Bushcraft Shelters
The Infinite Versatility of the 10 × 10 Tarp
A single 10' x 10' tarp is one of the most versatile pieces of gear you can carry. Depending on how you rig it, the same tarp can shade a patrol at lunch, block a cold wind at your back, or become a fully enclosed tent you sleep in overnight. The difference isn't the tarp; it's how you use your ridge line, guy lines, and stakes.
No doubt you'll develop your own favorite configurations as you gain experience. Here are five to get you started.
1. Patrol Dining Fly
On campouts, this should be the first thing you put up and the last thing you take down. The simplest version is constructed from a 10 × 10 tarp, two poles (or four staves lashed together in pairs), 6 stakes with guy lines, and a ridge line. Alternatively, you can add poles at each corner for a taller, flatter structure.
How to pitch it: All four corners are pulled up and out to four separate anchor points (trees, poles, or stakes) so the tarp forms a flat or gently sloped canopy above head height. No side walls at all.
Best for: Shade and rain cover over a cooking or eating area. This is the pitch you'll use most at a patrol campsite. It keeps a whole crew dry while everyone can still move freely in and out.
Shelters: 4–8 people standing or seated underneath.
Materials: 10 × 10 tarp, 4 guy lines (one per corner), 4 anchor points at varying heights to create a slight pitch for rain runoff — don't pitch it perfectly flat, or water will pool.
2. Lean-To with a Ridge Line
A lean-to is the most basic shelter. With a tarp, it simply requires a ridge line or ridge pole. It’s also the basis for most debris hut shelters (i.e., a ridge pole against which you then lean sticks at an angle). Lean-tos can be the full 10’ tarp on an angle (one edge staked to the ground, the other secured to the ridge line) or they can cross over the ridge line to add additional overhead protection.
How to pitch it: Run a ridge line between two trees or staves. If using staves, you’ll need taut guy lines to keep them upright. Drape one long edge of the tarp over the ridge line. Stake one edge down low to the ground at an angle, closing off one direction entirely. The higher the ridge line, the more head room you’ll have; the lower the ridge line, the more ground coverage you’ll have. The version shown here is low and uses two additional staves to create an awning
Best for: Blocking wind and rain that's coming from one consistent direction. Pitched with the low edge facing the wind, it also reflects heat from a fire back toward you if you build one along the open side.
Shelters: 1–3 people lying parallel to the ridge line (tall version) or up to 6 people lying perpendicular to the ridge line (lower version, shown above)
Materials: 10 × 10 tarp, 1 ridge line, 2–4 stakes for the low edge, 2 trees or poles to hang the ridge line from. Extra poles for the low/awning version.
3. A-Frame, Enclosed on Three Sides
This cozy, one- or two-person shelter is a step up from the basic A-frame. It takes a little more work, but the reward is a shelter that protects you on three sides.
How to pitch it: Create a ridge line between two sticks, or staves. Note that you will need a tarp with centerline tie-outs for the setup. Hang the tarp from the center ridge line using all but the final tie-out so it slopes down evenly on both sides, like a classic pup tent. There will be some leftover material at the back where you skipped the edge tie-out. Stake out both bottom edges. Close off the back triangular end by tying each corner loose overhanging tarp to the opposite rear stake. Leave the front triangular end open as your entrance.
Best for: A step up from the lean-to or basic A-frame—better wind and rain protection because three full sides are enclosed, not just one.
Shelters: 1–2 people.
Materials: 10 × 10 tarp, 1 ridge line (rope or pole), 4 stakes for the base corners, cordage to close the back triangle, 2 guy lines off the ridge ends for stability. If you use staves for your uprights, you can secure a guy line to your front and back tie-outs, then wrap a quick clove hitch around your stave before staking it out to keep it taut. If you’re running your ridge line between two trees, you’ll need another short length of cordage to make a prusik hitch to keep your tarp taut along the ridgeline.
4. Three-Sided Pyramid Tarp Tent
How to pitch it: This one takes some practice, but once you know the steps. it’s easy. Lay your tarp so it is square on the ground. Decide which side will be the back. Stake down the tie-outs on either side of each back corner (leave the corners un-staked). Tuck the corners under the tarp. Now, move to the front left corner. Grab the corner and slide it to the right until it is even with the next tie-out point. Stake just the corner down. Do the same for the right-hand corner. Using a trekking pole, stave, or stick placed under the second tie-out point on the ridge line, raise the tarp. Be sure to cover the top of your center pole with a bandana, sock, or other padding to prevent puncturing the tarp. You’ll have some loose material hanging down in front. Fold it back, and tie the tie-outs to the rear stakes with guy lines.
Best for: Wind that shifts direction. Because of its geometry, this is an incredibly sturdy setup in windy conditions. It’s both spacious and warm, with room to sit up in the middle. It can even be set up without any cordage in a pinch. Your pack can act as additional protection in the entrance.
Shelters: 1–2 people.
Materials: 10 × 10 tarp, 1 center pole (or a tree with a low branch), 6 stakes for the closed corners, guy lines for the front entrance.
5. Fully Enclosed Tarp Tent with Floor & Door
This shelter only fits one person, and even then it is snug. But what you give up in space, you get back in protection. This single-tarp setup includes a floor and a door, keeping you fully protected from rain and wind.
How to pitch it: Lay your tarp flat with the inside side facing up. If you’re using a tree as your upright, line one edge of the tarp up with the tree and stake both of the corners on that side. Take the corner furthest from your tree and fold it onto the corner closest to the tree, hooking the tie-out to the existing stake. You now have a triangle on the ground. One side will be folded, one will be staked at two corners, and one will be staked at one corner. Attach some cordage to the center tie-out on the side that only has one corner staked and tie it around the tree. You want tension on both the diagonal ‘peak” of the roof and the vertical side of the shelter. If you’re using a stick or staves instead of a tree (as shown above), create tension by securing the tie-out to the upright, and running a guy line from that point to the ground. If it feels a little cramped inside, you can create more space by tying a guy line to the center tie-out point on the sloped side of your shelter, and tensioning it out.
Best for: Overnight sleeping in exposed weather, bugs, or when you want full protection without carrying a dedicated tent.
Shelters: 1 person (2 in an emergency)
Materials: 10 × 10 tarp, 1 length of cordage, 3 stakes. If using the staves version, you’ll need those, plus an extra length of cordage and another stake. More stakes can help keep your side wall secure.
Which One Should You Pitch?
Start by asking what you're protecting against — sun, one direction of wind and rain, or fully exposed weather overnight — and how many people need to fit under it. As a general rule, the more sides you close off, the more weatherproof the shelter, but the more time, cordage, and stakes it takes to set up. On a short stop, the dining fly or lean-to will do. On an overnight in exposed terrain, it's worth the extra ten minutes to pitch the pyramid or fully enclosed version.
Whichever pitch you choose, practice it before you need it. Setting up a tarp shelter in good weather at home is a lot easier than figuring it out for the first time in the rain!
Terms
Grommet — the reinforced metal or plastic ring set into the tarp's edges and corners. This is where you clip a carabiner, thread a line, or hook a stake-out point.
Tie-out — a loop of webbing or fabric sewn onto a tarp's edge (sometimes mid-panel, not just at a corner) used to pull out and stake a flat section so it doesn't sag or flap.
Guy line — a length of cord running from a grommet or tie-out to a stake, tree, or another anchor, used to pull the tarp taut and hold its shape.
Ridge line — the main line the tarp is draped over or hung from, usually run between two trees or two poles. It sets the "spine" of the shelter.
Pitch — the overall shape and angle you rig the tarp into (flat, angled, A-frame, pyramid, etc.).
Vestibule — a covered but unenclosed area at a shelter's entrance, useful for keeping boots and packs dry without bringing them inside.
Supplies Needed
One 10' x 10' tarp with grommets at the corners and mid-panel tie-outs along the edges
4–8 lengths of paracord 6–10 ft. each)
6–8 stakes (more for the fully enclosed version)
A center pole, trekking pole, or two trees for a ridge line, depending on the pitch. You can also use a stick.
