Leave No Trace Principles (2026)

Research regulations before your trip. Know the rules for fire, campsite selection, waste disposal, and group size limits. Check weather forecasts and understand the terrain. Bring maps and know how to use them. Proper preparation reduces the chance of making damaging decisions under pressure — like cutting switchbacks because you are lost, or camping on fragile vegetation because you did not know where designated sites were.

Stick to established trails. When on trail, walk through mud puddles rather than around them — widening the trail by walking around mud creates a broader impact zone. In the backcountry where no trail exists, disperse travel across rock, gravel, dry grass, and snow rather than creating new social trails. At campsites, set up on established sites or rock, gravel, or dry grass — avoid camping on fragile meadow vegetation.

Pack out all trash, including food scraps. Human waste should be buried in a cathole 6-8 inches deep, 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites. Use a trowel — digging a cathole with a stick is harder and less effective. Toilet paper should be packed out in most wilderness areas, not buried. Dog waste must be packed out entirely in any wilderness, not buried or left in bags by the trail.

Do not pick wildflowers, collect rocks, or disturb natural objects. Leave cultural and historical artifacts where you find them — removing them is often illegal and always destroys the experience for others. Do not build new fire rings, move rocks to create windbreaks, or carve initials into trees. The goal is for the next person to find the place exactly as you did.

In many environments, campfires cause lasting damage. Fire rings compact soil and sterilize it. Collecting firewood removes habitat for decomposers. Use a camp stove instead when possible. Where fires are appropriate and permitted, use existing fire rings, burn only small-diameter deadfall (not standing dead wood), keep fires small, and ensure the fire is completely cold before leaving — stir ash with water until the center is cool to the touch.

Observe wildlife from a distance — do not approach, feed, or follow animals. Feeding wildlife creates habituation that usually ends in the animal being removed or killed. Store food and scented items properly in bear canisters or hung bags. Keep dogs under control and on leash in wildlife-sensitive areas. Avoid wildlife during sensitive periods: nesting, raising young, and winter.

Yield to uphill hikers and horses. Keep noise at a level that does not intrude on other hikers' experience. Camp out of sight and sound of other groups when possible. Respect the solitude others are seeking. In heavily trafficked areas, this principle is as important as any of the environmental ones — the quality of experience is part of what makes wilderness worth protecting.

LNT in Practice

The most effective LNT mindset is cumulative thinking: your individual impact may be small, but you are one of thousands of visitors. The cathole you dig in the wrong place, the social trail you create by cutting a switchback, the food you leave for a marmot — each is trivial in isolation. Multiplied across all visitors to a popular wilderness area over a season, they add up to measurable degradation.

The second most effective mindset is modeling. How you behave on trail influences other hikers, especially novices who look to experienced hikers to understand norms. Using proper trail etiquette, packing out trash, and making thoughtful campsite selections teaches by example in a way that no amount of trailhead signage achieves.

Teaching LNT to Others

One of the most impactful things an experienced hiker can do is explain LNT practices to those who are new to the backcountry — not as a lecture, but as practical information shared naturally. When a friend reaches for a piece of fruit at a campsite and tosses the peel, a quick "those don't break down as fast as most people think out here" is more effective than saying nothing and more constructive than a lengthy reprimand.

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics offers a formal certification program (Master Educator) for those who want to teach LNT professionally. Trail organizations, wilderness programs, and outdoor retail stores all use certified educators. Even without certification, the seven principles are easy to explain and the rationale behind each one is compelling once you understand the cumulative impact of foot traffic on wilderness ecosystems.

For group trips — especially with children or first-time backpackers — a short pre-trip briefing covering the principles relevant to your specific destination is worth five minutes. Cover campsite selection, waste disposal, food storage, and fire rules. The conversation done once at the trailhead prevents a dozen corrective interventions over the course of the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions