You’ve been hiking for hours, and it’s getting cold. You don’t want to pitch your tent or build a fire because you’re afraid of drawing attention to yourself.

There’s got to be another way! Fortunately, there is. You can build a shelter in the woods (or even right outside) that will keep you warm and dry while keeping other people unaware of your presence.

Building a Survival Shelter in the Woods: Moss Roof Hut

Takeaways
The importance of building a shelter in the wilderness
Steps to follow to build a shelter in the woods
Materials to use when constructing a wilderness survival shelter
Mistakes to avoid when building a wilderness shelter
Further reading resources for building wilderness survival shelters
Frequently asked questions about wilderness survival shelters

Location And Resources

Now that you know what type of shelter to build, you need to find the right location. Ideally, you will want to be close enough to a water source so that you can easily get water for cooking and cleaning.

You should also keep your shelter away from large bodies of water, as these are often sources of food for animals who may try to come into your camp.

It’s also important that you have access to firewood in case you need it for warmth or food preparation later on.

This means finding a good source of dead wood—the kind that has fallen from trees or is lying on the ground from past storms and cutting it down yourself if necessary (more on this later).

Building a shelter in the wilderness can be challenging, but with proper guidance, it becomes a simple task. Check out our guide on how to build a shelter in the wilderness to find out how with a few simple steps, you can have a shelter to protect you in the great outdoors.

Find Wood

You’ll need to find wood. It’s best to look for dead trees or fallen branches, but if you don’t have access to that kind of stuff, you can use wood from the ground or even cut down a tree yourself.

Recommended Brands and Types of Wood for Building a Wilderness Survival Shelter

Type of Wood	Characteristics
Cedar	Resistant to decay, lightweight, insect-repelling, easy to split and carve
Spruce	Strong, lightweight, grows tall and straight, easy to find in northern areas
Willow	Flexible, easy to weave, can be used for framework or covering
Pine	Common, relatively easy to find, good for kindling and structure, but not as durable as cedar or spruce
Birch	Lightweight, flexible, good for kindling and small structures, burns quickly
Oak	Strong and durable, but heavy and difficult to split, better for larger structures
Bamboo	Strong, lightweight, long-lasting, but not as common in many areas

This table provides a list of recommended types of wood for building a wilderness survival shelter. It includes the characteristics of each type of wood to help determine the appropriate usage based on your needs and the environment.

Start Building Shelter

Choose a location. The best place to build your shelter will be near a water source (river, lake or pond), so you can have fresh drinking water. Next, find an area that’s clear of sharp sticks and rocks. Also, make sure it is close enough to some trees so you can use them as firewood if needed.

Choose a design. There are many different types of shelters that can be built depending on your budget and the materials available in the area where you are building them:

Lean-to: This is one of the easiest shelters to build because all it requires is two trees or large logs for support (think about how many two-man tents look like this).

If you are unable to find two trees at the same height then cut down one tree and use half as support instead this way both ends will be equal heights which makes building easier!

When you’re out in the wilderness, anything can happen, and you must always be prepared. That’s why it’s important to know how to build a survival shelter in a pinch. Follow our guide to learn how to create a shelter quickly using only materials found in nature.

Construct Foundation

Construct the foundation of your shelter by digging a trench, using logs, rocks or dirt. If you’re building a short-term shelter (less than 2 weeks), you can just cover the ground with leaves or grass and then place some twigs over it for warmth.

You can also use this method for longterm shelters if you want to save time and effort. However, if you want to build a permanent shelter that will last for several years or even decades, then consider building a proper foundation for it instead. The most common foundations are:

Trench – Digging an 18-inch deep trench around the perimeter of your proposed site is probably the easiest way to start building your shelter; however this method will require more work later on when filling in all those holes again!

Logs – Placing log pieces on top of each other horizontally across the sides of the trench is another popular option but since they tend to fall apart after heavy rains so make sure they’re well anchored down underneath before moving onto another layer which tends give better results over time!

Recommended Foundation Materials and Techniques for Wilderness Shelters

Material	Characteristics
Logs	Provides a sturdy and durable base, can be difficult to move and may require tools to position correctly
Rocks	Durable and long-lasting, easily found in many areas, requires careful positioning to ensure stability
Bricks	Provides a sturdy and level foundation, but can be heavy and difficult to transport in the wilderness
Gravel	Good for drainage, easy to find, may require reinforcement or additional layers for stability
Sand	Good for moisture control, easily found near bodies of water or riverbanks, may require additional reinforcement
Poles	Good for creating a raised floor or platform, requires additional materials and construction, not suitable for all terrain
Natural Materials (Mud, Clay)	Provides natural insulation, can be reinforced with other materials, requires careful application and may require frequent maintenance

This table provides a list of recommended foundation materials and techniques for building a wilderness shelter. It includes the characteristics of each material to help determine the appropriate usage based on your needs and the environment.

Build A Roof

Before you start building the roof, be sure that the frame of your shelter is sturdy. If it’s not, you may want to add additional support with stakes or logs until it’s as strong as a tree trunk.

You’ll also need a tarp for your roof. Take one end of the tarp and wrap it around one side of your frame so that it drapes over the top and down both sides.

Secure this corner by tying together with another rope or stake at least four feet away from where you’re attaching it under where they meet in order to prevent ripping.

Tie two more ropes at each end of that corner and then tie them together at some point in between so that when you pull on one end, both parts lift up together like wings on either side!

Repeat these steps for all corners except for one last one which should only have its own rope attached to keep everything flat against itself instead being raised like wings by pulling on ropes attached elsewhere first before finally tying those two ends together near where they meet at their base so none slip out from underneath any time soon (i was tired).

If you’re looking to build a sturdy and durable shelter for your family that can withstand harsh conditions, then our guide on building the ultimate bug-out shelter is what you need. With step-by-step instructions and a detailed list of materials, you’ll be able to create a shelter that can keep you safe and secure for an extended period.

Consider Additional Features

Consider additional features.

Fire area: Build a fire pit in the center of your shelter, and gather plenty of dry wood for fuel.

Cooking area: Don’t cook inside! As with most things, there’s always a risk that something could go wrong with your food preparation, so it’s best to cook outside your shelter.

Sleeping area: Whether you want to keep warm or cool depends on whether you’re building in the winter or summer months but it’s important to remember that even if it gets cold overnight, daytime temperatures can be extremely high.

You may want to consider using a bivy sack or tarp tent if possible; some people prefer sleeping under their shelters as well as sitting under them during meals and rest periods (as long as they have enough room).

Recommended Additional Features for Wilderness Survival Shelters

Feature	Characteristics
Fire pit	Provides heat and light, essential for cooking, requires safety precautions for placement and use
Chimney	Helps ventilate smoke and prevent carbon monoxide build-up in closed shelters
Rainwater Collection System	Collects and filters water for drinking and washing, requires careful installation and maintenance
Insulation	Improves heat retention and regulates temperature, can be made from natural materials such as leaves or fur
Solar Panels	Provides renewable energy for lighting and charging electronic devices, requires proper placement and orientation
Mosquito Netting	Provides protection from insects and pests, allows for ventilation
Emergency Communication Equipment	Allows for sending emergency signals or calling for help, requires power source and proper usage training

This table provides a list of recommended additional features to consider when building a wilderness survival shelter. It includes the characteristics of each feature to help determine the appropriate usage based on your needs and the environment.

Insulate The Walls

To insulate the walls, you can use a vapor barrier and waterproofing membrane. This helps keep the moisture out of your shelter while also providing insulation.

You can layer these materials with hay, straw or wood chips. Use insulation and/or heat tape to seal any gaps in between that can lead to cold spots on cold nights.

Building a shelter using only natural materials can be a challenge, but it’s also an essential skill to have when you’re out in the wilderness. To learn how to build a shelter using only what nature provides, check out our guide on how to build a shelter with only natural materials. With our step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to create a shelter that is both effective and environmentally friendly.

Insulate The Roof

Now you have your roof together, it’s time to insulate the roof. If you can, use straw or grass for insulation. Place it between the beams and rafters of your shelter so that no cold air gets into the interior space of your shelter.

Hang A Door

If you’ve got a door, hang it. It’s as simple as that. Use a hinge to attach the door to the frame, and then hang it on the right side of the entrance so that it opens outwards (and not inside).

Make sure that when it’s hung, there is at least 3/4 of an inch between its bottom edge and what would be ground level under normal circumstances.

Building a shelter is crucial in any wilderness survival situation, but it’s important to avoid making common mistakes that could compromise your safety. Check out our guide on 15 common mistakes to avoid when building a shelter to ensure that you don’t make any mistakes that could make your shelter ineffective. With these tips, you’ll be able to build a shelter that is sturdy, secure, and reliable.

Create A Smoke Vent In The Roof

Next, you’ll want to create a vent in the roof. This will serve two purposes: first, it will allow smoke from your fire or other heat source to escape; second, it will keep rainwater out of your shelter.

You can make any size or shape of vent that you want; however, if you’re making a primitive shelter like this one where there are no nails or screws involved (just sticks), then you’ll have to be sure the hole is big enough for smoke to escape but small enough so that rainwater doesn’t get in.

Make Your Shelter Water-Tight

Once you’ve assembled all the materials for your shelter, it’s time to start building. The first step is to make sure your shelter is completely waterproofed.

A waterproof floor will keep water from seeping into the ground below and either flooding or freezing, depending on the season. To prevent this, lay a tarp or plastic sheeting over the ground inside your shelter so that moisture can’t get through.

Next up: waterproofing the roof so that rainwater won’t leak through it and into your sleeping area! This is really important because if too much water gets in there while you’re sleeping, guess what happens? Yep you’ll wake up with a wet bed and cold feet!

To prevent this unfortunate scenario from happening, place another tarp overtop of or around your sleeping bag (if you have one) so that any rainwater falls onto its surface instead of on top of yours.

Last but not least: waterproofing walls! While this may seem like an unnecessary step since we just covered how important it was to make sure everything else was protected from moisture getting inside them as well…it doesn’t hurt anything either way

Protect Your Floor From Moisture

Building a shelter on the ground is almost always a bad idea, because it exposes you to many dangers that can be avoided by keeping above-ground.

One of those dangers is moisture: rain and snow can seep through the floor and into your shelter, making it wet and cold.

To prevent this, place a tarp down as an extra layer of protection between you and the ground below. It will keep out rain, snow, wind and bugs! If there are no trees around to hang your tarp from, then use rocks or stakes instead to secure it in place against strong winds that may whip up during storms.

Conclusion

And there you have it! In the end, it’s not so much about the materials or tools you use to build your shelter. It’s about making sure that you have the right knowledge and skillset in order to do so safely and effectively.

The most important part of this process? That would be planning ahead it’s crucial that you know exactly what kind of shelter you want before embarking on this journey, because otherwise it could end up costing more time and energy than necessary (not to mention potentially putting yourself or others at risk).

FAQs

What is a wilderness survival shelter?

A wilderness survival shelter is a structure built in the wild to protect you from the elements and provide a safe place to stay outdoors. It can be constructed using a variety of materials and techniques.

Why do I need to build a survival shelter in the wilderness?

Building a survival shelter in the wilderness can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. A shelter provides protection from extreme weather conditions, helps you regulate body temperature, and can help you stay dry and safe from animals and insects.

What materials are commonly used in building a survival shelter?

Materials used in building a survival shelter can include natural materials such as branches, leaves, bark, and foliage, as well as man-made materials like tarps, ropes, and paracord.

What are some key factors to consider when building a wilderness survival shelter?

When building a wilderness survival shelter, key factors to consider include location, weather, available materials, and the intended use of the shelter. Additionally, it’s crucial to ensure that the shelter is sturdy, dry, and provides adequate protection from the elements.

What are some alternative ways to build a wilderness survival shelter?

In addition to building a traditional shelter, there are several alternative ways to construct a survival shelter, such as using a hammock with a tarp, creating a debris shelter, or building a lean-to shelter.

Hellen James

Hi! I’m Hellen James, and I am the founder of Unified Survival. I have a deep passion for the wilderness and everything that goes along with it. I’ve been hiking since I was a child, and I grew up camping in state parks all over the country. But it wasn’t until recently that I learned how to survive in the wilderness.

Build A Shelter In The Woods: A Step-By-Step Guide