Leave No Trace: 7 Principles Every Camper Should Know

As outdoor enthusiasts, we share a responsibility to protect the wild places we love. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics developed seven principles that help minimize our impact on the environment. Here's how to put them into practice.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Good planning prevents problems:

• Research regulations for your destination
• Prepare for extreme weather and emergencies
• Schedule trips for off-peak times to reduce crowding
• Repackage food to minimize waste
• Use maps and GPS to stay on established trails

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

Concentrate impact where it already exists:

In Popular Areas:

• Use established trails and campsites
• Walk single file in the middle of the trail
• Keep campsites small

In Pristine Areas:

• Disperse use to prevent new impacts
• Avoid places where impact is just beginning
• Camp on rock, gravel, or dry grass

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Pack it in, pack it out—and then some:

Trash

• Pack out everything you bring in
• Pick up litter left by others
• Inspect campsite before leaving

Human Waste

• Use restroom facilities when available
• Otherwise, dig a cathole 6-8 inches deep, 200 feet from water
• Pack out toilet paper in a sealed bag

Wastewater

• Strain dishwater and pack out particles
• Scatter strained water 200 feet from waterways
• Use biodegradable soap sparingly

4. Leave What You Find

Preserve the experience for others:

• Don't disturb cultural or historic structures
• Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects
• Avoid introducing non-native species
• Don't build structures or dig trenches
• Take only photographs, leave only footprints

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

Fires can cause lasting damage:

Best Practices:

• Use established fire rings when available
• Keep fires small
• Burn only dead and downed wood
• Burn all wood to ash, put out completely, scatter cool ashes

Consider Alternatives:

• Use a camp stove for cooking
• Bring a lantern for light
• Dress warmly instead of relying on fire for heat

6. Respect Wildlife

Observe from a distance:

• Never feed wildlife—it damages their health and behavior
• Store food securely using bear canisters or hang systems
• Control pets or leave them home
• Observe from a distance—use binoculars
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, winter

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Share the trail courteously:

• Yield to other users on the trail
• Keep noise levels down
• Respect other visitors' experience
• Let nature's sounds prevail
• Camp away from trails and other visitors

Teaching the Next Generation

Share these principles with young campers:

• Lead by example
• Explain the "why" behind each principle
• Make it a game to leave the campsite better than you found it
• Celebrate good decisions

Leave No Trace at Scale

Small actions add up. If every camper follows these principles, our wild places will remain wild for generations to come.

Learn more at LeaveNoTrace.org and find low-impact camping options on CampSeek.

Together, we protect what we love. 🌲