Leave No Trace in Practice

Most hikers can list the Leave No Trace principles. Fewer of us practise all of them all of the time. Here’s how each principle translates into everyday habits.

1. Plan ahead and prepare

Know the regulations, the weather and the terrain. Most impact happens when people are rushed, lost or poorly equipped — camping in fragile spots because they ran out of daylight, or cutting corners because they’re behind schedule.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces

Stay on the trail, even when it’s muddy. Walking around puddles widens paths and destroys vegetation. In untracked areas, spread out rather than walking single file, so no new path is created.

3. Dispose of waste properly

• Pack it in, pack it out — including food scraps, fruit peels and micro-trash.
• Dig catholes 15–20 cm deep, at least 60 m from water, camp and trails.
• Pack out toilet paper in a sealed bag where required — and ideally everywhere.

4. Leave what you find

Leave rocks, plants, flowers and historic artefacts where they are. Photos are the best souvenir.

5. Minimise campfire impacts

Use a stove for cooking. If you do have a fire, use existing fire rings, keep it small, burn only dead and downed wood, and make sure it’s completely out — cold to the touch.

6. Respect wildlife

Watch from a distance. Never feed animals, and store your food securely — at night and when you’re away from camp.

7. Be considerate of other visitors

Keep noise down, yield on the trail, and camp out of sight of others where possible. Everyone is out there for their own reasons.

The extra yard

Leave No Trace is the minimum. Going one step further — picking up the litter someone else left, reporting damaged trails, volunteering on a trail crew — is how we keep wild places wild for the next generation.