Using and Maintaining Your Tent in the Boundary Waters

Wilderness Wisdom
Written By Kevin Lynch

Tents are one of the most important pieces of camping gear you can take into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Tents offer your primary protection from the elements, which can be unpredictable at times in the canoe wilderness.

Because tents are so important, here are some tips on using and maintaining your tent while on a BWCA canoe trip.

Setting Up Your Tent

Be prepared to set your tent up by practicing these tips.

  • Practiced setting up your tent before your trip. It will ensure you have all of the needed parts with you. Also, it might be dark or raining (or both) when it comes time to actually put your tent up in the BWCA.

  • Be careful with your tent poles. Breaking one of these while camping in wilderness areas is something to be avoided.

  • Use a custom-cut ground cloth, or footprint, under your tent. This will protect the bottom of your tent, keep your tent cleaner, and keep moisture out as well.

  • Put your tent up on a relatively, flat and rock-free area. In most BWCA designated camp sites you will be able to tell where tents are usually set up. These spots tend to offer the most drainage and the least rocks.

Using Your Tent

No shoes in the tent.

Just like at home, treat your tent with respect.

  • Never keep any food or other smellables (think toothpaste) in your tent. Odors can carry over from one trip to the next.  And, odors attract bears and other wildlife.

  • Don’t wear your boots or shoes in your tent. Dirt and pebbles can tear your tent bottom. It also helps keep mud out.

Maintaining Your Tent

Once you are back home from your wilderness canoe trip, take time to do the following so that your tent will be ready to go for your next camping adventure.

  • Make sure your tent is completely dry before you store your tent.

  • Clean out your tent with a small broom and a wet cloth.

  • Make sure all zippers are operational and make repairs as needed.

  • Waterproof all seams to ensure that your tent remains impervious to rain.

Here are two good article that give more information on tent use and maintenance:

How to Clean, Waterproof & Care for a Tent | REI Co-op

6 Expert Tips on Tent Repair and Maintenance

Following these simple tips will provide you with a worry-free Boundary Waters canoe trip experience, at least with regard to your tent. 

Paddle On. Be Free.

Kevin Lynch

Kevin lives in the Chicago area. He has been providing business and wilderness expertise to Williams and Hall since 2004, and most recently has taken on digital marketing responsibilities.  Kevin first visited the Boundary Waters as a scout leader when his son was a young Boy Scout.  Some of you may have seen him having the time of his life fishing Moose Lake, canoeing throughout the Boundary Waters, or camping as far from civilization as he can get.  Kevin is a life-long avid outdoors man who particularly enjoys fly fishing and wilderness camping.  (He wears a lot of sun screen.) Also, some of you may know Kevin’s son, Brian (now an Eagle Scout), who spent many summers working at Williams and Hall before finishing college.

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