if you’re under 40, he plays the older version of Ryan Gosling’s character in “The Notebook” was supposed to play Cheyenne but he missed the phonecall.

At least one time in every episode of Cheyenne, he ends up sleeping on the ground next to the campfire.

And that was the inspiration for this blog post.

Camping Without A Tent

Did you know that if you own a sleeping bag, it doesn’t matter where you go camping because all you need is a place to roll out your sleeping bag.

The first question everyone has about cowboy camping is “Don’t you need a tent?”.

The answer is no, you don’t need a tent, cabin, or camper to go camping. All you need is a sleeping bag and some basic knowledge if it does start to rain on you.

The point of cowboy camping is to sleep under the stars, not in a shelter. Being able to look up at the stars and breathe fresh air is truly the reason cowboy camping is becoming popular with many people who love to go camping.

If you are planning a family camping trip, cowboy camping may not be for you because it doesn’t provide protection from wildlife or bugs.

But if you are ready for adventure and just want to camp out where ever, cowboy camping might be right.

We will cover the options for dealing with rain in a later section.

Another reason people like to have a tent is that they want the security a tent provides from wildlife.

Tents provide a false sense of security because a tent will not protect you against animals. While a zipped-up tent will discourage a squirrel or raccoon or possum from crawling up into your sleeping bag for warmth, it doesn’t do anything if you’re careless with food.

Animals can smell you with a tent and if given the chance, they will come to investigate. This is why you need to keep food out of your tent, especially in bear country because bears, raccoons, and even mice love human food.

Heck, even that tube of toothpaste smells like dessert to a bear.

If you are camping in bear country the best thing to do is sleep 100 yards away from where you cook food. We will cover specifics about what to do in bear country once we get to the section about bear country camping. You can read more tips about camping aroud bears in this article.

The other thing that a tent won’t protect against are creepy crawlies like spiders or snakes but these creatures aren’t looking for human contact either.

I can definitely confirm, tents don’t do anything about spiders because every time I pitch a tent, eventually I find a spider.

But we have an agreement, as long as they’re not crawling on my face, they can hang out with me.

How Do You Sleep While Cowboy Camping

The second question everyone has about cowboy camping is “How do you sleep on the ground?”

If you’re a traditional tent camper, cowboy camping is no different than tent camping except, of course, there is no tent. To cowboy camp, all you need is a sleeping bag and the great outdoors. It’s like tent camping except there are no walls or shelter to keep out bugs, raindrops, or curious animals.

If you are new to camping, I recommend starting with a tent so that it will be easier for you to get used to sleeping in the woods. There is an increased chance of getting rained on during cowboy camping and this makes people more uncomfortable than they would when staying indoors (in a tent).

Plus, while, a tent isn’t going to protect you from a bear in the event you ate a candy bar in your tent, people do feel like the walls of a tent offer protection.

Also, people believe that tents will keep you warm. This is not true. A tent will keep you dry from precipitation but it will not keep you warm. Tents do not have any insulation and a tent’s flimsy walls will not protect you from the cold though it might offer a slight break from the wind.

This lack of insulation and zero protection from the elements is why if you plan to cowboy camp, bring a sleeping bag that is rated for ten degrees colder than you expect at night.

Your typical summertime sleeping bag will only keep you warm within the comfort range of 75 degrees to 65 degrees and don’t forget to layer up when camping in cold weather.

You will want a sleeping pad and not just for comfort. A sleeping pad will insulate your body from the cold ground.

Bring along a couple of tarps as well. Having a tarp under you will provide an additional layer of insulation and protection you from ground moisture. And an extra tarp can be hung to protect you from the rain.

When camping, a tarp is laid out first to protect against the ground and then your sleeping pad. After that comes the sleeping bag so you can sleep comfortably for any activity during the nighttime.

Using your saddle as a pillow and your cowboy hat like Cheyenne is optional but makes you awesome.

One final point, while a snake or other critter is unlikely to ever crawl into your sleeping bag while you’re sleeping in it, make sure to keep everything rolled up and in your pack or vehicle (cowboy camping doesn’t mean you can’t car camp) to avoid any chance of unexpected animal friends.

If you’re new to camping or cowboy camping, give yourself an out just in case the great outdoors isn’t as fun as advertised. Cowboy camping is not for everyone so if your first cowboy campout isn’t a good time, try again with another opportunity or switch to tents or hammocks.

What Gear Do You Need To Cowboy Camping

Cowboy camping is the ultimate form of minimalist camping. It’s a great summertime camping activity for those who want to camp without the bulk of a traditional tent or who are just beginning to get into camping. Your first cowboy campout doesn’t require much gear at all.

Essentially, all you need is yourself, a sleeping bag, and some flat ground but I recommend bringing along these items:

A sleeping pad.

This not only provides insulation between yourself and the ground, but it also creates a cushion and prevents your bag from touching the ground.

Since you will be on the bare ground, a sleeping pad can make all the difference in how you feel when sleeping cowboy camping.

A groundcloth or tarp.

A groundcloth is something to put underneath your sleeping pad and provide you with some cushion. You don’t need to get anything fancy, just a simple tarp with grommets will do the trick.

The size of your tarp depends on where you are cowboy camping. The larger the better but if you’re car camping, it isn’t really necessary to go overboard.

If you have a sleeping pad, you might not need a tarp under you. A piece of polycro or Tyvek can be sufficient. Both are lightweight and strong. We have a complete comparison of them here.

A tarp over your head is helpful in case it rains.

If you’re cowboy camping without a tent, you don’t want to get caught out in the rain. Having a tarp over your head can provide some relief from getting wet when the sky opens up on you at night (which it often does in the mountains).

A pack to store your gear.

You will still want a pack to store your sleeping bag, pad, and tarp so that you can easily transport them to and from the campsite. If you are cowboy camping as part of your backpacking trip, then this will be your backpacking backpack.

If you are car camping, keep everything in your vehicle.

Just remember to keep everything packed up inside as an unexpected night creature might decide to join you for a slumber party if everything is left out.

We will go over specific things to do when protecting your food if you are camping with bears around.

A bivy for protection against bugs and weather. A bivy is like a covering over your sleeping bag that prevents bugs and weather from getting to you. They are lightweight, water-resistant, and come in many different sizes. Many have a head covering made from bug-netting so that mosquitoes won’t eat you up. In colder temperatures, a bivy will add warmth and in warmer months, you might only need a bivvy.

Where Do You Setup Camp

You need to pay attention to where you set up your cowboy campsite.

First, you need to decide will you go to a prepared campsite such as a campground or backcountry site?

If you are going to a campsite, it needs to have a fire ring and a flat spot for your tarp. If you want to get as far away from people as possible, then go into the backcountry where there are fewer rules.

You can also cowboy camp in natural shelters but make sure that you don’t mess up anything and try to leave the place exactly as you found it.

Places, where there is no chance of rain, are preferable for cowboy camping but if it does rain, then you will need to find an overhang, a cave, or use a tarp for shelter.

If your cowboy campout takes place outside of designated campsites, you should still choose a campsite that has the best chance of natural protection from the wind.

You also want to be in an area where you will not cause damage like trampling around fragile plants, disturbing wildlife, and contaminating water sources with human or food waste.

You should not camp where it’s dangerous. You don’t want to set up cowboy camp underneath an overhanging rock or tree where rocks and branches could fall on you.

Instead, look for an open space with good drainage.

If you’re backpacking, you can find an established campsite near water sources and in clearings.

The best surfaces would be something flat, solid, and free of rocks or roots.

It’s actually a good idea to practice your cowboy camping on level ground so that you know how everything is going to layout.

If you had a tent, you would need to find a nice flat spot for it with enough space to stake it down. If you had a hammock, you would want a pair of trees to hang it from.

With cowboy camping, you’re going to be on the ground so you just need enough space for yourself and your gear.

A good rule of thumb is to look for flat dirt with no rocks, roots, or bumps. You should also avoid any low-hanging branches since they could fall on you in the night.

Camping On Rock Surfaces

If you are cowboy camping on rock or gravel, then you definitely want a sleeping pad under you because not only will it provide some cushion, but a sleeping pad between you and the rocks will also help insulate you from the cold.

Dirt or sand make for the best surfaces to cowboy camp on. Just like with rock surfaces, the sleeping pad will insulate you from the cold and provide some cushion.

What Do You Do When It Rains

Know the weather before you go because cowboy camping can easily turn into a soggy experience if you don’t plan for it.

When rain is in the forecast, make sure that you are prepared to stay dry and that your gear is waterproofed and/or protected against wet conditions.

First, make sure that you have proper rain gear such as a waterproof jacket, pants, and gloves to protect yourself from the rain. Getting wet in the rain is annoying at best and at worst can put you at risk of hypothermia.

Rain gear is very important when cowboy camping because a deluge can happen out of nowhere and then pass just as quickly, leaving you in soaked clothes and unable to get dry under your tarp.

You should also keep your sleeping bag wrapped up in a waterproof stuff sack so that it stays dry during the day.

Before bedding down for the night, plan out how you would set up a tarp shelter quickly if you want to go to sleep stargazing.

Bring trekking poles because you can use them to create an instant shelter without needing trees. Use your cordage and stakes so that they stand up. And then string cordage like paracord between them. Then you can drape your tarp over it in a simple A-frame.

You can use trees to string your cordage between but you need some strong trees and enough distance apart.

Three knots are essential for establishing these types of shelters including the marlinspike hitch, the bowline, and the trucker’s hitch.

The more time you spend practicing cowboy camping in fair weather, the better off you will be when it’s pouring rain.

Another option when cowboy camping is to look for natural shelters such as caves. While this might sound like a fun adventure you need to be careful because other wildlife might have the same idea.

Before we go on, please pay attention to thunderstorms. A tent is not safe in a lightning storm and this goes double for cowboy camping.

So if you know there are thunderstorms, you should consider rescheduling your trip.

How Do You Cowboy Camp In The Winter

There are benefits to camping in the winter such as enjoying different types of views and being able to see the stars more clearly. Another benefit is that the bugs and other creepy crawlies are all gone.

However, there’s also more risk because winter camping means that you must be prepared for colder temperatures and possibly life-threatening conditions like hypothermia. It also means that you’re not as protected from the elements since trees will be barren of leaves or covered in snow.

If you’re going to cowboy camp in the winter, you’ll need to take a few extra precautions so that you don’t freeze.

A tarp doesn’t do much good against snow whereas a small tent can help protect you from it. If there’s just dusting, a tarp works great but if it’s more than that, you should invest in a small tent for winter camping.

Once again, a sleeping pad will come in handy because it provides insulation between you and the cold ground. As long as the ground is colder than 98F your body will lose heat to the ground. This is why a sleeping pad is essential for ground sleeping.

In addition to using your sleeping bag, wear warm clothes and have extra blankets on hand in case you get really cold at night. Don’t forget thick wool socks, gloves, and a hat as well.

While you probably won’t bring along a portable heater, I would bring along hand warmers. They don’t weigh anything but work very well at keeping you warm without electricity or propane.

And of course, you can build a campfire to stay warm. Because you’re not in a tent, it is easier to sleep next to the fire for warmth. You can position your tarp so that it will reflect the heat back at you.

A wool blanket and/or a survival blanket are also useful pieces of winter cowboy camping gear.

Invest In A Battery Powered Heated Blanket

While I was writing this article, I came across a brand new product for winter camping that would be suitable for cowboy camping.

This product is a battery-powered heated blanket.

Coleman, the most popular brand of outdoor gear, has released a line of products that use the same rechargeable battery packs.

Thus flashlights, lanterns, blankets, and other gadgets all share the same battery type.

One of the options is a heated blanket. While you wouldn’t want to carry it on an AT thru-hike, if you’re only hiking a few miles, I’d consider it.

Because it’s no fun to freeze while trying to go to sleep.

Coleman even makes a heated sleeping bag. Unfortunately, I’m too tall for the bag otherwise I’d get one too.

The batteries also have USB ports so you can charge your phone with them too.

Why Not Just Hammock

Many people enjoy hammock camping because it’s comfortable and they like being off the ground.

There are some benefits to cowboy camping if you don’t want to set up a hammock but do want to have more comfort than the ground offers.

For example, getting out of a sleeping bag by climbing down from a hammock is much easier than crawling out of one on the ground.

Hammock camping is often faster and easier than tent camping. Because you hang a rainfly first, one can stay dry while hammocking if it’s raining unlike when trying to set up a tent in the rain.

With cowboy camping, you will have to have a plan for the rain. Configuring a tarp shelter doesn’t have to more than a couple of minutes once you know what you’re doing.

This is why it’s important to practice at home so that you’re ready to pitch your tarp when it matters.

What About Mice

When we first moved into our house, the area was still mostly former pasture. Mice were all over the place.

One night, I saw a mouse crawling through the kitchen before bed. I put a towel under our bedroom door.

My wife asked me why I was doing such a thing. And frankly, I’m not sure why I had this idea but I think I was reading a Stephen King novel at the time.

And Stephen King has this fear where he doesn’t sleep with his leg out of under the covers because something might grab it (or at least that’s what I remember).

So I put the towel under the door because I didn’t want the mouse to crawl into bed with us.

My wife said I was being ridiculous but she let me have my phobia.

I woke up at 7 am screaming a holy terror as the mouse was crawling across my face.

No.

I did not dream this.

I jumped out of bed screaming “Mouse”.

My wife thought for sure I was having a nightmare until she watched it crawl up the shelves in the closet and run across the pole our clothes hung from.

Thus if there’s one animal that might crawl over you in the night while cowboy camping, it might be a mouse.

Mice and other animals will leave you alone if you keep food and other sweet smelly things away from you. That is very important! Don’t sleep with anything smelly in your sleeping bag, or around your mat. This includes food, toothpaste, chapstick, lip gloss, candy (in wrappers), flavored drinks, soap, deodorant, and feminine products.

Mice and other rodents can smell food from great distances and if you have any of these things they won’t have any fear of you and will try to find out if you are a food source.

Burning sage is also another good way to keep them away! Throw some sage into your campfire which will keep mosquitoes and mice away from you.

What About Bears

Bears freak many campers out. I have friends who tell me they refuse to go camping in bear country with me. I camp in Texas and except for remote west Texas in Big Bend, we don’t have bears in the state of Texas.

However, if you are in most of the rest of the US, you will be camping with bears. Thus, you need to learn to cowboy camp near bears.

While bears are more scared of you than you are of them, there is still a risk that they’ll attack and make a meal out of you.

This is why it’s important to cook away from your campsite, and don’t keep food in your tent (when tent camping) or sleeping bag.

Pay attention to local regulations about food storage. If you’re in a traditional campsite, they may require you to store your food in a bear locker.

Otherwise, you might want to hang the food in a bear bag with a PCT hang. The PCT hang allows you to hang the food so that you can get the food but the bears have a harder time.

However, a bear hang is harder to do than it looks and you might not have a tree available.

People who are looking for a simple and effective way to store their food while backpacking should consider getting bear canisters. They take up more space but they’re reliable as opposed to the common hanging method that requires you to keep your bag in an elevated position at least 4 feet off the ground, which I find difficult because trees aren’t always available when we go camping.

Plus once you see the ingenuity bears will go through to get a bear bag, you realize, hanging it’s as safe as you thought.

What Do You Do About Snakes

Here we go. The big one.

If you type “cowboy camping” in Google it autocompletes to “and snakes”.

And as we pointed out when we started this guide, cows kill ten times more people than snakes.

Yet, people believe that snakes are going to crawl into your sleeping bag if you dare to sleep outside under the stars cowboy style.

I spent an evening looking for any evidence in news or scholarly journal about snakes crawling into sleeping bags while someone was sleeping in the sack.

I found more convincing evidence of Bigfoot than I did of a snake (venomous or otherwise) deciding to curl up while the poor camper was snoozing.

While you will always find someone in a camping group who swears this happened to a friend, they’re either drunk or trying to scare you.

As one snake expert put it - a snake sees you as a giant smelly hairy predator out to kill it. Why would the snake want to crawl into bed with you?

However, this doesn’t mean the snake wouldn’t take advantage of your sleeping bag when you’re not sleeping in it. This is why you should always keep it rolled up and in your pack when you’re not using it.

Another snake expert said this is another reason to sleep on top of a tarp while cowboy camping because as soon as the snake encounters the plastic it would slither away.

Plastic is not a normal climbing surface for a snake and thus will steer away from it if possible.

Many snakebites happen when you step on a snake and even then you would be surprised how few times the snake will even bite.

Most happen because some wise soul decided it would be cool to pick it up and handle the poor thing.

Thus, leave it alone and the snake will likely leave you alone.

That being said, you should take some basic precautions such as don’t roll out your sleeping bag next to obvious snake hideouts like rocky outcroppings.

Keep your socks in your boots and double-check them before you put your foot into your boot.

If you do encounter a snake, keep calm, and give it space. The snake will go on its way.

What Do You Do About Spiders

I once heard that unless you’re in Antarctica, there is a spider within 5 feet of you at all times.

A long time ago, people in Italy believed that if someone got bitten by a wolf spider and they did not do a specific dance, the person would die. This inspired them to create a dance called “tarantella.”

In the United States, we only have two venomous spiders, the black widow, and the brown recluse.

The poor brown recluse gets blamed for every unknown bug bite that gets infected, even in states where there are no recluses.

One of my friends is an avid camper and venomous creature expert including spiders. He educated me on how friggin hard it actually is to find a recluse because as the name says - they don’t want to be found.

In the United States and if you go camping, you will see spiders everywhere.

They are there to eat the other bugs including mosquitoes and ticks which are much more dangerous to us.

Ticks carry Lyme disease and pose much more of a threat to your health than the ordinary spider.

The most important step I would do in regards to spiders and cowboy camping is to check my boots before I put them on.

You can also shove a pair of socks into the boots before you go to sleep.

One more trick with boots is that you can bring along a plastic shopping bag and put your boots in there before you go to sleep.

This will make it harder for creepy crawlies to crawl inside your boots if that is of any concern to you.

A lot of people worry about spiders in their sleeping bags and this is a valid concern.

But as we’ve said most spiders are harmless and they’re crawling on you at home in your sleep (sweet dreams!) thus it’s not different out here in nature.

And the venomous ones in North America are unlikely to be active around where you lay your sleeping bag down when cowboy camping.

What Do You Do About Mosquitoes

You need to take precautions against mosquitoes in just about any situation.

Mosquitoes are annoying and possibly make you sick. Thankfully, there are many options for dealing with mosquitoes.

One of the best options is to get a bivy with mosquito netting that can be zipped up over your face and neck while you cowboy camp.

Experienced backpackers will bring along a Thermacell which is a non-toxic mosquito repellant that works by creating an insect barrier around you.

It works by using a mat that contains allethrin, which is an insecticide. Thermacell contains the synthetic version of allethrin but it is a naturally occurring chemical in the chrysanthemum flower.

There are several types of Thermacells including butane-powered and battery-powered models.

The backpacker style has the same fuel source as your backpacking stove.

You can attach the stove to the fuel cartridge and it will heat the mat.

It is an excellent option for cowboy camping as it provides several hours of protection without exposing you to toxic chemicals.

You can also burn sage in a fire to keep mosquitoes away.

You can create a smudge stick by bundling up sage stems together and holding them with twine or string.

Once the bundle is ready, you light it on one end and let it burn. You blow out the flame on the other end once the sage leaves are glowing red.

Sage will keep mosquitoes away for about 30 minutes but may take an hour to disperse into the air.

Or you can throw a bundle into your campfire. Sage has the added benefit of keeping mice away. Plus it will smell good.

What Do You Do About Gnats

Gnat bites are annoying but completely harmless, and they will be around whether or not you cowboy camp.

You cannot do much to prevent gnats from landing on you while cowboy camping. The important thing is to avoid swatting at them or trying to keep them off your face.

Gnat bites don’t hurt but they can be annoying.

Your best defense is to have a bug net with you that you can unzip and pull over your head as a hood if the gnats become unbearable during cowboy camping.

You can also bring along a bottle of bug spray and use it if the gnats or mosquitoes are especially bothersome.

Wear Insect-Repellent Clothing

You can soak your clothing in permethrin before you go camping. Permethrin is a popular insect-repellent that you can use on your clothing and gear. DEET is the most common form of insect repellent in bug spray and works well.

However, it will eat plastic and nylon via a chemical reaction so you can’t spray it on your clothing or gear.

You can also buy clothing that is pre-treated with permethrin. ElimiTick is a popular brand and I wear their cargo pants plus socks when I go camping.

What Do You Eat When Cowboy Camping

Just because you are cowboy camping doesn’t mean you only have to eat beans cooked in a dutch oven carried on a chuck wagon.

What you eat will be determined by the style of cowboy camping you are enjoying.

If you are car camping you can eat whatever you bring on a normal camping trip including steaks, burgers, and fresh chicken.

Normally this would be backpacking food but since you are car camping there is no reason not to eat ribs with BBQ sauce or sesame honey ginger chicken stir fry if that’s what you want.

You will also have access to your propane grill and cooking gear including cast iron pans, skewers for kebabs, and tongs for grilling.

If you are backpacking then you will be limited to backpacking food.

You can eat your food cold or cook it. If cowboy camping you can use a full gas stove charcoal or campfire. Backpackers will tend to stick to cooking on a backpacker stove like a Jetboil.

Mountain House is one of the best brands of freeze-dried meals for camping or you can stick to instant ramen noodles.

What About Water

If you are testing out cowboy camping at a traditional state park campsite, then they will have access to potable water. It might not taste good but it’s safe to drink.

If you are dispersed camping with your vehicle, you can bring along enough water to drink, cook, and clean with. You can use bottled water for cooking and cleaning but then you can bring along additional beverages including beer to drink.

Backpacking will likely mean you will need to filter your water to make it safe to drink. You should also bring along water purification pills as a backup plus a steel single-walled container that you can boil water in if necessary.

Where Do You Store Your Food

Food storage while cowboy camping is more of a challenge.

If you are backpacking, then you have to store your food in a bear canister when camping with bears around. Bear canisters will also keep out other animals like raccoons.

Even if you don’t have bears nearby it is a good idea to keep your food in a bear canister because of the dangers from other animals as well.

But if you don’t want the hassle or space limitation of a bear canister when bears are not around, just keep the food stored in a dry bag and away from your sleeping area.

If you are car camping at a traditional campsite with bears in the area then they will have food storage lockers for your food and scented items like toothpaste and toiletries.

Otherwise, you can keep them in your vehicle or at least in a cooler. I would recommend getting a modern cooler that has bear-resistant features because if a cooler can’t be opened by a bear then raccoons won’t have a chance.

Where Do You Store Your Gear

The best kind of backpacking camping gear is the light kind.

The only thing you really need to bring with you while in the woods are your sleeping bag and tarp.

Everything, including cooking equipment and food, can be packed into a backpack for easy carrying.

If you are car camping, then you can leave the pack in your car with a sleeping bag and tarp and only carry a smaller daypack for keeping snacks, toiletries, and first-aid supplies with you.

But if you are cowboy camping on a backpacking trip then everything has to be fitted into your backpack.

Don’t forget to keep your pack under your tarp with you to avoid it getting soaked if it rains.

To Campfire Or Not

If you are going to cowboy camp while backpacking, you might not have a campfire because after hiking all day you won’t want to collect firewood to make a fire.

Instead, you cook your meals on a camping stove.

But if you are not hiking far, going with friends, or car camping and there are no burn bans, you can build a campfire.

Campfires are a lot of fun but they are also a lot of work.

The first time I cowboy camped, I was in Boy Scouts.

We had camped out for an entire week and our Scoutmasters wanted to be able to make a quick start in the morning.

My friend Nathan and I stayed up all night talking which is why we saw the incoming thunderstorm and saved everyone from getting drenched.

This is why I now cowboy camp because I know how to prepare for a storm and keep my gear dry.

Yes, you will get wet if it rains but then so will everyone else.

If you cowboy camp, make sure you know how to set up a tarp shelter quickly.

That way, if it rains then the ground won’t get wet and your sleeping bag won’t get soaked.

If you cowboy camp on a hill or in an area where water runs, then don’t sleep at the bottom of the slope because that is where water will gather and flood.

And of course, as with all camping trips, make sure you’re not under any dead tree branches.

Plus don’t lay your sleeping gear down next to obvious snake hideouts and keep your food protected from wildlife.

Cowboy camping is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life.

It’s also an excellent opportunity for introspection, self-reflection, and mindfulness.

You’ll be able to take in the beauty of nature while getting back in touch with your inner self.

Plus cowboy camping can be a lot more affordable than traditional campsites or hotels because you don’t have any additional costs like electricity or water hookups.

And if you’re on a tight budget then this is the perfect time to go! You won’t need much gear either so that will save some money too!

There are many things you can do when cowboy camping.

You can go with friends or on your own and either way is fine as long as you have at least one person who knows what to do if something goes wrong while camping.

This means having a firestarter, first-aid kit, food that doesn’t need to be cooked, and knowing how to find wood for a fire.

Also, make sure you bring enough water and food because camping out also means not being able to run into town to go shopping whenever you want.

If you want to try cowboy camping, then there are many things that you should know before going out on your own adventure.

So double-check this guide before planning your cowboy camping trip.

Cowboy camping is a style of outdoor camping in which the camper has no shelter overhead. This means that there’s no RV, tent, or cabin to protect from wildlife and weather.

The only exception for cowboy campers is their sleeping bag. In order to keep dry during rainstorms, cowboys will use tarps and natural shelters like caves as cover while they sleep outside with nothing but an inflatable mattress underneath them.

Cowboy campers also have mosquito nets hanging over them or sleep in bivvy bags to ward off mosquitoes throughout the night without having any animals come near them!

Previous Post
Next Post