Going Pee at Night on the River
Key Takeaways
- Practice your nighttime system before your rafting trip. Test your reusable bottle and funnel setup at home to avoid spills and ensure comfort when nature calls on the river at night.
- Always use a reusable urinal system. Reusable bottles and funnels help reduce waste and make it easy to empty into the river in the morning, keeping campsites clean and eco-friendly.
- Keep essentials close in your tent. Store toilet paper or a reusable wipe, plus a sealable bag for containment, to stay organized and maintain hygiene overnight.
- Know where the groover is located. For long-distance calls, use the groover and bring a headlamp—scouting it before dark helps you navigate safely at night.
- Respect river hygiene practices. Emptying urine into the river and keeping beaches clean supports Leave No Trace principles and preserves the natural environment for future rafters.
WHEN NATURE CALLS…AT NIGHT
Picture this, you just had an incredible day of white water rafting! Not only did you: explore a beautiful wild or scenic river, fill your belly with awesome food to the point of bursting, and laugh with other incredible humans—you also mastered the art of how to “make a call” on the river, aka, go to the bathroom in nature.
Terminology Backstory: before we dive into some night-time talk, let’s familiarize you with some terms.
The Groover : the river name for toilet and is complete with a toilet seat. Saying that you ‘need to use the groover’ or you ‘need to groove’ are other ways to say you ‘need to go to the bathroom.’
Long-Distance Call
: refers to going #2 or pooping (we’re all adults here).
Local Call
: refers to peeing or going #1. Read up on the practice of placing a ‘local call’ while on the river
here
Back to our scene—you had an incredible day on the river (like our Grande Ronde River adventures) and are preparing to tuck yourself in for a little star gazing. You just have one question, how do you make a local call at night? Fortunately for you we are well versed in local calls at any hour and this blog post is here to help!
Our previous post discussed the importance of making sure local calls end up in the river to keep beaches and campsites clean. The same principle holds true at night. However, if walking to the river or groover isn’t appealing, you can make a local call in your tent. The way to do this is to have a reusable sealable bottle and a funnel if you need one.
There are many brands and varieties of reusable bottle/funnel combinations with cost ranging between the $8-$15. If you search “unisex urinal” many different options will come up. You will need a reusable option. A couple examples are the AWOKEN unisex potty urinal or the OUTFANDIA Urinal (pictured right).
This set up makes it easy to complete your local call from the comfort of your own tent. In the morning when you wake up, simply take your set up down to the river to dump and rinse. Due to the sterile nature of urine, a simple daily rinse will keep it fresh. You can do a more thorough wash with soap at the end of the trip.
Tips for local calls at night:
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- -Practice before you come: Get to know your system and become comfortable with it. Consider practicing in the shower or bathtub to make any potential clean up easier. Try different positions: Standing, kneeling, sitting—find what works best for you and your body.
If it’s your first overnight on the Snake River in Hells Canyon, practicing your setup at home helps a ton.
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- -Reusable is key: Please bring a reusable system that can be emptied into the river. Yes, single use urinal bags and bottles exist but they are not a good fit for a river trip; they smell and trash space on our boats is limited. While we understand using them in other settings, please DO NOT bring single use urinal bags or bottles on the river.
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- -Tent toilet paper: Consider keeping a small amount of toilet paper in your tent as well as a small zip lock to contain any used toilet paper. In the morning it can be put into the groover or the groover trash. You may also consider a reusable wipe like a “ Kula Cloth ” that can be rinsed and dried out in the morning.
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- -Containment: Bring a large zip lock to store your bottle and funnel in while not using them. This will also help keep them separated from the rest of your things in your dry bag.
ALREADY HAVE A SYSTEM?
Some of you may already have a system for making a local call at night. If you have a system you are comfortable with and use in camping situations- please do that. Again we ask that you use a system that allows you to ultimately empty local calls into the river.
Similarly some of you may already have a funnel or not need one; in this case all you would need is a bottle with a lid. Make sure that you have a bottle with enough capacity, we suggest 1.5 quart minimum.
LONG DISTANCE CALLS AT NIGHT
All long distance calls need to be made in the groover. Although long distance calls at night tend to be rare it does happen. Consider walking to the groover during daylight even if you don’t need to use it so that you know where it is and make sure to bring a headlamp or flashlight (included on our PACKLIST ).
We hope this post helps you feel more comfortable about your trip with us. When you are on your trip your guides will go over everything regarding grooving and making calls. Until then we will be watching the snow melt and looking forward to spending time on the river together!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions people ask about going to the bathroom—especially peeing—while camping or rafting at night on the river.
How do you pee at night while camping on the river?
Use a reusable, sealable bottle (and a funnel if needed) inside your tent. This allows you to stay warm and safe without walking to the river in the dark. In the morning, empty and rinse the bottle in the river to keep your camp area clean.
Why do you have to pee in the river on rafting trips?
Peeing in the river helps keep campsites and beaches clean and free of odors. Urine is sterile, and flowing water naturally disperses it. This practice prevents contamination and helps preserve the natural beauty of the environment for future visitors.
What is a “groover”?
Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.What’s the difference between a “local call” and a “long-distance call”?
A “local call” refers to peeing, while a “long-distance call” means pooping. Local calls can be made in the river or in a reusable bottle setup, but long-distance calls must always be made in the groover for sanitary and environmental reasons.
Can I pee inside my tent at night?
Yes—use a reusable bottle or unisex urinal designed for camping. Be sure it has a tight-sealing lid and sufficient capacity (at least 1.5 quarts). In the morning, empty it into the river and rinse thoroughly. Keep it stored in a ziplock bag when not in use.
What should I bring for nighttime bathroom needs on the river?
Bring a reusable urinal bottle, a funnel if you need one, a small amount of toilet paper or a reusable wipe, and a ziplock bag for storage. A headlamp or flashlight is also essential for nighttime navigation or finding the groover.
Are single-use urinal bags allowed on rafting trips?
No. Single-use urinal bags or bottles are discouraged because they create unnecessary waste and smell. Always bring a reusable system that can be emptied and cleaned daily. Space for trash is limited on boats, so minimizing waste is key.
How do I clean my urinal bottle after using it?
Rinse your bottle each morning with river water after emptying it. Since urine is sterile, a daily rinse is usually enough to keep it fresh. You can do a more thorough cleaning with soap and water at the end of your trip.
What if I need to poop at night on the river?
All “long-distance calls” must be made in the groover. Use a headlamp or flashlight to find it safely in the dark. It helps to locate the groover during daylight hours so you’re familiar with the path before nightfall.
Any tips for practicing before the trip?
Yes—try your system at home to get comfortable with it. Practice in the shower or bathtub to avoid messes. Test different positions—standing, kneeling, or sitting—to find what works best for you and ensures a smooth experience on the river.
For more information about our rafting trips, give us a visit at Guided Whitewater Rafting Trips.
Whether you’re camping beside the Grande Ronde or enjoying Salmon River rafting trips, the same nighttime system applies.
