If you spend enough time hiking and learning about hiking, you will undoubtedly hear the term “leave no trace.” If you aren’t quite sure what that means yet, it is simply a set of guidelines of how to responsibly recreate in nature. But what are the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace?
The 7 Leave No Trace Principles will apply to any sort of outdoor recreation you choose to participate in, as it is not a specific set of rules, rather it is a loose set of guidelines applicable to any time or situation.
Developed and updated by the Center For Outdoor Ethics, Leave No Trace is something that every outdoor enthusiast should be familiar with. To be a responsible hiker, cyclist, paddler, or any other er, you should be familiar with and reliably follow the 7 Leave No Trace principles.
This is a short overview of the seven principles, and should not be read as an exhaustive dissertation, but there are a multitude of other easily accessible resources on Leave No Trace guidelines.
The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace:
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What you Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Considering hiking in bear country? Be sure you are prepared to be bear safe.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
The best way to get in over your head and end up in trouble is to not be properly prepared. Planning ahead is crucial in a productive outing into nature, and a lack of planning is a great way to end up over your head and in serious trouble.
Planning ahead and preparing includes knowing about your destination and its challenges, and bringing the proper gear to deal with the conditions.
- Always have a map of your destination and a compass
- Know the weather and potential dangerous weather events
- Make sure gear is prepared and in good condition
- Know the laws and regulations of the area you’re visiting
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
This one may not seem like a big deal, but when there are thousands of people using the trail every day and week, it can have a major impact on the environment.
When you consider that over the course of a year, millions of Americans will hit the trail, the environment can take a serious beating, and as users of the outdoors, it is our job to do what we can to minimize that beating.
- Don’t cut switchbacks
- Use only established and official trails
- Use pre-existing campsites, don’t create your own
- Always camp at least 200 feet from bodies of water
- Disperse use on backcountry/pristine environments
Dispose of Waste Properly
This one hopefully is obvious to those of you reading, but unfortunately it’s not to many people who litter all of our parks and trails. Don’t litter, it’s gross and it’s really really easy to not litter. Beyond not littering, there are a few different things to also consider.
- Take any trash you create with you (don’t litter)
- If you see trash on the trail, pick it up and pack it out with you
- Solid human waste needs to be buried at least 6-8 inches deep away from water sources, camps, and trails (in some places, solid waste must be packed out)
- Pack out toilet paper and other wipes
Leave What you Find
It’s very tempting to take that really big pinecone with you. It may not seem like a big deal to just take a few rocks or cut a branch or two for a stick. And while it may not be a big deal just once, if everyone feels emboldened to do that, all of a sudden the environment will be seriously changed.
Do your part, and leave the wild as you found it: wild. Hopefully people who see you doing it will do it themselves!
- Refrain from taking rocks, plants, or other natural features of the environment
- Do not mark or touch historic or cultural artifacts
- Avoid building structures or introducing invasive species
Minimize Campfire Impacts
As anyone who follows current events likely knows, fires are becoming a bigger and bigger danger in the American West. As the climate changes, fire is becoming a larger and larger threat. Being fire safe is more important now than ever, but beyond that, irresponsible campfires, even if they don’t burn down the forest, can seriously impact the environment.
- Only make fires in existing rings or already used areas
- Keep fires small: use less fuel and minimize risk
- Put fires out completely, never leave a still burning or smoldering fire
- Use local wood: stop the spread of harmful invasive species
Respect Wildlife
Give wild animals space. You can admire them from a distance, which has the added benefit of keeping them wild. You’re entering their home, it’s only fair to be respectful.
Don’t be rude; always following basic etiquette when on trail!
- Keep a safe distance from wildlife (distance depends on species, follow local guidelines)
- Never feed wild animals: our food is not healthy for them, and it alters their natural behavior
- Keep pets on a leash or under control
- Always store your food correctly, especially in bear country
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
We all collectively own our wild lands. They belong to us as a people, and while I am a part owner and you are a part owner, they are there for us, all of us. Be aware of your impact on others, and do you best to allow everyone the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
- Limit noise: this includes bluetooth speakers as well as yelling or other loud music/noise
- Yield to uphill hikers
- Take breaks away from the main trail
- Move out of the way of pack animals
The goal of Leave No Trace is not to dominate your outdoor experience. The guidelines are not and should not be invasive to what you are doing.
Simply, they are guidelines that, if followed, will allow everyone to have a more enjoyable outing into the environment. Many are not laws or rules, other than littering, no one of authority is likely to stop you and say anything.
Nature is our collective resource, and as users of that resource, it is our responsibility to ensure that we use it responsibly and sustainably. Following Leave No Trace is the easiest way of doing this.
Links for Further Reading:
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: Protect the Outdoors
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