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Leave No Trace
6 min read
Leave No Trace is a set of seven simple principles for enjoying the outdoors without wearing it out. None of it is complicated; it's mostly about thinking one step ahead so the next person — and the next elk — finds the place the way you'd want to.
1. Plan ahead and prepare
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Know the rules, permits, and fire rules for where you're going, and check the weather.
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Repackage food to cut trash, and bring a map and compass so you don't scar the land getting un-lost.
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Travel in small groups and avoid the busiest times to spread out impact.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
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Stay on the trail — walk single file through mud rather than widening it around the edges.
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Camp on established sites, rock, gravel, or dry grass, and keep camp at least 200 feet (about 70 steps) from lakes and streams.
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In pristine, trail-less areas, spread out so no single path gets worn in.
3. Dispose of waste properly
Pack it in, pack it out — including food scraps, which don't 'compost' fast and teach animals to beg.
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Carry out all trash and leftover food. Orange peels and pistachio shells count.
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For solid human waste, dig a cathole 6–8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, trails, and camp, then cover and disguise it. Pack out toilet paper, or use it in areas that allow burial. Some places require a wag bag — check.
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Strain dishwater, pack out the food bits, and scatter the greywater well away from water sources.
4. Leave what you find
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Leave rocks, plants, antlers, and artifacts for the next person to discover.
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Don't build structures, dig trenches, or hammer nails into trees.
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Clean your boots and gear between trips so you don't carry invasive seeds and hitchhikers.
5. Minimize campfire impacts
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A stove is cleaner and safer for cooking; often the responsible choice is no fire at all.
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Where fires are allowed, use an existing ring, keep it small, and burn only dead-and-down wood you can break by hand.
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Burn it to ash, put it dead out with water, and scatter the cool ashes.
6. Respect wildlife
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Watch from a distance and never feed animals — a fed animal becomes a problem animal.
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Store food and scented items so wildlife can't get them.
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Give extra space during sensitive times: mating, nesting, and raising young, or winter.
7. Be considerate of others
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Keep noise down and yield the trail thoughtfully — hikers going uphill usually have the right of way.
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Take breaks and camp off to the side, out of others' way.
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Let natural quiet be part of the experience; keep music to headphones.
The seven principles are a framework from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics; the wording here is our own plain-language summary.