Leave No Trace

The first Leave No Trace Principle is to plan ahead and prepare. This means knowing the area you’re visiting ahead of your trip and packing the appropriate gear to enjoy the trip responsibly. Make sure to build a pack that includes any special items you may need to navigate the terrain (like walking sticks, a rain jacket or poncho, and quick drying shoes for wading through water or crossing rivers). Always bring a map, compass and plenty of water.

Make sure you understand the skills and abilities of yourself and all those hiking with you. Select trails that you and your fellow hikers can complete safely.

Finally, it’s recommended that you check the busiest times at different parks and attempt to visit during the offseason, to minimize foot traffic and potential damage to the landscape.

The second principle is knowing how to pick a campsite and where to hike. The best places to camp and travel are on durable surfaces. This could include trails, dry grasses, established campsites, rock, gravel, or snow. This prevents visitors from accidentally camping on or trampling natural foliage and organisms. Keep in mind, it could take 10-30 years for an ecosystem to recover from irresponsible off-trail hiking or camping.

When hiking, hike on designated trails and in a single file line. Avoid hiking on visitor-created trails or “short cuts” since these trails can cause damage to the local ecosystem and lead to costly trail restoration.

When camping, select a campsite that’s at least 200 feet from any lakes or streams. This leaves room for wildlife to access these water sources. Look for a well-drained area to keep your tent dry in the case of rain, and be aware of your surroundings. Overhanging branches or other hazards could damage your site! Remember: a good campsite is found, not made.

The third principle teaches us how to dispose of waste properly. There are different kinds of waste and it is important to understand how to dispose of each type properly.

For trash and food waste, the concept is simple: If you pack it in, pack it out. This includes things like wrappers, hygiene products, banana peels, coffee grounds, etc. Burning trash is never recommended.

For solid human waste, dig a 6-8 inch deep hole far from any trails, campsites, or water sources and make sure to completely cover it when you are finished. You can dispose of toilet paper in these same holes or pack it out with the rest of your hygiene products.

When washing yourself or your dishes, use biodegradable soap and wash 200 feet away from any water sources to prevent contamination. Improper grey water disposal can pollute streams and harm wildlife.

The fifth principle teaches us how to minimize campfire impacts. Most wildfires are caused by humans, and these fires can have a devastating impact on local wildlife. By following this principle, we can minimize this damage and also learn how to build a campfire safely.

First, know what the fire risk is for the area you’re camping in. Most national parks will have signage (often with a Smokey the Bear character!) showing what the fire risk is. If the risk is high, don’t build a fire.

When you can avoid building a campfire, use another source of heat instead. Use a cooking stove for food and a lantern for light.

If you must build a fire, use established fire rings when they are available. Keep your fires small by using sticks that can be broken by hand. Avoid trekking into the woods for large pieces of lumber and never cut down live trees or branches for firewood. Burn all wood to ash and put out fires completely before bed or leaving the site. Drown the fire in water, stir it up, and check it for heat before leaving the fire unattended.

The sixth principle reminds us to respect wildlife. Remember, the areas you are visiting are the home of many animals. You’re a visitor, and this is their home. Treat their natural habitats with respect, as you would be respectful as a guest at a friend’s home. You can do this by observing wildlife from a distance and not approaching them.

Never feed the local wildlife. This teaches the animals not to fear humans and can lead to negative human-animal interaction and aggression.

Keep all pets on a leash, or leave them at home. Be aware of local regulations regarding pets on the trail, as many trails will not allow them.

Finally, properly store your food in designated shelters and canisters at all times so as to avoid any unwanted animal run-ins. If there are no designated food storage spaces, you can also hang food from trees to keep it away from animals.