The 7 Leave No Trace Principles & Why They Are Important
If you spend time outdoors, you have likely heard of the Leave No Trace Principles. These principles provide guidelines for everyone to follow to protect our natural space and reduce our impact on them.
Although the Leave No Trace Principles (LNT) were originally created for backcountry hiking and camping, they are now used and can be applied anywhere. I follow these principles everywhere I go, whether it be in the backcountry, a local park, a city, or my backyard because they are important to always keep in mind wherever you go. This guide breaks down each Leave No Trace Principle and why they are crucial to protecting and respecting the outdoors.
#1 Leave No Trace Principle: Plan Ahead and Prepare
Planning ahead and making sure you are prepared for a trip can help reduce the risk of running into problems and ensure the safety of everyone in your group. If you run into an issue, being prepared will help you feel more confident to make better decisions.
When planning and preparing for your trip:
Research the area you will be visiting using maps and guides about the location, and identify private land boundaries, restrictions, and regulations.
Research the weather and terrain to help choose the correct clothing and equipment.
Identify the skills of each person accompanying you on the trip, and plan activities (hiking, backpacking, and camping) that fit within the group’s skills.
Identify the group’s average hiking speed, how much food to bring, and a plan for leftovers. If there are leftovers on the trip, make sure to bring them out with you.
Learn more about the Leave No Trace Principles and how to plan ahead and prepare here.
#2 Leave No Trace Principle: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
The ultimate goal of traveling in the outdoors is to have minimal impact and avoid damaging the land and waterways. Traveling and camping on durable surfaces will avoid causing erosion, trail damage, contaminating water, and killing vegetation.
Hiking
It is important to travel on constructed trails as much as possible because these were created to handle foot traffic. When passing other hikers on the trail, make sure to provide enough space for them to pass while still staying on the trail as much as possible.
If traveling off-trail is necessary, it is important to stay on surfaces that are durable. It is recommended to travel on rock, sand, gravel, ice snow, and impact tolerant vegetation and avoiding puddles and mud holes.
Camping
It is important to set up camp on constructed campsites or low-impact areas to avoid harming the environment. The first principle of planning and preparing ahead helps ensure you have the information about the area to make a decision on where to camp, which is crucial to low-impact backcountry use.
Here are some tips to help find a campsite:
Use existing campsites as much as possible
If existing campsites are not available, locate a high use area
Camp at least 200 feet away from a water source unless there is a designated campsite that is less than 200 feet away
Avoid camping close to trails or others to help have a sense of solitude
Allow plenty of time, daylight, and energy to find a campsite and set up
Keep your campsite small
Learn more about the Leave No Trace Principles and how to travel and camp on durable surfaces here.
#3 Leave No Trace Principle: Dispose of Waste Properly
I think everyone can agree the one thing they see most on the trail is waste left behind by others. It is important to ensure you are disposing of your waste properly and packing out what you are packing in to not only protect the environment but help make hiking and camping experiences enjoyable for others. Disposing of waste includes everything from human waste to wastewater.
Human Waste
It is important to understand how to properly dispose of human waste to avoid someone else finding it and polluting water sources.
Here are a few tips on how to dispose of your waste:
Cat holes: Find a site that is unlikely to be walked or camped by at least 200 feet away from water, trails, and campsites. Using a small trowel, dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches wide. Once you are done using the cat hole, cover it with natural materials.
Latrines: If the campsite you are staying at has latrines available, a great way to help the decomposition and odor is to throw a handful of soil in after each use.
Toilet Paper & Tampons: Both toilet paper and tampons should be placed in plastic bags and packed out with you after use. It is not recommended to bury toilet paper in a cat hole.
Urine: Try to urinate on gravel, rocks, or pine needles as this will decrease the likelihood of attracting animals. To decrease negative effects, dilute it with water.
Other Forms of Waste
The phrase “pack it in, pack it out” means you should take out and properly dispose of all waste you bring in and create during your trip.
Here are a few tips to plan for disposing of waste properly:
Plan meals ahead to avoid creating unnecessary messes
Pack out all kitchen waste including leftovers and grease
Search around the campsite to ensure all waste, including your trash and other’s trash, is picked up and packed out
Wastewater is important to dispose of at least 200 feet away from water sources; dirty water from dishwashing should be scatter strained
Be cautious of swimming in vital water sources because sunscreen, bug spray, and body oils can create contamination
Learn more about the Leave No Trace Principles and how to dispose of waste properly here.
#4 Leave No Trace Principle: Leave What You Find
Although it is tempting to pick pretty flowers or take a cool rock, it is important to leave everything as you find them and “take only pictures, leave only footprints”.
Here are a few tips to help minimize your impact:
Do not dig trenches or construct structures, including lean-tos
If a constructed fire ring is not available and you create one, make sure to dismantle it before leaving
Avoid damaging live trees and plants; trees should not be carved or hacked, and plants should not be picked
In many protected areas, including national parks, it is illegal to remove natural objects
Learn more about the Leave No Trace Principles and how to leave what you find here.
#5 Leave No Trace Principle: Minimize Campfire Impacts
Sitting by the fire is a classic camping activity but can be the most destructive if not taken care of correctly. It is crucial to understand where and when it is safe to build a campfire.
Before building a fire, consider if it could potentially damage the backcountry. You should research if there is a high fire danger for the location, any campfire restrictions, enough wood to use without noticeably removing it, and an existing fire ring that can be used.
Here are some safety tips for building a campfire:
Never leave a fire unattended
Supervise young kids and pets near the fire
Only used approved containers for fuel
Never burn plastic or foil wrappers
Keep all fuel sources, including wood, away from the fire
Thoroughly put out the fire before leaving it unattended
Pack out all waste from the campfire
Learn more about the Leave No Trace Principles and how to minimize campfire impacts here.
#6 Leave No Trace Principle: Respect Wildlife
For the safety of you, others, and animals, it is crucial to be aware of your surroundings and keep a safe distance from all wild animals. Remember, you are in their home, so that needs to be respected.
Here are a few tips to help you be respectful of wildlife:
Do not touch, approach, or follow animals
Do not make quick movements or loud noises because these can be stressful for animals, with the expectation of bear country.
Do not feed animals because this can damage their natural behaviors and health
Observe animals from a safe distance
Learn more about the Leave No Trace Principles and how to respect wildfire when outdoors here.
#7 Leave No Trace Principle: Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Everyone who is outdoors is there to enjoy themselves, so it’s important to be courteous to others. Ask yourself if what you are doing will cause those around you to have a negative experience.
Here are a few tips on things you can do to be courteous to others:
Groups should keep their noise to a minimum
Keep pets under control
Music should be kept to a minimum
Do not litter and damage the area
Allow hikers going uphill to pass if you are going downhill
Learn more about the Leave No Trace Principles and how to be considerate of other visitors when outdoors here.
Making sure you are following all 7 Leave No Trace Principles is crucial to the safety of yourself, others, and the environment. If you have questions about the principles, head to the Leave No Trace website to learn more!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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