Leave No Trace is a set of seven principles that have become the universal ethics of American backcountry travel since the 1980s. They were developed by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), the US Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Following them is what keeps wilderness wild for the next generation.
1. Plan ahead and prepare
Most LNT failures are upstream — bad planning that creates emergencies later. Know the regulations and special concerns of the area. Prepare for extreme weather. Visit in small groups (4-6 max for backcountry). Repackage food to minimize waste. Use a map and compass.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
'Durable' = established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, snow. Walk single file in the middle of the trail (not around muddy spots — going around widens the trail). Camp 200 feet from lakes and streams. In pristine areas, disperse use to prevent the creation of new sites.
3. Dispose of waste properly
Pack it in, pack it out. Every wrapper. Every twist tie.
For human waste: dig a 6-8 inch deep cathole 200 feet from water, trails, and camp. Pack out toilet paper in a sealed bag (or use a wag bag in alpine and desert). Some parks now require pack-out of all waste — check before you go.
Wash dishes 200 feet from any water source. Strain food particles. Scatter the strained dishwater.
4. Leave what you find
Don't take rocks, plants, artifacts, antlers, or anything else. Leave structures alone (no rock cairns; no carved initials in trees). What you find is what the next person should find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts
The current LNT guidance: skip the fire if possible. Use a stove for cooking. If you have a fire, use existing fire rings, keep it small, only burn dead-and-down wood you can break by hand, and burn it to ash. Cool fully with water before leaving.
6. Respect wildlife
Observe from distance. Never feed wildlife (animals fed become aggressive, then they're 'relocated,' which is a euphemism). Store food and trash in bear-resistant containers. Avoid wildlife during sensitive times (mating, nesting, raising young, winter).
7. Be considerate of other visitors
Yield to other hikers (downhill yields to uphill, and everyone yields to pack stock). Take breaks off-trail. Avoid loud voices and music. Camp out of sight of trails and other groups when possible.
The 'Leave No Trace' name is misleading. The real test isn't 'no trace' — it's 'less trace than you'd leave at home.' That bar is reachable.
Practice gear that makes Leave No Trace easier: camp cooking, survival tools.