You’re in the wilderness, a long way from civilization. You need shelter. You know that, but you don’t have much experience building shelters.

Well, fear not! In this guide we’ll show you how to make sure your shelter is warm and safe, with minimal supplies and time spent on construction.

Building an Epic Shelter in 7 Days – A Sculpture From Old Trees

Takeaways
Building a wilderness survival shelter is crucial for staying safe in the wild.
There are different types of shelters you can build using natural or man-made materials.
Your shelter should be large enough to accommodate you, any accompanying persons, and your gear.
Factors that determine the time it takes to build a wilderness survival shelter include the type of shelter, tools and skill level.
Choosing the right materials and considering weather conditions is essential when building a shelter.

Table of Contents

Find A Dry Spot

While this may sound obvious, it’s important to remember that your shelter must be built on dry ground. If you’re in a location that’s prone to flooding or if there are low-lying areas prone to mud and muck, then you might want to consider looking for another place.

You also don’t want to build your shelter in an area that could collapse during an avalanche or heavy storm.

If you’ve found a suitable spot for your shelter, mark it with some kind of stake so you can find it again later if necessary.

Building a shelter in the wilderness can be a daunting task especially when you’re not sure of the materials to use. Our guide on using the top 15 materials for building a shelter will help you choose the right materials and build a sturdy shelter fit for survival.

Location, Location, Location

Location, location, location. The first thing you’ll want to do is find a good spot for your shelter. I like to use my compass to figure out where north is, then look around at the terrain until I find a dry area that’s free of snow and large rocks or dead trees.

It’s also important to avoid areas where there are large animal tracks; these can be signs of predators and areas with dense brush or steep slopes visible from the air (more on this later).

Best Locations for Wilderness Survival Shelters

Location	Advantages	Disadvantages
Near a Water Source	Provides fresh water for drinking and hygiene, attracts animals for hunting and trapping	Prone to flooding, mosquitoes and other insects may be present
Under Thick Foliage or Trees	Provides protection from the sun and elements, natural cover and camouflage	Risk of falling debris or branches, difficult to start a fire
On High Ground	Provides good visibility and protection from flooding, easy to find and signal for rescue	Limited water sources, may be exposed to the wind and other elements
Near Rock Formations	Provides natural cover and protection from the wind, may offer ready-made shelter or building material	Limited space, can be difficult to access
In a Cave or Overhang	Natural shelter that provides protection from the elements and animals, easy to find, accessible	Limited air circulation, dampness and darkness can be uncomfortable, risk of being trapped inside

The location you choose for building your wilderness survival shelter can impact your overall chances of survival. It is essential to consider all the advantages and disadvantages of each location and make an informed decision about where to build your shelter.

Build A Large Enough Base

Build a large enough base. Your shelter will be built on this base, so it’s important that it is wide enough to accommodate you and your gear, tall enough to keep the rain off of your head when sitting under your shelter, and strong enough to support the weight of whatever materials are used in constructing a shelter.

Are you looking to build a shelter in the woods? The guide on building a shelter in the woods provides a step-by-step guide to help you build a shelter in the woods and survive in the wild.

Create A Sturdy Structure

Now that you’ve got the right kind of foundation and material, it’s time to build. First, find two strong branches with a diameter of around 12″ each. Then, use them as your “posts” and place them in the ground about 1′ apart from one another.

Next, take four more branches that are roughly 6′ long and create an X-shape using them by placing two on top of your posts at an angle towards where they meet in the middle, then adding another one below them so both sides are connected by it.

The last thing left to do is tie off each end with some rope or twine until all four sides form a square shape you should have something looking like this:

Now for some stakes! Take six sturdy sticks about 2′ long and hammer them into the ground evenly spaced out around your shelter frame so that they touch its edges; these will provide additional support for staying upright during windy weather conditions (but don’t worry if there isn’t enough room around you can still make this work).

Sturdy Structures for Wilderness Survival Shelters

Structure Type	Advantages	Disadvantages
A-Frame	Easy to build, sturdy and stable, provides good rain shelter	Limited space, not suitable for large groups
Lean-To	Easy to build, provides good cover from wind and rain, allows for good ventilation	Limited headroom, side walls may not provide full protection from the elements
Wickiup	Sturdy and versatile, withstands inclement weather, provides numerous customization options	Time-consuming to build, requires a lot of materials and forest debris
Teepee	Sturdy and strong, provides headspace for trapping heat, good for a larger group	Complicated construction, requires large amounts of material
Quinzhee	Warmth is reflected within, resistant to cold, lightweight	Takes time to build, requires digging, challenging to insulate

Building a sturdy wilderness survival shelter that can withstand the elements should be a top priority. The type of structure you choose to build will depend on your building skills, the materials available, and other factors. It is crucial to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each structure type and choose the most suitable one.

Use Strong Branches And Tall Stakes

The strongest branches you can find. The tallest stakes you can find. They’ll be the foundation of your shelter, so make sure they’re able to support the weight of your structure without bending or breaking, especially in high-wind situations where wind gusts will increase pressure on them.

Are you looking to build a shelter in the woods? The guide on building a shelter in the woods provides a step-by-step guide to help you build a shelter in the woods and survive in the wild.

Make Sure Everything’s Anchored

Before you start building your shelter, make sure you have everything you need and that it’s all anchored properly.

You don’t want anything to fly away or fall down during a gust of wind. Stakes are the most basic way to anchor something down, but they’re not always practical (or possible) depending on the type of material you’re using.

For example, if you’re building a shelter out of twigs or branches, stakes will be difficult to use and may even damage your structure when hammered into it.

There are other options for anchoring things down: ropes and rocks can work well for large objects like logs; branches can be used as pegs; and even leaves can help hold things in place!

As long as whatever method you choose is strong enough to hold up under stress from outside forces (and won’t damage what it’s supposed to protect), then go ahead with confidence!

Anchoring Techniques for Wilderness Survival Shelters

Technique	Advantages	Disadvantages
Staking	Easy to set up, simple, time-efficient	Not ideal for windy conditions, stakes may come loose
Guy Lines	Can provide stability in high winds, flexible and can be adjusted, lightweight	Requires additional materials, can be difficult to set up
Natural Anchors	Utilizes natural features like rocks and trees for stability, cost and time-efficient	Limits the shelter’s location and positioning options
Trench or Deadman Anchor	Provides extra stability in high winds and heavy precipitation, flexible and can be adjusted, does not require additional materials	Requires digging and preparation time, not ideal for rocky terrain
Snow Anchors	Ideal for snowy conditions, provides stability in winds, lightweight and easy to set up	Only works in snowy conditions, requires a lot of snow material, not ideal for other weather conditions

Making sure your wilderness survival shelter is anchored firmly is essential for ensuring your safety and the shelter’s protection. It is crucial to employ the best anchoring technique suitable for your environment and prevailing weather conditions. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when building your shelter.

Use Leaves And Moss As Insulation

Another thing you can do is use leaves and moss as insulation, if there’s a lot of it around. If you build your shelter on the ground, this will give you some extra protection from the cold earth below.

Pine needles and dry leaves are also good insulators, so if you’re in an area with plenty of trees around, collect them for your shelter.

Building a shelter in a survival situation requires great attention to detail, one mistake could cost your safety. Our guide on 15 common mistakes to avoid when building a shelter will help you identify common pitfalls and make sure that you build a shelter that is secure and fit for survival.

Create An Air Gap Beneath Your Shelter

The most important part of your shelter is the air gap. The purpose of this space is to allow moisture to evaporate and dry out, which will keep you more comfortable during the night.

It is also important to make sure you have enough ventilation so that carbon dioxide can be expelled from your body, preventing hypercapnia and sleep apnea.

If it’s too cold outside, then you will want a warm air gap (between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius), but if it’s too warm outside then you should look into making an insulated gap between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius.

If you’re unsure what temperature range would be best for creating an air gap in your shelter, just ask yourself two questions: “Is it colder than I like?” And if so: “Do I have enough blankets?”

Make Sure You Can Escape Quickly If Needed

If you find yourself in danger, it’s best to leave your shelter and seek help. It’s also important to have a plan for when this happens.

If your shelter is located far away from any major cities or towns, make sure someone knows where you are so they can come and save you should something bad happen while you’re away from home.

For example: “Hey honey! I’m just going out with my friends tonight! We’re going camping at this new national park that opened up last week and we’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”

The importance of shelter in a survival situation can never be overemphasized. In our guide on how to build a shelter, we provide a detailed step-by-step approach to building a shelter, giving you the knowledge and confidence to build a shelter that protects from harsh weather conditions, keeping you safe till rescue.

Keep Your Shelter Open To The Sky, But Covered Away From The Wind.

Making sure your shelter is open to the sky is important because it allows you to see what’s going on around you while still keeping out rain and snow. Keep in mind, though, that an open shelter also lets wind in.

If there’s no way to block out the wind, consider making your shelter smaller or adding more walls to create a wind-resistant space.

When choosing a tarp or parachute as protection from the elements, make sure it is not too large for your space you may need multiple tarps depending on how big your structure will be!

Be careful when securing them down with stakes so as not to puncture them; if this happens, you’ll have more work than necessary trying to repair them later.

Make Sure You Can Keep Warm Without A Fire

If you are in an area that is dry and warm, you can use leaves and branches to cover yourself. If you have a tarp, that will work too.

If you don’t have any of those things, use your sleeping bag or blanket. If neither of those items are available, then pretend like it’s summertime outside and just wear shorts and a tank top!

Conclusion

Hopefully, you’re now equipped to build yourself a safe and cozy shelter in the wilderness. Remember that if you do find yourself lost in the woods and there is no one around to help you should always stay in one place until rescue arrives.

If you must move from your camp site because it is unsafe or unfeasible for a short period of time during harsh weather conditions, then follow these tips so that you don’t lose too much ground on your journey back home. Good luck!

FAQs

What materials can I use to build a wilderness survival shelter?

The materials you can use to build a wilderness survival shelter include natural materials like branches, leaves, twigs, moss, and bark. You can also utilize man-made materials such as tarps, ponchos, emergency blankets, and cords.

What size should my wilderness survival shelter be?

The size of your wilderness survival shelter will depend on the number of people you need to accommodate and the equipment you’re carrying. A shelter that’s big enough to accommodate you, your gear, and any other persons will be ideal for survival.

How long does it take to build a wilderness survival shelter?

The length of time it takes to build a wilderness survival shelter depends on the type of shelter you’re building, the tools you have, and your skill level. On average, it may take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.

Do I have to sleep inside the shelter to stay safe?

The aim of building a wilderness survival shelter is to protect you from the elements while also providing comfort. While it is preferred to sleep inside the shelter, staying near it is also a good option to guarantee safety.

What should I consider when choosing the materials for my wilderness survival shelter?

When choosing materials for your wilderness survival shelter, consider the weather conditions you’ll likely face, the environment, and the resources available for building, and choose materials that are as lightweight as possible for convenience.

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.

The Ultimate Guide To Building A Shelter In The Wilderness