Gear Hunting Gear

The Best and Worst Outhouses

By John Taranto

Updated on Apr 20, 2021 4:49 AM EDT

5 minute read

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH2.jpg

Manning Park thoughtfully provides an outhouse at Poland Lake. The problem is using it. Photo by: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/qole/375923138/">Alan Bruce</a>

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›

httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH1_1.jpg
Outhouses come in all colors, shapes and sizes. But red and square seem to be pretty safe choices. Send us your best outhouse photos at olletters@bonniercorp.com. Photo by: Matts Anderson
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH3_1.jpg
Photo by: Anthony van Dyck
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH4.jpg
Photo by: Mark Bray
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH5.jpg
This decorative bush moonlights as an outhouse on the weekends. Send us your best outhouse photos at olletters@bonniercorp.com. Photo by: Uff-da
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH6_1.jpg
A Burney Mountain Outhouse Photo by:Junmon603
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH7.jpg
This outhouse has a sink! Now that's roughing it in style. Photo by: Beatrice Murch
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH8_1.jpg
An outhouse at Russet Lake looking north toward the Spearhead Range from Russet Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Photo by: Comrouges
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH9.jpg
Photo by: Kathleen Franklin
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH10_1.jpg
A vandalized outhouse at Big Tribune Bay. Photo by: Phoenix Wolf-Ray
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH11.jpg
Photo by: Vicki Watkins
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH12.jpg
A good ole Louisiana outhouse. Photo by: Natalie Maynor
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH13.jpg
The Barnacle outhouse from Matinicus Island in Maine. Photo by: Jim Kuhn
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH14.jpg
With only two walls, this outhouse doesn't offer much mosquito protection, or privacy for that matter. Photo by: Sonya Green
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH15.jpg
Outhouses at 10,000 feet. I think I'll hold it until spring comes. Send us your best outhouse photos at olletters@bonniercorp.com Photo by: Vicki Watkins
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH16.jpg
A composting outhouse at 4,700 feet. Photo by: kevin crow
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH17.jpg
Photo by: Randen Peterson
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH18.jpg
The builders of this outhouse thought it would be best to go green. Photo by:David K
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406oh19.jpg
Photo by: Greg Westfall
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH20.jpg
There's nothing more fun than trudging through three feet of snow to use a freezing cold outhouse on a brisk winter morning. Photo by: Chewonki
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH21.jpg
An outhouse in Hesquiat Harbor on Clyoquot Sound teaches us an important lesson: Never build an outhouse uphill of your camp. Photo by: Ecotrust Canada
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH22.jpg
You don't really need a door to your outhouse when the next closest human being isn't even in the same time zone. Photo by: Zach Flanders
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406oh23.jpg
No thanks. Photo by: Augusta
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH24.jpg
Photo by: Zach Flanders
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH25.jpg
This photo was taken during a trip to Talkeenta, Montana Creek and Houston Alaska. Photo by: Kovalchek
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH26.jpg
Photo by: Danny Thompson
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH27.jpg
Photo by: Andrew Lin
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406Oh28.jpg
Photo by: Frankenstoen
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH29.jpg
When your outhouse begins to look like this, it's time to invest in a level. Photo by: Le Grand Protage
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH30.jpg
This photo was taken in Okanagan-Similkameen, British Columbia. The outhouse was built up on a platform to keep it out of the snow. Photo by: Robert Ashworth
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH31.jpg
An old, hopefully abandoned outhouse. Photo by: bigcityal
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH32.jpg
Outhouse at Silver Springs in Florida. Photo by: Hellis813
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406oh33.jpg
An outhouse at Oxbow pond at Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Photo by: Andy Arthur
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH34.jpg
These outhouse architects thought ahead and attached a ladder for the winter months. Photo by: Eli
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406oh35.jpg
Send us your best outhouse photos at olletters@bonniercorp.com Photo by: Orin Zebest
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH36.jpg
Photo by: Natalie Maynor
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH37.jpg
Photo by: Nancy Wombat
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH38.jpg
Perhaps the most carefully made and well-kept outhouse in human history. Photo by: Meaghan O'Malley
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH39.jpg
A Fijian outhouse Photo by: Jon-Eric Melsaeter
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH40.jpg
Photo by: Cincooldesigns
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH41.jpg
Photo by: Andrew Kraker
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH42.jpg
Photo by: Edwin and Kelly Tofslie
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importImage2010photo1001313406OH43.jpg
There's more than one way to dig an outhouse hole. Photo by: J-nellie
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images201007oh44_0.jpg
Two outhouses in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Photo by: Surrealis_uk
httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2013images201007oh45_0.jpg
Photo by: Sarah Liberty