«Leave no trace» trail ethics:
some helpful rules and norms while you hike along trails in nature
«Leave no trace» trail ethics:
some helpful rules and norms while you hike along trails in nature
1. Plan ahead and be prepared for your trip out into the wild
- Before you travel try to learn more about the rules and regulations of each national park or any other natural area that you will be visiting
- Try to visit popular sites during off-peak times, to avoid overcrowding of tourists
- Pack your food stuffs and other items for your trek so that you end up with a minimal amount of garbage that you'll need to pack out
1. Plan ahead and be prepared for your trip out into the wild
- Before you travel try to learn more about the rules and regulations of each national park or any other natural area that you will be visiting
- Try to visit popular sites during off-peak times, to avoid overcrowding of tourists
- Pack your food stuffs and other items for your trek so that you end up with a minimal amount of garbage that you'll need to pack out
2. When you hike—and when you set up camp—be sure to keep on stable soil or durable surfaces
Here are a few helpful hints in this regard:
- Durable surfaces include any regular, beaten-down or hardened paths or campsites that are mostly dirt and rocks, but may be covered by dry grass (or snow in winter)
- Try to avoid camping in places that are too close to water, or at least 70 meters from lakes or streams
- Try to find places where others have set up camp beforehand, so that you don't trample down fresh soil or vegetation
In areas that are popular amongst tourists:
- Be sure only to use existing trails and campsites
- Try to hike as a group in single file, without straying off the trail, even when the trail might be wet or muddy
- Keep the dimensions of your campsite as small as possible, and try to set up camp in areas where there is not a lot of vegetation that you might otherwise damage
- Try not to "bush-whack" away from the trail so that you aren't harming natural areas
2. When you hike—and when you set up camp—be sure to keep on stable soil or durable surfaces
Here are a few helpful hints in this regard:
- Durable surfaces include any regular, beaten-down or hardened paths or campsites that are mostly dirt and rocks, but may be covered by dry grass (or snow in winter)
- Try to avoid camping in places that are too close to water, or at least 70 meters from lakes or streams
- Try to find places where others have set up camp beforehand, so that you don't trample down fresh soil or vegetation
In areas that are popular amongst tourists:
- Be sure only to use existing trails and campsites
- Try to hike as a group in single file, without straying off the trail, even when the trail might be wet or muddy
- Keep the dimensions of your campsite as small as possible, and try to set up camp in areas where there is not a lot of vegetation that you might otherwise damage
- Try not to "bush-whack" away from the trail so that you aren't harming natural areas
3. Manage your waste an garbage well
- When you break camp pick up all your stuff and take out all your garbage.
- For excrement and other human waste you should dig a whole some 10-20cm deep and bury your waste there so that it is at least 70 meters away from any bodies of water and away from any campsite or trails. Bury the waste well, and then strew dirt over the hole.
- Make sure to bring plastic bags to take out all your toilet paper and used hygiene products.
- When you bathe, or when you wash your utensils, do so at least some 70 meters from any streams or lakes. Best to use bio-degradable soaps in smaller quantities. You can swim in a lake or river, but best not to rinse off any soap while you're in the water.
3. Manage your waste an garbage well
- When you break camp pick up all your stuff and take out all your garbage.
- For excrement and other human waste you should dig a whole some 10-20cm deep and bury your waste there so that it is at least 70 meters away from any bodies of water and away from any campsite or trails. Bury the waste well, and then strew dirt over the hole.
- Make sure to bring plastic bags to take out all your toilet paper and used hygiene products.
- When you bathe, or when you wash your utensils, do so at least some 70 meters from any streams or lakes. Best to use bio-degradable soaps in smaller quantities. You can swim in a lake or river, but best not to rinse off any soap while you're in the water.
4. Leave what you find along the trail in place (unless it is someone else's garbage left behind)
- If you come across any historical or cultural site or artifact, feel free to look at it, but please don't touch or disturb it.
- Don't move or disturb any rocks, plants, or other natural objects; better to leave them undisturbed.
- Don't construct any structures out of nearby rocks or wood, don't dig up the soil, and don't create any makeshift furniture out of trees or other natural objects.
4. Leave what you find along the trail in place (unless it is someone else's garbage left behind)
- If you come across any historical or cultural site or artifact, feel free to look at it, but please don't touch or disturb it.
- Don't move or disturb any rocks, plants, or other natural objects; better to leave them undisturbed.
- Don't construct any structures out of nearby rocks or wood, don't dig up the soil, and don't create any makeshift furniture out of trees or other natural objects
5. Use fire as sparingly as possible
- If you're not careful, a poorly-tended campfire can cause colossal damage to forests. If you hike during dry weather or during the fire season, it is always better to bring in your own small camp stove to cook food, and use flashlights instead of candles for light
- At campsites where it is permitted to light campfires, if possible, try to use sites or rings that have already been specially set aside for building fires.
- Best to keep your campfires as small as possible, using small logs and brushwood.
- Burn your firewood completely before you put out the fire. Once you extinguish your campfire be sure to bury the ashes completely with dirt.
5. Use fire as sparingly as possible
- If you're not careful, a poorly-tended campfire can cause colossal damage to forests. If you hike during dry weather or during the fire season, it is always better to bring in your own small camp stove to cook food, and use flashlights instead of candles for light.
- At campsites where it is permitted to light campfires, if possible, try to use sites or rings that have already been specially set aside for building fires.
- Best to keep your campfires as small as possible, using small logs and brushwood.
- Burn your firewood completely before you put out the fire. Once you extinguish your campfire be sure to bury the ashes completely with dirt.
6. Treat the natural world of animals and birds with respect
- Always keep a healthy distance from animals in their habitats. Don't follow or approach them under any circumstances.
- Best not to feed animals with human food. Feeding animals will affect their health and behaviour in the wild, and can make them easier prey for predators.
- Always keep control of any dogs or other domestic animals that you bring out on the trail (please note: along a number of trails it is not permitted to bring domestic animals).
6. Treat the natural world of animals and birds with respect
- Always keep a healthy distance from animals in their habitats. Don't follow or approach them under any circumstances.
- Best not to feed animals with human food. Feeding animals will affect their health and behaviour in the wild, and can make them easier prey for predators.
- Always keep control of any dogs or other domestic animals that you bring out on the trail (please note: along a number of trails it is not permitted to bring domestic animals).
7. Treat other hikers and tourists with respect and care
- Treat other travelers in the same way that you hope to be treated along the trail.
- Be polite by yielding the trail to other groups of tourists.
- Try to keep the natural world that surrounds you peaceful and relatively quiet. The more you shout or talk too loudly, the less anyone can enjoy the ambient sounds of nature.
7. Treat other hikers and tourists with respect and care
- Treat other travelers in the same way that you hope to be treated along the trail.
- Be polite by yielding the trail to other groups of tourists.
- Try to keep the natural world that surrounds you peaceful and relatively quiet. The more you shout or talk too loudly, the less anyone can enjoy the ambient sounds of nature.