Leave No Trace is a set of ethical principles designed to help outdoor enthusiasts minimize their environmental impact.
These principles guide people to enjoy the outdoors responsibly and preserve nature for future generations.
Please practice the seven core principles of Leave No Trace!
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Know the Regulations: Research the area you plan to visit. Understand the regulations and special concerns for the place and leave no trace that you’ve been there.
- Weather and Hazards: Check weather forecasts and prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Group Size: Plan your trip to avoid times of high use and select your equipment and clothing to minimize impacts.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Stay on Trails: Walk on established trails and campsites. Avoid creating new paths or shortcuts.
- Camp in Designated Areas: Use designated campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, or snow.
- Avoid Fragile Areas: Avoid walking or camping on vegetation or near water sources where your presence can cause damage.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
- Pack It In, Pack It Out: Carry out all trash, leftover food, and litter. leave no trace that you’ve been there
- Human Waste: Dispose of human waste properly. Use restrooms when available or dig a cat hole at least 6-8 inches deep and 200 feet away from water sources.
- Wastewater: Strain dishwater and scatter it 200 feet away from water sources. Use biodegradable soap sparingly.
4. Leave What You Find
- Preserve the Past: Respect cultural or historical artifacts and structures.
- Leave Natural Objects: Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them.
- Avoid Alterations: Don’t build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
5. Minimize Campfire Impact
- Use a Stove: Use a lightweight stove for cooking instead of making a fire.
- Established Fire Rings: Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Small Fires: Keep fires small and use only small sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Burn Completely: Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes, leaving no trace that you burned.
6. Respect Wildlife
- Observe from a Distance: Do not approach or feed animals.
- Store Food Properly: Secure food and trash to protect wildlife and your food supply.
- Avoid Sensitive Times: Avoid wildlife during sensitive times such as mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Yield: Yield to other users on the trail. Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
- Keep Noise Down: Avoid loud voices and noises. Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
- Pet Control: Keep pets under control to minimize their impact on wildlife and other visitors. Leave no trace that your pet has been there.
Please – Leave No Trace
By following these leave no trace principles, you can help protect the environment and ensure that natural spaces remain beautiful and accessible for everyone.
Leave No Trace principles promote a culture of conservation and respect, encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to think about their actions and their impact on the environment.
