What is ‘Leave No Trace’? A simple guide for protecting nature

The seven principles of 'Leave No Trace' guide you on how to leave nature unchanged by your presence...

9-minute read

Key takeaways

Haven’t got time to read the whole article? Here are the key principles explaining what is Leave No Trace (click the link to jump ahead to the section):

Plan ahead and prepare: Consider weather, terrain, clothing, timescale, food and regulations.
Travel and camp on durable surfaces: Stick to the path and designated areas to preserve flora and fauna.
Dispose of waste properly: If you carry it in, carry it out. Littering disrupts ecosystems and scenery.
Leave what you find: Leave nature’s treasures untouched for others to see.
Minimize campfire impacts: Fire scars can permanently damage the land. Use established fire rings. Contain fires to avoid causing a wildfire.
Respect wildlife: Observe from a distance to keep animals wild and safe.
Be considerate of other visitors: Your actions influence their experience and vice versa. Share the respect.

Leave No Trace – how to actually do it!
Jump to FAQs

Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is well maintained. I saw no environmental damage done by visitors

‘Leave No Trace’ principles guide you to minimize your footprint and preserve the environment, allowing everyone to enjoy pristine national parks and other natural areas.

Nature is resilient but not impervious to the impacts of over 13 billion outings each year in the US alone. The result can be a latticework of trails marred by erosion, wildlife habits disrupted, and parks blemished with litter. The rising popularity of outdoor activities since 2020 – which has seen a roughly 20 percent increase in visitors – compounds these issues, making your stewardship more crucial than ever.

Developed by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in the 60s, the seven principles of Leave No Trace are a guide for making responsible decisions in the outdoors. Whether you’re in a group or on your own, conducting research or simply enjoying nature, these principles help minimize your impact on the natural environment.

I recommend that everyone becomes familiar with the Leave No Trace principles. I’ve completed Leave No Trace training myself – see my certificate here – and I can tell you it’s worth learning.

In addition to my training, I’ve read through extensive research completed by Leave No Trace, and summarized the most important points for you in this article.

Principle 1: Plan ahead and prepare

To effectively plan ahead and prepare, start by:

  • Researching area regulations: Obtain information from local authorities and respect the guidelines set for the area. This can include fire bans, wildlife advisories, or permit requirements. (Land managers can provide this information.)
  • Surveying weather and hazards: Check the forecast for the duration of your trip and prepare for the worst-case scenario to ensure your safety. Take the right clothes. Know where to shelter.
  • Mapping your adventure: Carry a physical map and compass and know how to use them. This ensures that you can navigate even if digital devices fail.
  • Emergency readiness: Pack a first-aid kit, learn basic first-aid procedures, and have plans for emergency evacuation if required.

Principle 2: Travel and camp on durable surfaces

A trail like this one in Croatia is great, because the path is literally laid out for you

Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, or snow. It’s important to recognize that these areas are more resilient to foot traffic and can better withstand the pressures of campsites.

Don’t take shortcuts. Walk through puddles. Why? With as few as 25 passes over vegetation, a new trail can begin to form, leading to soil erosion and habitat destruction. If you stick to durable surfaces, you protect plant and animal life. Moreover, camping at least 200 feet away from lakes and streams helps safeguard water quality and minimizes disturbance to aquatic habitats, known as riparian areas.

Often, you’ll find existing maintained trails and official camping areas, so stick to those. If you find yourself in a pristine area where there are no trails or campsites:

  • Choose surfaces that will not be damaged by your presence, such as rock or sandy areas.
  • Avoid places where impact is just beginning to show. It’s better to go to an already impacted site than start a new one.
  • In more remote areas, tell your group to disperse to prevent the creation of new trails and campsites.

Principle 3: Dispose of waste properly

Take your trash away with you and recycle it or dispose of it properly

‘Waste’ refers to trash, litter, toilet paper, hygiene products, and human and pet poop. Disposing of waste properly is vital to protect water quality and wildlife health. Even a tiny bit of toilet paper, hygiene products, or even biodegradable soap can persist in the environment.

Pet waste contains nutrients and bacteria not naturally found in the backcountry. Leaving pet poop on the ground upsets the natural balance of nature by introducing high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous, which can cause algae blooms. In contrast, wild animal poop only contains nutrients that were already present in the environment. Wild animals don’t eat commercial pet food. 

Your mantra should be ‘Pack it in, pack it out’: Take all of your garbage, including toilet paper and hygiene products, back out with you.

  • Human waste: Dig a cathole 6-8 inches deep and at least 200 feet away from water sources, trails, and camps to bury faeces. Use a small garden trowel for digging.
  • Pet waste: Either bag and pack out, or follow the same guidelines as for human waste.
  • Trash and litter: Carry out all trash, and never burn it, as this can release harmful chemicals.
  • Greywater: If you can’t dispose of greywater in campsite sinks, then scatter it at least 200 feet away from waterways, trails and campsites to prevent pollution (known as ‘broadcasting’). Even biodegradable soap should be used sparingly and kept away from streams and lakes.
  • Minimize waste: Be mindful of what you bring and aim to reduce the amount of potential waste from the start.
  • Urine: Pee on durable surfaces, use a re-usable pee cloth, or a waste bag for urine to avoid attracting wildlife and harming plant life. Some animals are attracted to the salt in urine and will dig up the ground to try and get to it!

Principle 4: Leave what you find

The focus here is on the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of outdoor environments. Basically – leave it as you find it.

  • Don’t remove rock cairns, plants, or other natural objects.
  • Don’t add or alter structures.
  • Don’t collect artefacts or other cultural items. 

Cairns are essential for navigation and are purposefully placed by park managers. Moving or altering them will confuse other hikers. Picking a few flowers may seem OK, but if the millions of hikers each year all did the same there wouldn’t be any wildflowers left. Any structures specifically created for camping, crossing streams etc are situated to preserve ecosystems, so leave them as they are. 

Leave flowers for the butterflies, they need them to survive
If everyone picks flowers, there won’t be any for the insects
Wildflowers should be left wild so everyone can admire them

Don’t cut or hammer nails into trees because it will leave the tree vulnerable to disease. For hanging hammocks without harming trees, use 1-inch-wide straps on large trees (more than 6 inches in diameter).

Principle 5: Minimize campfire impacts

Firstly, always ask “Do I really need to make a fire?”. The most sustainable fire is no fire. Minimizing campfire impacts involves understanding and reducing the negative effects fires have on the natural environment. Campfires can leave behind harmful ash, sterilize the soil, and deplete wood resources critical for ecosystems.

Keep campfires small, and contain them with rocks

Wildfires are predominantly caused by humans, with a staggering 90 percent attributed to human activity, according to the US Department of the Interior. Campfires, if not managed correctly, can contribute to this statistic. Additionally, leaving behind ash can impact soil health, and over-harvesting wood for fires can affect soil nutrients for decades.

Safe practices when fires are permitted:

  • Gather wood by the ‘Four Ds’ rule: Dead, Down, Dinky, Distant. Only use wood that is dead, fallen (down), small (dinky), and not taken from areas near campsites (distant).
  • Keep fires small to minimize their impact and ensure they can be easily controlled.
  • Properly extinguish fires by making ‘soup’ with the ashes. Pour water on the ashes, stir them, and check for any remaining heat with your hand safely above the wet ash.
  • Don’t burn trash. Plastics and other manmade materials can give off harmful chemicals.

Yes, wood on the ground is often wet and impossible to burn. That doesn’t give you the right to go ripping down tree branches. Maybe you don’t need a fire. Maybe you can take a small camping stove.

Principle 6: Respect wildlife

If you love the outdoors and nature, then you love wildlife. If you disturb or interfere with wildlife you risk scaring it away for good, causing it to abandon its young, or maybe to eat food that will make it sick. To make sure wildlife stays wild:

  • Observe wildlife from a distance: Always maintain a safe and respectful distance from animals to prevent distress or disturbance to their natural behaviors. A simple way to measure this is the ‘thumb trick’: stick your arm straight out towards the animal. If you can cover the animal with your thumb while closing one eye, you’re a good distance away.
  • Avoid feeding wildlife: Feeding animals can cause dependency on artificial food sources and disrupt their diet and foraging habits, often leading to health problems or aggressive behavior toward humans.
  • Storing rations properly: Store your food securely to protect both the wildlife and your supplies. Incorrect storage can lead to animals associating humans with food, altering their natural behavior and endangering both parties.
  • Control pets: Keep your pets on a leash or under voice control. Pets can harass or harm wildlife, and transmit diseases, and their presence may stress native species.
We watched this lizard from a distance. Use a zoom if taking wildlife photos

Remember, loud noises can affect wildlife – even sounds as low as 40 decibels can alter wildlife behavior, according to the 2017 Acoustic Monitoring Report from Grand Canyon National Park. For context, a refrigerator motor makes a noise at about 50 decibels. Staying quiet helps preserve the tranquil experience of nature for everyone.

These macaques at the end of the hiking trail in Indonesia were happier being observed from a distance

Principle 7: Be considerate of other visitors

Everyone has the right to enjoy nature. If you find you’re sharing your wilderness experience with others, try not to disturb them.

  • Show respect to others.
  • Be polite. Give way to other trail users.
  • Acknowledge horse riders and ask them which side of the trail you should move to so they can pass.
  • Set up camp away from trails and other campers.
  • Let everyone hear nature’s sounds. Speak quietly and don’t play loud music.

To explain in more depth…

Don’t judge others – accept that every race, color, size and ability of person has the right to enjoy nature and feel safe doing so. 

Everyone enjoys nature in different ways. I often hike alone because it is peaceful and enables me to feel more connected to the environment. While I sometimes join a small group, I do find it ruins my experience if people are talking loudly the whole time. 

Many people go into nature to escape technology, so consider that others might not want to hear you taking phone calls, playing music or using electronics. If you enjoy hearing music while you’re in the backcountry, try wearing earbuds (but I recommend keeping one ear open so you can hear if anyone needs to get your attention).

There are rules regarding who should give way on a trail, but if you can’t remember them, just be polite and offer to give way to all other users. Remember to step aside onto durable ground to avoid trampling delicate plants.

You love seeing your dog racing around having the time of his or her life in nature. Some people may be scared by a dog running towards them. Follow park rules regarding whether to leash your dog or not, and always make sure you can control your dog.

Respect indigenous cultures. Often it is their ancestral land you are hiking through. Adhere to tribal boundaries and respect any rules regarding access.

Yellowstone National Park is important to indigenous people. ‘Leave No Trace’ principles should definitely be applied here

Leave No Trace – how to actually do it!

Don’t get bogged down if you can’t remember every single piece of Leave No Trace advice. Just remember to be respectful of others and nature. Don’t leave trash. Bury poop or pack it out. The clue’s in the name: ‘Leave No Trace’. Leave the backcountry like it was before you set foot there. Or better still, pick up any trash you see and leave it in an even better state than when you arrived.

Two beautiful dragonflies

FAQs

How do I get certified in ‘Leave No Trace’?

You can become Leave No Trace certified through various training programs offered by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. These range from online courses to hands-on workshops. Achieving certification typically involves learning the seven principles, understanding their importance, and demonstrating how to apply them responsibly in nature.

How do the Leave No Trace principles apply specifically to camping situations?

When camping, it’s crucial to apply the Leave No Trace principles to help preserve natural habitats. This means camping on durable surfaces, properly managing waste, and minimizing campfire impacts. By following these guidelines, you protect wildlife and ensure that others can enjoy the same pristine environment.

How does Leave No Trace apply in daily life?

Incorporating Leave No Trace into your daily life can be as simple as reducing waste, reusing materials, and recycling. It’s about making conscientious choices that contribute to environmental sustainability. By applying Leave No Trace principles at home and in your community, you help limit your ecological footprint and can inspire others to do the same.

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