Plan Ahead and Prepare

• Know the regulations and special concerns of the area you will visit.
• Prepare for extreme weather, hazards and emergencies.
• Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use
• . Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into groups of 4-6.
• Repackage food to minimize waste.
• Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.

• Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
• Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary. 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. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.

In pristine areas:

• Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
• Avoid places where impacts are just beginning. .

• Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historical 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. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light. Where fires are permitted , use established fire rings, fire pans or mound fires.
• Keep fires small. Only use dead and down wood that can be broken by hand.
• Burn all wood and coals to ash. Put out campfires completely. If not using a firegrate, then scatter the cool ashes.
• Never burn food packaging, other trash or garbage.

Respect Wildlife

• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
• 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 at sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young or winter.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
• Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
• Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
• Let nature’s sound prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.