Leave No Trace- Outdoor Ethics

Plan Ahead and Prepare

* Use a river guidebook and map to plan your trip.
* Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
* Repackage food to minimize waste.
* Know river skills to minimize impacts.



Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

* Durable surfaces include rock, gravel, and sand.
* Park only in designated areas.  Minimize your impact on the shore when launching,
   portaging, and scouting.
* Do not tread on riparian vegetation.
* Focus activity where vegetation is absent.
* Leave campsites and day-use areas clean and natural looking.



Dispose of Waste Properly

* Carry all waste out.
* Use available toilets.
* Scatter liquid waste at least 200 feet from the river.
* Urinate directly into the water.



Leave What You Find

* Appreciate ancient structures, artifacts, rock art, and natural objects—but leave them
   undisturbed.
* Do not dig trenches in campsites.
* Avoid introducing non-native species, including live bait, by cleaning equipment between trips.



Minimize Campfire Impact

* Use stoves.
* Use a fire pan or designated fire ring for open fires and charcoal.
* Use only dead and downed wood.
* Burn all wood and charcoal to ashes, do not leave fires unattended, and carry out ash with
   other garbage.



Respect Wildlife

* Observe wildlife from a distance.
* Never feed wildlife.
* Protect wildlife by storing food and trash securely.
* Control pets or leave them at home.
* Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, or when food is scarce.



Be Considerate of Other Visitors

* Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
* Let nature’s sounds prevail.
* Avoid camping or eating near major rapids where scouting and portaging take place.


For more information about the Leave No Trace ethics, visit www.lnt.org.