Leave No Trace - An Introduction to Not Messing Stuff Up

Leave No Trace is a group that began in Canada in 2004, and gained momentum throughout the early 2000s. Today, Leave No Trace is a non-profit organization “dedicated to promoting outdoor ethics and the seven Leave No Trace principles with the goal of encouraging Canadians to enjoy the benefits of the outdoors while protecting Canada’s natural and cultural heritage…by providing the public with a science-based framework and offering proven, research-based solutions to protect and enjoy our natural areas.” Their founding partners include the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Saskatchewan Parks, and Parks Canada.  Leave No Trace has seven principles for those adventuring out into the wilderness to adhere to. The goal is to respect each other, the natural environment, and preserve it for generations to come. 
  1. Plan ahead and prepare
  2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of others

Plan Ahead and Prepare

  • Know the rules, access rights, restrictions in effect, and specifics of the site.
  • Prepare for bad weather, natural hazards and other emergencies.
  • Plan trips during low-traffic periods if possible
  • Explore less frequented areas. Divide large groups and go out in smaller groups of 4 to 6 people.
  • Bring a compass and an up-to-date map.
  • Repackage food in reusable containers to minimize waste.

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

  • Travel and camp on existing trails and campsites, don’t make your own
  • For off-trail travel, stay on durable surfaces: bare ground, rock, sand, dry grass, deep snow.
  • Avoid altering a site to camp: a good site is found, not made.
  • Protect shorelines by camping more than 60 m from lakes and streams.
  • In frequented areas:
    • Use designated trails and campsites.
    • Walk in single file down the middle of the trail, even if it is muddy or wet.
    • Limit the camping area. Concentrate your activities in areas without vegetation.
  • In pristine, remote or isolated areas:
    • Disperse your impact so as not to create new trails or campsites.
    • Avoid damaging areas that have suffered little or no impact. So don’t pack down grass or plants, or hack away trees and bushes. 

Dispose of Waste Properly

  • Bring back what was brought in. Separate general waste from hazardous waste. Burning waste in a campfire is not an acceptable solution.
  • Thoroughly inspect picnic areas and campsites for trash, food scraps, cigarette butts and other micro-waste.
  • Deposit human feces in a hole dug more than 60 m (or about 70 adult footsteps) from water sources, trails and campsites. Dig the sanitary hole in organic soil 15 to 20 cm deep, disperse the locations if you’re staying for a while, and camouflage after each use with earth, stones, and other natural materials. 
    • Digging a hole in the snow during winter does not count. There are several commercially available pack-out systems available that are easy to use and sanitary for backpacking or camping.
  • Packing-out the toilet paper is a must even if it is biodegradable. Burning toilet paper either in a cathole or latrine is not recommended due to the possibility of it creating an uncontrolled blaze
    • This includes any other bathroom items such as feminine hygiene products, diapers, or wipes.
  • Pack out dog waste, or any other human trash or litter. 
  • Bath and wash dishes more than 60 m away from waterways and shorelines using a minimal amount of biodegradable soap. This allows the soil to act as a filter before it meets the water source.
    • Filter food debris through a sieve and place it with the waste to be packed-out before pouring out dishwater.

Leave What You Find

  • Preserving heritage: avoid moving or destroying traditional, historical and cultural elements and sites.
  • Leaving stones, plants and all other natural objects in their original place and condition. 
    • Don’t be tying tent lines to trunks, hammering nails into trees for hanging things, carving initials into trees or hacking at them with a hatchet or saw. 
    • Cutting boughs to use as sleeping pads produces minimal benefit and maximum impact.Just use sleeping mats that are available in camping stores. 
    • Don’t pick flowers or other plants. This may not seem like it would create a huge impact, but if everyone did it the impact would be significant.
  • Avoid building structures, constructing furniture or digging trenches.
  • Prevent the spread of exotic invasive species by removing mud and debris from shoes, clothing and equipment.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

  • Campfires can cause lasting impacts: opting for cooking on a portable stove is a good solution.
  • Place barbecues, fire boxes and portable stoves on durable surfaces.
  • Protect soil and roots from burning.
  • If open fires are allowed, using designated locations only. Keeping fires small.
  • If wood collection is allowed, burning only dead wood that is collected from the ground and can be broken up by hand.
  • Allow pieces of wood and embers to reduce to ash. Completely extinguish fires and check that ashes are cool before leaving the area.

Respect Wildlife

  • Leaving the area clear for the animals and observing them from a distance. Do not approach wildlife. 
  • Moving away at the first sign of nervousness or change in behavior.
  • Refrain from feeding animals to avoid harming their health, altering their behavior, or exposing them to predators or other hazards.
  • Store food, garbage and other odorous products in a bear-proof barrel, in facilities provided on site, or in car trunks.
  • Avoid disturbing animals during sensitive breeding, nesting and calf rearing periods, or during winter.
  • Keep control of your pet or leave it safely at home. Pick up after your dog or bury it in a sanitary hole.

Be Considerate of Others

  • Act with courtesy: On a narrow trail, give way to uphill hikers. See our Trail Etiquette Post [LINK HERE] for more info.
  • Pull over along the trail to give priority to people with mobility aids.
  • Take breaks on durable surfaces off the trail (not on rock cairns! [LINK ROCK CAIRNS POST]
  • Avoid excessive noise and allow for the sounds of nature to be heard. Wear headphones if you’re using electronic devices.
  • Limit the use of drones to areas where they are permitted and follow the rules.
  • On social networks, post photos that demonstrate behavior to better protect natural environments.

For a more in depth exploration of these principles or for more information visit https://leavenotrace.ca/ 

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