How to Make Cordage from Natural Materials in the Wild

Cordage is one of the most essential survival items you can make in the wilderness. Whether you’re building a shelter, setting a trap, securing gear, or crafting tools, having strong and flexible rope can make a world of difference.

The good news? You don’t need store-bought paracord to get the job done. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to find, harvest, and twist your own natural cordage using plant fibers you can gather in almost any environment.

Why Cordage Matters in Wilderness Survival

In a true survival situation, improvisation is your best friend. You might not always have rope or twine in your pack, but the landscape is full of materials that can be turned into functional cordage with just a little patience and technique.

Natural cordage can be used to lash poles, tie down tarps, fashion bow drill strings, make fishing lines, repair gear, or even weave baskets and snares. It might not look fancy, but when done right, wildcrafted cordage can be surprisingly strong, durable, and useful for everything from camp setup to bushcraft tools.

If you're already carving your own survival tools, pairing them with handmade cordage opens up even more possibilities for building and repair in the wild. Check out How to Carve Survival Tools with a Knife: A Beginner’s Guide to Bushcraft Knife Skills.

Best Natural Materials for Making Cordage

The key to strong wilderness cordage lies in choosing the right materials. Look for fibrous plants with long, stringy inner bark or leaf fibers. Some of the most common and effective materials include:

Basswood bark, which peels off in long strips and becomes very flexible when soaked.

Milkweed and dogbane stalks, which have silky inner fibers that work great when dried and separated.

Yucca leaves, which can be split and twisted into fine, strong cordage.

Cedar and juniper bark, which can be pounded and shredded into rope fibers.

Nettle stalks, which are surprisingly tough and ideal when dried and processed carefully.

Timing also matters. Some plants are easier to harvest in spring or fall when the fibers are naturally more pliable. But even in winter, bark and stems can be soaked or steamed to loosen up for use.

How to Process Plant Fibers for Cordage

Once you’ve collected your materials, the first step is processing the fibers. For bark, you’ll usually want to remove the outer bark and keep the inner bark — this is where the flexible fibers are.

Let the bark soak in water or steam it over a fire for about 30 minutes to soften it up. Once soft, peel or scrape the inner fibers into long strips.

For stalk-based plants like dogbane or nettle, wait until they’re dry and then gently crush the stalks to separate the fibrous outer layer from the woody core. The fibers can then be cleaned and gently combed with your fingers to align them.

With leaf-based materials like yucca, you’ll need to pound the leaves with a smooth rock to break down the pulp, then rinse away the green matter and isolate the stringy fibers.

How to Twist and Make Strong Natural Rope

Now comes the fun part — making rope. The easiest method for beginners is the reverse wrap technique, which gives you a 2-ply cord that’s strong and doesn’t easily untwist.

Start with two prepared bundles of fibers. Twist each bundle clockwise between your fingers to tighten it, then cross one over the other in the opposite (counterclockwise) direction. This locks the tension in place. Continue twisting and wrapping, feeding in new fibers as you go to keep the rope going.

The more evenly you twist and the more consistent your tension, the stronger and smoother the final cord will be. You can make thin cordage for fishing or snares, or thicker ropes for load-bearing tasks.

Tips for Storing and Using Wilderness Cordage

Once your cordage is finished, coil it up and let it dry completely if it’s still damp. Store it in a cool, dry spot to prevent mold or weakening. If you’re heading out on a longer wilderness trip, you can even pre-make a spool of cordage and carry it like you would paracord.

Natural cordage is biodegradable, lightweight, and renewable, and knowing how to make it gives you one more edge in a backcountry survival scenario.

Practice Makes Stronger Rope

Like all bushcraft skills, making cordage takes practice. Your first few ropes might come out uneven or frayed and that’s totally fine. Over time, your fingers will learn the feel of the fibers, your twist will become smoother, and you’ll start to trust the strength of your own handmade cord.

It's a skill that not only connects you to nature, but also builds confidence in your ability to create what you need, even when modern gear isn't available.