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Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit. |
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Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies. |
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Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use. |
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Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into groups of 4-6. |
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Repackage food to minimize waste. |
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Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging |
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Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, or snow. |
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Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. |
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Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary. |
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Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites. |
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Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy. |
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Keep campsites small. Focus activities in areas where vegetation is absent. |
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Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails. |
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Avoid places where impacts are just beginning. |
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Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. |
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Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. |
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Cover and disguise the cathole when finished. |
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Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products. |
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To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater. |
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Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts. |
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Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. |
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Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species. |
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Do not build structures, furniture or dig trenches. |
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Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light. |
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Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans or mound fires. |
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Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. |
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Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes. |
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Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. |
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Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors and exposes them to predators and other dangers. |
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Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely. |
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Control pets at all times or leave them at home. |
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Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter. |
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Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. |
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Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail. |
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Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock. |
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Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors. |
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Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises. |
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