- Principles
- Carry in; carry out.
Leave only footprints; take only pictures.
Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
In popular areas, concentrate use on existing trails and campsites. In pristine areas, disperse use.
Good campsites are found, not made. Don’t alter a site.
Know and respect the use restrictions of the area where you are traveling. - Trip Preparation
- Use food containers that double as trash containers.
Take trash bags and pick up refuse, yours and that of others.
Limit groups size in general, to 10 in wilderness areas.
- Travel
- Stay on the trail; do not cut across or create switchbacks.
Where possible, walk in mud rather than widen the trail.
Leave the trail to defecate, step off the trail to urinate.
If you leave a trail, avoid damage to plant life and unstable ground.
When bushwhacking, spread out, do not walk in the footprints of others.
- Campsites
- In wilderness areas or away from established campsites:
Camp out of sight of trails, streams and lakes.
Choose sites free of ground plants.
Do not dig ditches around tents or otherwise alter the site.
Use backpack stoves to cook and heat water and candle lanterns for light. No fires.
When leaving, return the site to an apparently unused condition by sweeping the site with dead branches and covering marks from tents and other activities with brush.
Established campsites:
Use backpack stoves to cook and heat water.
Do not expand established campsites by spreading out.
When leaving, check the site for refuse or lost items.
Keep fires small.
Use existing fire rings; do not scorch rocks.
If there are no fire rings, build fires on mineral soil, not organic soil.
Burn wood from downed, dead trees. Standing dead trees have a major role in forest ecology.
Burn all wood and coals to ash. Make sure your fire is out. Pick unburned trash from ashes.
- Sanitation
- Carry water away from water sources to bathe and wash dishes. Scatter strained dishwater.
Clean up spilled foods.
Put food in a bear bag to protect against rodents and bears.
Use a cat hole to defecate, away from water sources.
Pack out all garbage and trash, including used toilet paper and hygiene products.
- Courtesy
- Downhill hikers yield to uphill hikers.
Keep dogs on leashes; bury their feces.
- Environmental
- Respect the privacy of other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
Use clothing and equipment that blends into the environment.
Avoid any interaction with wildlife, especially intentionally or accidentally feeding them.
Do not collect plants, animals or human artifacts.
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