Wild camping in the mountains – what you need to know

On a hike lasting several days, I prefer to camp outside. I always research possible places to camp in advance or ask people around me for tips. This makes it easier to find a safe and suitable place for wild camping.

Reading maps correctly

If I don’t know what the location is like, the first thing I do is look at the surroundings on map.geo.admin (Swisstopo). The maps are also available as an app. To use them you need an internet connection, or you can download the maps for offline use.

• What’s the gradient? The elevation curves are marked in brown: elevation lines connect points on a map that have the same height. The closer the curves are to each other, the steeper the terrain.

• Bodies of water are blue and forests are green.

• Are there rock faces and is there a danger of falling rocks? Rock and scree are shown as relief drawings and drawings of rocks. Buildings are depicted as black squares. For example, you can see if a hut or barn on an alpine pasture is nearby.

Reading maps takes practice. Study the map legend beforehand so that you can interpret symbols and colours correctly. If you’re unsure, ask someone who knows the local area.

Important tips for the perfect campsite

Lakes and rivers can serve as a source of water, but you shouldn’t stay right next to them. The water level can rise unexpectedly. If you sleep too close to the trail, you may be woken up by early hikers. In this video, I’ll give you my key tips for finding the perfect location for wild camping in the mountains.

The right equipment and food for camping

To ensure that you have a relaxing night outdoors, it’s worth planning carefully. For the night in the mountains, you need: a tent, a sleeping mat and a sleeping bag, each needs to be suitable for the temperature. By the way, you can rent equipment at Transa. In my backpack, I usually pack a change of clothes for the evening, a warm jacket and rain protection, as well as a headlamp.

Drinking water plays an important role when choosing the place to stay. You also need to think about food before you go wild camping. If you’re only spending one night outdoors, you don’t necessarily have to pack your stove and camping utensils. You can easily prepare a delicious couscous salad or a hearty sandwich and eat it in the evening. Another advantage is that when I’m hungry in the evening, I don’t have to wait for the water to boil. However, I always take snacks with me, including bars, nuts and fruit help to keep the hunger away.

Camping in the mountains – what is allowed?

It is generally forbidden to spend the night in a tent or a bivouac in the Swiss National Park, in wildlife and nature reserves and in wildlife protection areas during the protection period. Sleeping in small groups above the tree line is usually not a problem. However, you should check with your local municipality or canton about the rules in advance. The same applies everywhere: be considerate and leave nothing but footprints. More information can be found in the SAC brochure (in German).