Leave No Trace

The Leave No Trace principles are not rules imposed from the outside. They are a framework developed over decades by land managers, scientists, and experienced backcountry travelers to address the cumulative impact of millions of people visiting wild places every year. Individual actions seem small. Multiplied across every visitor to every trail, they shape whether these places survive intact for the next generation.

These principles apply everywhere — from a city park to a remote alpine basin. The specific techniques change depending on the environment, but the underlying ethic stays the same: leave it better than you found it, or at minimum, leave no evidence you were there.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Most backcountry damage happens because of poor planning. People who run out of daylight cut switchbacks. People who forget a stove build illegal fires. People who do not check regulations camp in closed areas.

• Research regulations and special concerns for the area you will visit
• Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies
• Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use when possible
• Visit in small groups when possible; split larger groups into smaller ones
• Repackage food to minimize waste and reduce pack weight

2. Travel on Durable Surfaces

Durable surfaces include established trails, rock, gravel, dry grasses, and snow. Vegetation and biological soil crusts are fragile. A single footprint on cryptobiotic soil in the desert can destroy decades of growth.

• Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy
• Camp on durable surfaces at least 200 feet from lakes and streams
• Keep campsites small; concentrate activity in areas where vegetation is already absent
• In pristine areas, disperse use to prevent the creation of new campsites and trails

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Pack it in, pack it out. This applies to all trash, leftover food, and litter. Human waste requires specific handling depending on the environment.

• 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 in arid or high-use environments
• Wash yourself and dishes 200 feet from water sources; scatter strained dishwater

4. Leave What You Find

The goal is to leave natural and cultural features undisturbed so the next visitor has the same experience you did.

• Preserve the past: observe cultural or historic structures and artifacts without touching them
• 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 damage to the backcountry. Fire rings scar landscapes, and wood gathering strips the ground of nutrients that sustain plant life. Lightweight stoves are a better option in most environments.

• Use a lightweight camp stove for cooking and a candle lantern for light
• Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires
• Keep fires small; burn only small 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 animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.

• Observe wildlife from a distance; do not follow or approach them
• Never feed animals; feeding wildlife damages their health and alters natural behaviors
• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home when regulations require it
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Respect other visitors. Protect the quality of their experience. Loud noise, uncontrolled pets, trashed campsites -- it all diminishes the experience for everyone out there.

• 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
• Let nature's sounds prevail; avoid loud voices and noises

Applying Leave No Trace Across Environments

The seven principles are universal, but the techniques change depending on where you are.

Alpine and subalpine zones

Vegetation at high elevation grows slowly. Really slowly. One off-trail shortcut through an alpine meadow can leave a scar visible for years. Stick to rock and snow when you're off-trail, and pack out all human waste above treeline where required.

Desert environments

Cryptobiotic soil crusts are alive and critical to the desert ecosystem. They take decades to form and can be destroyed by a single footstep. Stay on slickrock, sand, or established trails. Water sources are rare and critical to wildlife — camp and dispose of waste far from them.

Forests

Concentrate use on established trails and campsites. Dead and downed wood is part of the nutrient cycle — gather only what you need for a fire, and only where fires are permitted.

Coastal areas

Tidal zones are fragile ecosystems. Watch where you step in tide pools. Pack out everything, including fish waste. Respect seasonal closures for nesting shorebirds.

Get Involved

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is the nonprofit behind the seven principles. They run training programs, organize volunteer events, and work directly with land management agencies to protect high-use areas. If you want to go beyond personal practice and help others learn, here's where to start.

• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics — the organization behind the seven principles. Their site has the full framework, research, and educational materials.
• Seven Principles Overview — detailed, environment-specific guidance from the official LNT.org.
• Leave No Trace Trainer Courses — become a Leave No Trace Awareness Instructor or Master Educator. Trainer courses are typically two days and qualify you to teach the principles in your community, at trailheads, or through local organizations.
• Hot Spot Program — Leave No Trace identifies high-impact areas and coordinates volunteer efforts to educate visitors and restore damaged sites. A good way to contribute a weekend without a long-term commitment.
• Tread Lightly! — focuses on responsible motorized and mechanized recreation. If your backcountry access involves OHVs, UTVs, or mountain bikes, this is the counterpart to Leave No Trace for those activities.
• National Park Service: Leave No Trace — NPS guidance and park-specific Leave No Trace resources.
• USFS: Know Before You Go — Forest Service recreation guidance, including how Leave No Trace applies on national forest land.