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Leave No Trace Principles

A quick refresher on the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics’s principles for responsibly enjoying all natural habitats.

1. Plan ahead. Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use. Repackage food to minimize waste.

2. Travel and camp on established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow. Pitch tents at least 200 feet away from lakes and streams. Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.

3. Dispose of waste properly. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. Deposit solid human waste in holes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, and far from water and trails. For washing, use small amounts of biodegradable soap.

4. Leave what you find. Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.

5. Minimize campfire impacts. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and a candle lantern for light. Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, but keep fires small, burning only sticks from the ground that you can break by hand.

6. Respect wildlife. Observe animals from a distance. Never feed them — it alters their natural behaviors. Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young or winter.

7. Be considerate. Respect other visitors and yield to them on the trail. Avoid using loud voices and making excess noise.