Leave no Trace principles
1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
1. Plan ahead and prepare
- Durable surfaces include established trails
and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses
or snow.
- Protect riparian areas by camping at least
200 feet from lakes and streams.
- Good campsites are found, not made. Altering
a site is not necessary. In popular areas
- Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
- Walk single file in the middle of the trail,
even when wet or muddy.
- Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas
where vegetation is absent. In pristine areas
- Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites
and trails.
- Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
- Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite
and rest areas for trash or spilled foods.
- Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
- Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug
6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from
water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise
the cathole when finished.
- Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
- To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water
200 feet away from streams or lakes and use
small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter
strained dishwater.
4. Leave What You Find
- Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch,
cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
- Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects
as you find them.
- Avoid introducing or transporting non-native
species.
- Do not build structures, furniture, or dig
trenches.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the
backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for
cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
- Where fires are permitted, use established
fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the
ground that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires
completely, then scatter cool ashes.
6. Respect Wildlife
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not
follow or approach them.
- Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages
their health, alters natural behaviors, and
exposes them to predators and other dangers.
- Protect wildlife and your food by storing
rations and trash securely.
- Control pets at all times, or leave them
at home.
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating,
nesting, raising young, or winter.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Respect other visitors and protect the quality
of their experience.
- Be courteous. Yield to other users on the
trail.
- Step to the downhill side of the trail when
encountering pack stock.
- Take breaks and camp away from trails and
other visitors.