Three Extreme Camping Spots In The USA To Add To Your List

*This is a collaborative post on extreme camping spots in the USA

The USA is teeming with fantastic camping spots. A fusion of varied and breathtaking landscapes awaits, and with relaxed wild camping laws, there’s a haven to be found here for all explorers – even the daredevils. For those who enjoy their downtime with a healthy dose of risk, the USA is home to plenty of wide-open wildernesses boasting extreme heights, temperatures, and potentially deadly creatures. 

Here, we take a look at three of the most extreme camping spots in the USA to add to your list – plus some safety tips, so you can live on to enjoy many more adventures!

Extreme camping spots in the USA: Mount Rainier

Ever fancied camping on an active volcano? How about an active volcano that also happens to be the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States – soaring to a heartstopping 14,410 feet above sea level? Mount Rainier National Park in Washington spans an impressive 369.34 square miles, where rugged sub-alpine forests and wildflower-covered meadows sit beneath a dramatic skyline of snow-capped peaks. 

If you want to set up camp amidst gentle streams and blissful scenery, head to the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, where you can request a permit to stay a while surrounded by bobcats, coyotes, and a huge variety of native birdlife. On the other hand, experienced mountaineers daring to attempt the climb to Mount Rainier’s summit can choose to camp high up in the blistering cold – but it’s imperative to follow the official safety guidelines for alpine camping. Even in the summer, severe storms, avalanches, and dangerous conditions on the mountain are not uncommon – not to mention the thriving mountain lion and bear populations.

Death Valley

Planning a trip to Death Valley is no small feat – this immense tapestry of canyons, valleys, desert wasteland and a small selection of rare oases calls to the most intrepid of adventurers. In the summer, this barren landscape can reach extreme temperatures of up to 57°C, so it’s not for the faint-hearted. However, it’s an amazing place for hiking and camping – so long as you watch out for the rattlesnakes, scorpions and black widow spiders. 

Most of the valley’s designated campsites are seasonal, but there are some areas where you’re allowed to wild camp. Always ensure you have adequate supplies and a fully working, fully-fuelled vehicle, as this remote wilderness has little phone signal and even fewer natural resources. In the summer, head to higher-elevation campsites such as Mesquite Spring, Emigrant or Wildrose to escape the heat overnight. 

Extreme camping spots in the USA: Denali National Park

The glistening glacial landscape of the Alaskan tundra is enough to take any traveller’s breath away, but the Denali National Park is a true showstopper. The majestic mountain of Denali reaches over 20,000 feet into the sky, well past the clouds, whilst six million acres of picturesque valleys, glacial lakes and alpine forests offer once in a lifetime opportunities for those seeking the epitome of wilderness exploration.

There are a good number of campsites throughout the park, set near pristine rivers, creeks or lakes and comfortable with all the amenities you would expect. If mountaineering isn’t your cup of tea, there are a plethora of enticing hiking trails leading from the campsites where you can hope to spot some of the area’s most iconic wildlife: bears, moose, wolves, caribou or dall sheep.