Leave No Trace: The Seven Principles Every Outdoor Visitor Should Know

What Is Leave No Trace?

Leave No Trace (LNT) is a widely recognized outdoor ethics framework developed to minimize human impact on natural environments. Whether you're heading to a national park, a local nature trail, or a backcountry campsite, these seven principles give you a practical, adaptable code for being a responsible visitor.

The framework isn't about guilt or gatekeeping — it's about understanding how individual choices add up. Millions of people visit public lands each year, and small habits, repeated at scale, can degrade ecosystems, erode trails, and harm wildlife. LNT helps every visitor — from first-timers to seasoned hikers — make choices that protect what they came to enjoy.

Before your next outing, review our day hike preparation checklist to pair smart packing with smart ethics.

The Seven Principles, Explained

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Research your destination before you go. Know the regulations, weather patterns, and terrain. Bring the right gear, pack appropriate food, and plan for group size limits. Good preparation reduces the temptation to make improvised decisions — like cutting switchbacks or camping in a fragile meadow — that cause lasting damage.

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

Stick to established trails and designated campsites whenever possible. On-trail travel concentrates impact and protects surrounding vegetation. In areas without marked trails, spread out your group and walk on rock, gravel, dry grass, or snow rather than on soil or living ground cover.

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Pack it in, pack it out — every wrapper, orange peel, and piece of gear. Human waste should be buried in a cathole 6–8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, trails, and camp. Use biodegradable soap sparingly and away from waterways. Leave nothing behind that wasn't there when you arrived.

4. Leave What You Find

Resist the urge to take rocks, plants, feathers, or artifacts as souvenirs. Avoid building cairns, carving trees, or altering natural features. Let the next visitor experience the landscape as you found it — or better.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

Campfires can scar the land and spark wildfires. Use a camp stove for cooking when possible. If fires are permitted and conditions are safe, use established fire rings, keep fires small, burn wood completely to ash, and fully extinguish before leaving. Collect only downed, dead wood — and check local fire restrictions before you go.

6. Respect Wildlife

Observe animals from a distance and never feed them. Human food disrupts their diet and behavior and can make animals aggressive or dependent. Store food and scented items properly (bear canisters or hang bags are common in backcountry settings). Give wildlife space during sensitive periods like nesting, mating, and winter.

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Yield the trail to uphill hikers and equestrians. Keep noise levels low — other visitors came for natural sounds, not your playlist. Camp away from others when possible, and leave shared spaces cleaner than you found them. A considerate outdoorsperson makes public lands more enjoyable for everyone.

If you're brand new to camping, our first-time camping guide walks you through gear, site selection, and outdoor etiquette from the ground up.