Leave No Trace is the standardized outdoor ethics framework used by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, REI, and most outdoor education programs. It is seven principles, not seven rules, which means each one applies through judgment rather than rigid prescription. Done well, LNT keeps wilderness wild for the next visitors. Done poorly or not at all, the cumulative impact of millions of visitors degrades the ecosystem, alters wildlife behavior, and ruins the experience for everyone downstream. Here is what the seven principles mean in practice, with concrete actions for each.
1. Plan ahead and prepare
The first principle is about reducing impact through preparation. Most LNT violations come from inadequate planning, not bad intent. Specific practices:
- Know the regulations for the area. Permits, group size limits, fire restrictions, designated campsites, and bear canister requirements vary widely. Research before the trip.
- Repackage food in reusable containers. Original packaging creates more waste in camp.
- Bring the right gear. A trowel for catholes, a bag for pack out trash, a bear canister where required.
- Travel in smaller groups (4 to 6 people is the LNT recommended max for backcountry). Larger groups create more concentrated impact.
- Pick the right time. Trips during peak season concentrate impact. Off peak trips spread it out.
Planning ahead prevents the cascade of poor decisions that come from being underprepared.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
Durable surfaces resist trampling. The hierarchy from most to least durable:
- Rock, gravel, and dry sand
- Snow and ice
- Established trails and campsites
- Dry grass meadows and forest duff
- Wet meadows and riparian zones (most fragile)
On trail, stay on trail even when muddy. Walking around mud puddles widens trails and damages adjacent vegetation. In off trail travel, spread the group out so footsteps do not concentrate on the same path. In camp, use established sites rather than creating new ones. The first 1 to 4 nights of a new campsite cause the most damage. After that, the site is essentially compacted and additional use does proportionally less harm.
The 200 foot rule from water applies to camps and cooking areas. The rule serves two purposes: protecting water from fecal and food contamination, and protecting riparian vegetation which is the most fragile category.
3. Dispose of waste properly
Waste includes solid waste, liquid waste, food waste, gray water, and trash.
Solid waste (poop)
In most backcountry, dig a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep, 200 feet from water, trail, and campsite. Deposit waste, cover with soil, and pack down. Use a small trowel like the Deuce of Spades for digging.
In high alpine, desert, or heavily used areas, pack it out. Catholes do not decompose effectively in environments without active soil biology. WAG bags or restop kits are the standard pack out tool. Required in many areas: Grand Canyon, Mount Whitney, some Sierra trips, parts of Glacier National Park.
Toilet paper: pack out in a ziplock or bury in the cathole. Most LNT practitioners pack it out, since cathole burial is unreliable in dry conditions.
Liquid waste (pee)
In most ecosystems, urinating directly on rock or bare ground 200 feet from water is fine. The salt in urine attracts animals to vegetation, so urinating on rocks rather than plants protects flora from being chewed up.
Gray water
Strain food particles out of dishwater, pack out the solids, scatter the strained water 200 feet from any water source. Avoid using soap if possible. If you must use soap, biodegradable Castile soap (Dr. Bronner’s) at minimal quantity, scattered well away from water.
Trash
Pack out all trash including microtrash like granola bar wrapper corners, twist ties, and food crumbs. A dedicated trash bag in the food bag works well.
4. Leave what you find
The principle applies to natural objects, cultural artifacts, and the campsite itself.
- Do not collect rocks, plants, antlers, feathers, or other natural objects. Each one removed reduces the experience for the next visitor.
- Do not disturb archaeological sites. Many backcountry areas have indigenous artifacts that are federally protected. Photograph, do not touch.
- Do not build new structures. Cairns, fire rings, lean-tos, and dug-out tent pads all alter the landscape. Use existing infrastructure or leave the site as found.
- Do not carve or write on rocks, trees, or signs.
The exception is invasive species. Some land managers actively encourage removal of specific invasive plants. Check with the local agency before pulling anything.
5. Minimize campfire impacts
Campfires were the symbol of camping for generations, but the LNT recommendation in 2026 is to use a stove for cooking and skip the fire when possible. Reasoning:
- Fires consume downed wood that ecosystems depend on for soil nutrients and habitat
- Fire rings scar the ground for years
- Wildfire risk is increasing in most western US ecosystems
- Stoves cook faster and leave no trace
If you do have a fire:
- Use established fire rings, never build new ones
- Use only wood that breaks easily by hand. Larger wood is the structural part of the forest.
- Burn all wood to ash. Half-burned wood is harder to deal with the next morning.
- Douse with water until cold to the touch. Not warm, cold.
- Pack out any unburned trash, including foil and food scraps.
In fire restricted areas, no fires of any kind. Check the local agency website day-of for current restrictions.
6. Respect wildlife
Wildlife respect is mostly about distance and food storage.
Distance
Keep at least 100 yards from bears, wolves, moose, and bison. Keep at least 25 yards from smaller wildlife including deer, elk, sheep, and coyotes. If an animal changes behavior because of your presence (stops feeding, looks toward you, moves away), you are too close.
Use binoculars or telephoto lenses for close observation. Never approach for a better photo.
Food storage
In bear country: bear canister, bear hang (Ursack), or food locker. Never store food in the tent. Never leave food unattended in camp.
In rodent country (almost everywhere): hang food or use a canister. Rodents will chew through tent fabric to reach a snack bar.
Cook 100 to 200 feet from sleeping area, especially in bear country. Keep cooking clothes separate from sleeping clothes.
Not feeding
Never feed any wildlife. Habituated animals become aggressive and frequently end up euthanized. A fed bear is a dead bear is not a slogan, it is the literal consequence of feeding.
7. Be considerate of other visitors
The seventh principle is the social one. Other people in the backcountry deserve the same wilderness experience you do.
- Keep noise down. Voices carry farther in forest than expected. Music speakers are an LNT violation in most contexts.
- Yield to uphill hikers on trail. The hiker going up has earned the right of way.
- Step off trail on the downhill side when passing or yielding.
- Stock animals (horses, llamas) have right of way over hikers. Hikers have right of way over bikes.
- Camp out of sight of other groups when possible.
- Keep dogs leashed or under voice control. Many wilderness areas require leashes.
- Use the lowest impact path through camp. Multiple paths from tent to water create a permanent web of trails.
Enforcement and culture
Most LNT violations are not punished by rangers because rangers rarely witness them. The enforcement mechanism is mostly cultural. Wilderness users who internalize the principles practice them automatically, and the next generation learns by example.
The exception is severe violations in heavily managed areas (illegal fires in fire bans, illegal camping in restricted zones, harassment of wildlife). Fines can reach 5000 dollars and felony charges in extreme cases.
For more outdoor planning see our bear canister rules by region guide and our water filter vs purifier guide. Methodology at /methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leave No Trace just for backpackers?+
No. The principles apply to all outdoor recreation including car camping, day hiking, climbing, paddling, hunting, fishing, and trail running. The specific practices vary by activity (a car camper does not need to dig catholes, but does need to handle food storage and fire correctly), but the seven principles cover all of them. Many state parks and most national park backcountry permits now require visitors to review LNT principles before issuing permits.
What is the right way to dispose of human waste in the backcountry?+
Bury solid waste in a 6 to 8 inch cathole, 200 feet from water, trail, and campsite. Pack out toilet paper or use natural materials and bury them in the cathole. Use a trowel for digging. In high alpine, desert, or heavily used areas, pack out solid waste entirely in WAG bags or restop kits. The Grand Canyon, Mount Whitney, and many other heavily used wilderness areas require pack out, not catholes.
Can I have a campfire in the backcountry?+
It depends on regulations and conditions. In many wilderness areas above 9000 feet, fires are prohibited because the regrowth rate is too slow. In drought conditions or fire restrictions, fires are prohibited region wide. Where fires are allowed, use established fire rings only, burn small wood that breaks easily by hand, burn all wood to ash, and douse with water until cold to the touch. A camp stove handles cooking duty better than a fire and leaves no trace at all.
What does 200 feet from water actually look like in the woods?+
About 70 adult paces. The most common LNT violation is camping or going to the bathroom too close to water sources because 200 feet looks farther than it feels in dense forest. A useful trick is to count steps from the water until you reach 70, then pick a site. This rule prevents fecal contamination of streams and lakes, which is the most direct way wilderness camping affects downstream water quality and other visitors.
Should I bury food scraps or pack them out?+
Pack them out. Food scraps, including biodegradable items like orange peels and apple cores, do not decompose at typical backcountry rates and they habituate wildlife to human food. A discarded apple core in alpine conditions can take 2 years to break down. The smell attracts bears, marmots, jays, and rodents to human campsites, which creates long term wildlife conflict. All food waste including fruit peels, nut shells, and crumbs goes in the trash pack out bag.
