If you’ve ever been told to “Leave No Trace” but weren’t quite sure what it actually meant—don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s more than just a catchy slogan slapped on signs and park brochures. Leave No Trace is a powerful framework designed to protect the wild places we love to explore. In short, it’s the trail etiquette Mother Nature wishes everyone followed.
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What is it all about?
There are 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. These principles help us understand the potential ways we can impact an ecosystem and the best way to minimize that impact.
Before we get into what the principles of Leave No Trace are, let’s cover what Leave No Trace is.
-It’s not about rules and regulations. If you don’t use these guidelines, you won’t get a fine or anything, but you will probably hurt the environment and wildlife.
-There is no right vs. wrong. The suggestions are ways to help keep the world natural, without disturbing it. If you don’t follow everything exactly, that’s ok, just do what you think is right.
-Leave No Trace is not black and white. An example is if you are listening to music at your campsite and you believe it is turned low, but your neighbor thinks it’s too loud. This is one of those things that have to be worked out between the two of you, there’s no clear-cut answer of what it right. The important thing about leaving no trace is to use good judgement and do what feels right to you.
With that said, Leave No Trace is more than a set of guidelines. It is a state of mind and a way of respecting our surroundings and others.
How to Follow the 7 Principles
There are 7 Principles of Leave No Trace and they are all pretty much common sense. The principles and techniques vary depending on the activity you’re partaking in, the environment you’re in, and how many people you have in your group. These principles apply to anytime you are enjoying the outdoor environment, whether in a national park or local playground. Let’s see what they’re all about:
1.Plan Ahead and Prepare
Strategic planning and preparation are essential for a pleasant trip into the wilderness. By following these tips and investigating the area you will be exploring you should be set for a splendid adventure!
-Know the regulations. For example, what are the fire regulations, is a permit required for any activities you want to do, what wildlife lives in the area, what food storage is needed, etc.
-Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies. Check the weather forecast so you can pack and prepare for extreme and unexpected weather.
-Be aware of hazards like flash floods. These can easily happen in the desert with a heavy rain Have an emergency plan, know what you are going to do if someone gets hurt or lost.
-Use a map and compass or GPS. Eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging. Make sure you properly know how to use these.
-Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use. Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
-Repackage your food to minimize potential waste. For example, leave the outer box that your snack packs come in at home. This not only saves space but is less waste to deal with.
-Double check that you have everything you need. Check you have everything needed to have fun and a safe time. It’s always a good idea to let someone know where you’re going, when you plan on coming back, and what to do if you don’t get back on time.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
-The general rule here is if a trail or campsite exists – stick to it. If a trail or campsite does not exist, do your best not to create one. The purpose of this is to help avoid creating new scars on untouched areas and trampling on vegetation. Durable surfaces include maintained trails and designated campsites, rock, gravel, sand, dry grass or snow.
-Protect water source areas. Make your campsite at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
-Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary. If there isn’t a site, continue until you find one. Don’t make a new site.
In popular areas:
-Concentrate your use on existing trails and campsites. You want to keep unused areas natural.
-Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy. That’s why you got waterproof hiking boots, right?
-Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent. Use fire rings when possible.
In pristine areas:
-Disperse use so that you are not creating trails or sites where one did not previously exist.
-Stick to durable surfaces like rock, sand, gravel, and dry grass.
-Avoid fragile surfaces like vegetation and riparian zones (that’s the area near a water source).
-Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
-When you leave, it should look as if you were never there!
-Protect water sources by camping 200 feet away from water.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
-Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite, food preparation areas, and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. This means pack out everything including food scraps, pieces of paper, toilet paper, hygiene products, etc.
-Utilize toilet facilities whenever possible. Otherwise, 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.
-Wash your dishes correctly. 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
This one’s easy. Did you see something cool? Take a picture and move on. Leave what you find behind so the next person can enjoy it too. In fact, in some places it’s illegal to remove natural objects. Don’t move anything in nature. Mother Nature put it there for a reason. If it’s in the middle of a path, walk around it. Leave all rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
-Preserve the past: examine, photograph, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts. This one is really important. The oil on our skin can ruin rock art, if you pick something up to look closer it may break because it’s fragile. Have respect for these objects.
–Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
Here are a couple more tips to help you minimize your impact:
-Don’t pick wildflowers, collect any natural items such as shells or rocks. If everyone picked a few flowers on every trip the collective impact would be substantial.
-Don’t cut branches off trees, hack into them, or hammer nails into them to hang things.
-Don’t carve your initials into trees or draw on rocks
This Leave No Trace principle also reminds us to leave areas as we found them. When setting up camp, minimize site alterations and avoid damaging plants. Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
-Campfires can cause lasting impacts on the environment. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle or battery-operated lantern for light instead of a kerosene lantern.
-Only make fires where permitted. Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
–Keep fires small. Only use down and dead wood from the ground that can be broken by hand.
–Assess the situation. Only have a fire if you feel like you have the skills to keep it under control. Keep your fires small, in control, and never leave them unattended.
-Burn all wood and coal until it is ash. Put out campfires completely, splash water on after it’s done burning, then scatter cool ashes. Don’t throw trash in the fire where remnants will remain.
6. Respect Wildlife
–Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. Keep a far distance away from them when trying to take a picture. They are wild and if you get too near, they will probably hurt you. Never try to touch them and whatever you do, don’t go near the younger animals. I’m sure you’ve heard of a mama bear protecting her young? Well, all mama animals fiercely protect their young.
–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.
–Always control your pets or leave them at home. Best practice is to keep your pet on a leash even if they are well behaved. You never know when they may take off if they see another animal.
–Avoid wildlife during sensitive times. It’s best not to be near wildlife during mating or nesting season, when they are raising young, or during winter.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Think about how your actions affect those around you and be considerate. Most people go out in nature to find peace so keep that in mind and be respectful. Think Golden Rule.
Here are some tips to help:
–Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail. Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering others.
-Take breaks away from trails and other visitors. Same for when you camp for the night, give space to others near you.
-Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises. If you want to listen to music, keep it low or use an earbud, but don’t get distracted from what’s going on around you.
–Leave gates as you find them – either open or closed! This has become an internationally recognized rule of courtesy. This can be especially important in areas where livestock animals are present.
These principles were established by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and built on work by the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management in the mid-1980s. This relationship continues today.
Final Thoughts
That’s all there is to it. These are pretty easy, right? Leave No Trace isn’t about perfection, it’s about intention. These are simple things that we can all do to minimize our impact and help preserve the health of our wild places. As you can see, they are mostly common sense and will help keep our outdoor treasures beautiful. These are not black and white, straightforward rules, but easy ways for us to protect our environment for many, many years to come. These seven principles are easy to follow, adaptable to any outdoor setting, and rooted in respect. Whether you’re a seasoned backcountry hiker or just enjoying your local park, your actions matter. So let’s commit to treading lightly, adventuring responsibly, and leaving the wild just as we found it—untouched, unspoiled, and ready to inspire the next explorer.