Every person venturing to the outdoors should have the same beautiful experience as you, meaning we must pay attention to the impact we have on nature. Use these seven principles of Leave No Trace to keep the environment (and you) safe on your next backcountry adventure.

 

What is Leave No Trace?

These principles written by the Center for Outdoor Ethics outline minimum impact practices for everyone visiting the outdoors. Though they originated from a need to preserve the backcountry, these principles can be applied to any outdoor recreation activity.

 

Leave No Trace Principles

1. Plan Ahead + Prepare

The first principle of Leave No Trace ensures that you have an amazing backcountry experience without damaging natural resources. Planning ahead can help you prepare for unexpected conditions, keeping you safe in the outdoors.

Things to consider when planning your next adventure:

• What are the goals/expectations for this trip?
• What are the skills/abilities of everyone going? What are your own skills/abilities? Plan activities based around skill levels and trip goals.
• How much do you know about the area you’re visiting? Do your research before you go by reaching out to land managers, reading about the location, and gathering maps of the area.
• Are you packing appropriate equipment and clothing based on safety, comfort, and Leave No Trace guidelines?
• What’s the weather forecast for your upcoming trip?
• Is the terrain suitable for your group’s skill level?
• What are the regulations, restrictions, and land boundaries for this location?
• What’s the average hiking speed of the group? What’s your group’s anticipated food consumption? Remember, leftovers leave waste!
• What’s your group size? Does it meet the regulations for the location and Leave No Trace principles? Also check if you need to make a reservation before you go.

If you plan to cook at your campsite, this principle is essential. Planning meals and the required utensils can help reduce your pack weight and the amount of trash brought into the campsite. Aim for one-pot meals and light snacks on your trip!

 

2. Travel + Camp on Durable Surfaces

Avoid damaging land and waterways in the environment. Be mindful of how you travel through the backcountry. Trampling vegetation and organisms causes erosion and damages trails.

Travel on Trails

Travel on trails as often as possible. Hiking on the trail prevents scars across the landscape from multiple routes. Stay within the trail and avoid shortcutting switchbacks (a trail that cuts sharply from one direction to the other while going up a steep hill/mountainside). Make space for other hikers, and follow off-trail guidelines when moving off the trail to take breaks.

Travel Off-Trail

Off-trail travel is any travel off of the designated trail. Traveling to remote locations, using the bathroom, and walking around campsites are types of off-trail travel. Pay special attention to surface durability and frequency of use when traveling. Frequency of use and large group sizes increase the chance of trampling the area. Surface durability refers to how well a particular area can withstand wear + tear without being damaged. Review the descriptions below for each natural surface:

• Rock/sand/gravel: highly durable. Be aware of any vegetation poking through!
• Ice + snow: temporary effect, good for travel. Follow proper safety precautions and make sure the snow is deep enough to protect vegetation.
• Vegetation: varies, avoid whenever possible. Some vegetation, like dry grasses, are less vulnerable to trampling than wet meadows and steep slopes. If you must travel off-trail, avoid making paths that encourage others to follow.
• Living soil: avoid unless absolutely necessary. Mostly found in deserts, living soil is extremely vulnerable. It is made up of tiny organisms that looks like a dark crust on the sand. If trampling is unavoidable, follow in each others footsteps to minimize damage as much as possible.
• Desert puddles + mud holes: do not touch. Water is scarce in the desert, don’t mess with it!

Camp on Durable Surfaces

When camping in high-use areas, avoid setting up too close to water and trails. Camp at least 200ft from water to allow access for wildlife. Follow all regulations for your campsite and plan enough time to set up camp. Keep your camp in designated areas or in areas with existing impact; the goal is to keep the impact in as small of an area as possible. Make sure to clean your campsite before you go!

Avoid camping in undisturbed, remote areas unless you’re fully committed and efficient at following Leave No Trace guidelines. Spread out tents and gear, watch where you step, and minimize your impact as much as possible. Make your campsite look natural once you leave, to prevent others from camping in the same spot. Try to stick to highly durable surfaces, especially when camping near rivers and water sources.

 

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Pack it in, pack it out! This Leave No Trace principle outlines how to minimize waste impacts. Don’t leave any trash behind when you leave the area.

Human Waste

Avoid polluting water sources and spreading disease by using the proper practices to dispose of human waste. Some places require you to pack out any solid human waste; look up the local rules and regulations. Use these practices to minimize your impact:

• Cat Holes: Dig a hole (6-8″ deep X 4-6″ wide, 4-6″ deep in the desert) in an inconspicuous place at least 200ft away from water. After doing your business, fill the hole with dirt and cover with natural materials. Spread out cat holes if camping in a group. Aim for places with dark, rich, organic soil and lots of sunlight to maximize decomposition. Avoid places where water flows.
• Latrines: Use latrines when camping with children or staying for multiple nights. Add soil after each use. Follow the criteria for cat holes when choosing a location, and reach out to your land manager for best building practices.
• Toilet Paper: Use sparingly! Toilet paper must be either packed out in a plastic bag or buried in cat holes. Use plain, unscented paper or try natural resources like stones, vegetation, and snow. If camping in the desert, pack it out. Do not burn toilet paper. 
• Tampons: Pack it out. Don’t bury them (animals will likely dig them up) and don’t burn them.
• Urine: Though urine has little direct impact, it may attract animals due to the salt. Do your business on rocks, pine needles, or gravel, or dilute it with water.

Other Forms of Waste

Pack out all trash. Don’t burn it. Check for any spilled food or trash around your campsite, as it may attract animals. Plan meals ahead of time and pack out all leftover waste, including grease and organic materials.

Scatter any water used for you or dishes at least 200ft away from any water source and well away from camp. Use a clean container to collect water and carry it away from the source before washing. Strain dirty dishwater before scattering and only use soap if necessary. Avoid swimming in areas where water is scarce.

 

4. Leave What You Find

Minimize Site Alterations

Keep areas the same as you found them. Leave any existing structures, such as fire pits, but do not dig up the ground or create structures out of the natural resources. If you moved something, put it back where it belongs.

Avoid Damaging Live Trees + Plants

Don’t hammer nails or carve your initials into trees. Take a picture of the flowers instead. The goal here is to minimize any trace of human activity.

Leave Natural Objects + Cultural Artifacts

Let others enjoy the cool items you find on the trail! These objects may also be essential for wildlife. Keep the backcountry beautiful (Also, it’s illegal in natural parks and other protected places to remove natural objects)! Swap the souvenirs for pictures or a sicker from the camping store. If you find a cultural artifact, leave it alone! It’s illegal to remove historical/archeological items from public lands.

 

5. Minimize Campfire Impact

If you have the option of choosing between a fire or a stove, remember that stoves Leave No Trace. You can use them in various types of weather, and you don’t need to worry about running out of firewood!

Things to consider before building a fire:

• What is the potential damage to the backcountry?
• What is the fire danger for this season/location?
• Are there any park/area regulations?
• Is wood scarce or abundant?
• Can the environment keep up with the need for firewood?
• Does our group have the skills to build a proper Leave No Trace fire?

The best place to build a fire is in places where wood is abundant or there is an existing fire ring. Mound fires and fire pans are also good alternatives to a traditional fire. Keep the fire small and well-attended. Burn wood down to ash, and put it out with water rather than dirt.

Fire Safety + Cleanup

• Leave trees alone. Both standing and fallen trees serve as shelter for wildlife, and fallen trees recycle nutrients back into the earth.
• Dead wood is easier to collect, burns well, and leaves less impact. Don’t strip or cut branches off of trees.
• Use small pieces of wood you can easily break (no wider than your wrist).
• Gather wood over a wide area away from your campsite. Scatter any unused wood around camp.
• Buy local firewood or gather it responsibly. Don’t bring wood from home.
• Burn all firewood to white ash and scatter the remains in a large area away from the campsite. If coals remain, grind them to ash and soak with water before scattering.
• Put any moved soil back where you found it.
• Don’t burn trash and pack out any campfire litter.
• Completely extinguish fires before leaving camp.
• Keep fuel sources away from the fire, use approved fuel containers, and follow safety labels.
• Don’t leave any fire unattended.

 

6. Respect Wildlife 

Observe wildlife quietly and from a distance. Large groups tend to startle wildlife, so try to keep your group on the smaller side or divide into groups.

Don’t feed, scare, or chase the animals, forcing them to flee. Travel quietly to avoid causing stress to the wildlife. One exception: make a little noise as you travel through bear country so you don’t startle any bears. Disturbing the animals during the summer/winter seasons could affect their ability to adapt to harsh weather conditions.

Avoid touching any animals (no matter how cute they are!). They could carry diseases, or harm you if they’re sick/scared. Young animals may be abandoned if touched or removed from their environment, even if you mean well. Contact a game warden if you encounter any sick or injured wildlife.

Give animals plenty of room to access nearby water sources. Set up camp at least 200ft away from water so the animals feel secure, and avoid disturbing water sources at night (especially in the desert). Avoid polluting water with any waste or soapy water. Swimming in lakes or streams should be okay, but leave any water you find in the desert alone.

Remember, you’re visiting their home!

 

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors 

Let everyone enjoy their adventure. Lots of people like to explore nature for the peace it offers. Keep the peace by minimizing loud noises, controlling your pets, and minimizing environmental damage. Avoid traveling to parks during the holiday season and busy weekends if you like privacy.

General guidelines when passing by other travelers on the trail:

• Those hiking downhill should step aside for hikers going uphill.
• Hikers should let equestrians (those on horseback) pass. Groups leading or riding pack stock have the right-of-way on trails. Speak quietly while riders pass to avoid spooking the horses.
• Bikers yield to both hikers and equestrians. Make sure you stay in control of your bike and announce your presence when passing others.
• Take breaks on durable surfaces off of the trail.

Courteous Camping

• Choose a campsite where rocks/trees keep your camp from others’ view.
• Keep the noise down so you don’t disturb other campers and hikers.
• Don’t use brightly-colored clothing or year that can be seen for miles. Choose earth-toned colors to blend in and minimize visual impact.
• Keep pets in control and remember to pick up any dog poop. Your dog is not part of the natural environment and their waste may affect the wildlife. Check out the location’s guidelines on pets before bringing along your furry friend.

Why You Should Care 

By following these principles, we can help preserve the beauty found all over the world. Minimizing our impact in natural areas ensures that people will see the same sights and have these experiences for years to come. In summary, the two reasons you should follow Leave No Trace guidelines are:

1. To help you and your party safely enjoy the outdoors by preparing for the worst case scenario
2. To help preserve the environment, biodiversity, and natural resources of a specific area

Let’s all do our part to keep the outdoors beautiful for years to come ♡ For more information, check out the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

New to the outdoors? Find out all the need to know info so you can safely enjoy the backcountry!