Leave No Trace (LNT) Starter Principles

Leave every campsite and trail cleaner than you found it, using the seven principles.

Beginner

4 min

LEAVE NO TRACE (LNT) STARTER PRINCIPLES
[ ] Pack-Out Trash Sacks
[ ] Camp Trowel
[ ] Biodegradable Soap

Pack-Out Trash Sacks: sturdy, leak-resistant and sealable. Odor-proof helps in bear country.
Camp Trowel: lightweight, with a sturdy blade.
Biodegradable Soap: "biodegradable" does not mean safe in water. Use it at a distance from lakes and streams.

Keep wildlife wild. Store food, trash and scented items as required in your area. Why it matters: animals that learn to eat human food can become dangerous and may have to be removed. Check current local rules with the managing agency.
Handle waste away from water. Where catholes are allowed, LNT recommends digging them well away from water, camps and trails. Check the exact distance and depth at lnt.org and follow current local rules, since some areas require you to pack out all human waste.
Make sure fires are dead out. Never leave a fire unattended. Drown it with water, stir it and feel it with the back of your hand before you leave. Check fire restrictions with the park, forest or state before you go.

Gear types only.

Trash sacks that seal and a small stuff sack
Lightweight trowel
Biodegradable camp soap, used away from water
Reusable water bottle or insulated drinkware (Wild Dirt carries drinkware)
Reusable food storage bags

Waste disposal, fires, group size and camping zones vary by park and state. Check current local rules with the managing agency (nps.gov, fs.usda.gov, blm.gov or your state park website). The seven principles and details are at lnt.org.

We build Wild Dirt to be sustainable because we want the places we love to last. A Wild Dirt sticker on your bottle is a small reminder of that. Go gently.

The seven Leave No Trace principles come from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (lnt.org). Read them there for the full, current version.

1. Plan ahead and prepare

Check current local rules, permits and closures
Pack for the weather and the terrain

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces

Stay on the trail, even when it is muddy
Camp on established sites or other durable ground

3. Dispose of waste properly

Pack-Out Trash Sacks: carry in a bag for all trash, including food scraps
Camp Trowel: for catholes where allowed
Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products, unless local rules say otherwise
Biodegradable Soap: use small amounts, away from water, and scatter strained wash water

4. Leave what you find

Take photos, not rocks, flowers or artifacts
Put back anything you moved

5. Minimize campfire impacts

Use a stove for cooking
Use existing fire rings only where fires are allowed
Keep fires small, burn wood to ash and check that it is fully out

6. Respect wildlife

Watch from a distance
Never feed animals
Store food and trash securely

7. Be considerate of others

Keep noise down
Yield on the trail