Spring is when the seasoned campers come out and the rest stay home. Wet trails, snowmelt, mud, and unpredictable weather scare off the casual market. The reward: empty trailheads, wildflowers, swollen waterfalls, and fresh green forest. Here's how to do spring camping right.
The mud problem
Spring trails are wet from snowmelt. Hike right through mud puddles, not around them — going around is what widens the trail and damages the meadow. Pack gaiters or accept wet socks.
Layering for swing weather
April and May in the mountains can be 20°F in the morning and 70°F by 2pm. The right kit:
- Merino base layer (wicks, doesn't stink, warms even when damp)
- Mid-weight fleece (always)
- Light synthetic puffy (camp evening + emergency)
- Hard-shell rain jacket (mandatory)
- Light gloves and a beanie
- Sun hoodie for warm afternoons
Sleep system upgrade
Spring nights can drop to freezing even at low elevation. Bring a 20-30°F sleeping bag and an R-value 4 pad. The ground stays cold long after the air warms up.
The snowmelt opportunity
Streams and waterfalls peak in April-June from snowmelt. Yosemite Falls, Multnomah Falls, the Sierra Nevada cascades — all running 5-10x their summer flow. Plan around it.
What to skip
- High alpine country (still under snow, dangerous corn snow on slopes)
- Slot canyons (flash flood risk peaks in spring)
- Anywhere mosquitoes are about to wake up (lakes, beaver ponds — wait 2 weeks)
What to embrace
- Desert parks (Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Arches — perfect temperatures, wildflower bloom)
- Coastal trips (still cool but no fog yet, less crowded)
- Mid-elevation forest (PNW, Smokies, Shenandoah)
- National parks before the summer crowds arrive
Spring camping is autumn for early risers. The same atmospheric crispness, the same empty trails, but with everything growing instead of dying.
Spring-ready kit: shop the kit.