Leave No Trace: The Seven Principles

Principle 1: Plan ahead and prepare

Good preparation is the first principle, because it prevents many impacts before they happen. Know the rules of the area, check the weather, and bring what you need so you're not tempted to cut corners. A well-prepared hiker leaves a smaller footprint, simply because they know what they're doing.

Principle 2: Travel and camp on durable surfaces

Stick to established trails and campsites, and walk on rock, gravel, or dry ground when you must go off trail. Avoid trampling vegetation and fragile soil. By concentrating your impact on durable surfaces, you protect the surrounding land from erosion and damage.

Principle 3: Dispose of waste properly

Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter — everything you bring in, you bring out. For human waste, use a restroom where available, or dig a cathole six to eight inches deep, at least 200 feet from water and trails, and cover it. Proper waste disposal keeps water clean and sites pleasant.

Principle 4: Leave what you find

Resist the urge to take souvenirs. Leave rocks, plants, and artifacts where they are, so others can enjoy them too. Don't build structures or dig trenches. The rule is simple: take only pictures, leave only footprints — and even those should be light.

Principle 5: Minimize campfire impacts

Campfires leave lasting scars, so use a stove for cooking and keep fires small, in existing rings, and only where allowed. Burn only small, dead wood, and burn it completely to ash. Where fires are restricted or wood is scarce, skip the fire — a stove and a headlamp serve just as well.

Principle 6: Respect wildlife

Observe animals from a distance, never feed them, and store your food securely. Feeding wildlife harms the animals and creates problems for future visitors. When you respect wildlife, you protect both the animals and the experience of seeing them wild and free.

Principle 7: Be considerate of others

The outdoors is shared, so be thoughtful. Keep noise down, yield on the trail, and respect other people's desire for peace and quiet. A little courtesy makes the trail pleasant for everyone, and it's part of what makes the outdoor community welcoming.

Why it matters

These principles aren't rules for rules' sake — they're what keeps wild places wild. Every year, millions of people visit parks and trails, and small individual impacts add up fast. Following Leave No Trace means the places you love will still be beautiful for your next visit, and for the next generation.

Make it a habit

Leave No Trace becomes natural with practice. Pack out your trash, stay on the trail, and think about your impact, and soon it's second nature. The best compliment a campsite can receive is that no one can tell you were there.

Lead by example

The best way to spread Leave No Trace is to simply practice it. When others see you packing out trash, staying on the trail, and respecting wildlife, they're more likely to do the same — especially children, who learn by watching. Good habits are contagious in the outdoors.

Share what you know gently, without lecturing, and remember that everyone learns at their own pace. A friendly word or a good example does more for the outdoors than any amount of scolding.

Leave it better than you found it

A growing habit among hikers is to pack out a little extra litter when you see it. Leaving a place a bit cleaner than you found it is a simple kindness that keeps trails beautiful for everyone.