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Seven Principles of Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is an international
program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to
reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt,
paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all
those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as
well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best
understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and
regulations.
Leave No Trace information is rooted in
scientific studies and common sense. The information is framed under the Seven
Leave No Trace Principles.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
 | Know
the regulations and special concerns for the
area you'll visit. |
| Prepare
for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
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Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
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| Visit
in small groups when possible. Consider
splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
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Repackage food to minimize waste. |
| Use a
map and compass to eliminate the use of marking
paint, rock cairns or flagging. |
Travel and Camp on
Durable Surfaces
| Durable
surfaces include established trails and
campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
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| 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:
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Concentrate use on existing
trails and campsites.
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Walk single file in the middle
of the trail, even when wet or
muddy. |
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Keep campsites small. Focus
activity in areas where
vegetation is absent.
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In pristine areas:
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Disperse use to prevent the
creation of campsites and
trails. |
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Avoid places where impacts are
just beginning. |
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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.
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| 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. |
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. |
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.
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| Burn all wood and coals
to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
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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.
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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. |
| Let nature's sounds
prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises |
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