Each year, more than 2 million people spend time on the Appalachian Trail. Some enjoy an afternoon or weekend on the Trail, while section hikers spend one to several weeks. More than 1500 thru-hikers attempt to hike all of the A.T. each year, most starting in Georgia in a small window of time in March and early April. Regardless of how you experience the A.T., practicing Leave No Trace is the best way to preserve the Trail’s beauty and wildness for others. It may not seem like a big deal that "one time" a shelter mouse got into your food, a little biodegradable soap got into a water source, or you created a new campfire pit, but the cumulative impact of 2 million people doing these same things year after year does become a big deal and threatens the very character of the Trail.
Leaving No Trace on the Appalachian Trail is simply about making good decisions about how to enjoy the Trail with concern for others. By practicing Leave No Trace, we can collectively prevent avoidable impacts (habituating wildlife, creating unsightly trash-filled fire pits, polluting water sources) and minimize unavoidable impacts (trail degradation, social impacts on other A.T. visitors). This will help ensure protection of the incredible natural resources and Trail experience that the A.T. offers. Small changes in your outdoor practices can help you to keep water sources clean, prevent wild animals from turning into beggars who chew through our packs, and keep our wild places beautiful.
The seven principles of the Leave No Trace
Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Know the regulations and special concerns for the sections of the Trail you intend to visit.
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
- Visit in small groups; if your party is large, consider splitting into groups of four to six.
- Repackage food to minimize waste.
- Carry a map to ensure you’re able to stick to the Trail
Travel and Camp Responsibly
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces, e.g., established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, or snow.
- Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and streams to protect their banks and water quality.
- Don’t alter existing campsites or create new campsites.
- In popular areas:
- Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
- Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
- Keep campsites small and in areas where vegetation is absent.
- In pristine areas:
- Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
- Avoid places where the impacts of previous visitors are noticeable.
Dispose of Waste Properly
- Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods, and pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
- Deposit solid human waste in holes six to eight inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, campsites, and trails. Cover and disguise the hole when finished.
- Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
- To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Strain and scatter dishwater.
Leave What You Find
- Observe, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
- Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them.
- Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
- Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry; consider using a lightweight stove for cooking and a candle lantern for light.
- Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Keep fires small, and only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, and scatter cool ashes.
Respect Wildlife
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach an animal.
- Never feed animals (feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers).
- Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
- Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times, i.e., when mating, nesting, raising young, or during winter.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
- Be courteous and yield to others on the Trail.
- Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
- Let nature’s sounds prevail by not raising your voice or making loud noises.
For more information on Leave No Trace visit www.lnt.org.
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