Leave No Trace Principles

With thousands of hikers using the Pacific Crest Trail, there is a virtual string of people progressing down the trail, competing for drinking, camping, and bathing space—and elimination space. Welcome, Leave No Trace!

The Leave No Trace (LNT) philosophy became a movement helped along by professionals at the U.S. Forest Service and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). NOLS recorded and reported on the impact of leading students into the same areas and the effect it was having on each ecosystem they visited, specifically those that were revisited annually. Learning what worked and what did not was based on these observations. It depends a lot on locale—coastal, desert, forest, or mountain. Each ecosystem requires specific care.

~Pacific Crest Trail: Southern California (Wilderness Press)

Leave No Trace Seven Principles

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 Other Visitors

© Leave No Trace: www.LNT.org