Low Impact Hiking and Camping

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Camping

Camp below treeline. Above treeline, plant life is fragile and weather is unpredictable and often hazardous.
When camping, find your own site instead of reusing someone else's.
Camp someplace new every day. Dispersing use spreads impact. Heavily used sites can become eroded and degraded.
Think of creative ways to reduce your impact. For instance, use a hammock for sleeping to minimize ground cover damage.
Select a campsite with a safe, level cooking area. This minimizes fire risk and unnecessary clearing. Arrange your site to avoid concentrating activities in the cooking area.
Use a stove; it's cleaner, faster, and safer. If you build a fire, keep it small and safe.
Wear sneakers or moccasins in and around the campsite. Heavy-soled shoes have a great impact on the ground cover.
In selecting a campsite, look for one at least 200 feet from the trail. This helps distribute and lessen your impact.
Carry water to your site in large containers so fewer trips are needed. Choose a different route each time you go for water.
Don't wash dishes, clothes or yourself directly in a pond or stream, or dump waste water of any kind back into a water source. Use a bucket and dispose of all waste water at least 200 feet from the natural water supply.
Deposit human waste at least 200 feet from water. Cover it with a layer of soil. It is biodegradable.
Spend as much time dismantling and restoring a campsite as you spent establishing it. Leave no signs of your stay.

Hiking

Carry out everything you carry in. Better yet, go one step further-pick up litter along the route using a pack side-pocket in your pack for trash.
Choose your route, your gear and your destination with the welfare of the backcountry in mind.
Travel in groups of less than ten. Small groups are quieter, safer and do less damage to the trail.
Stay on the trail above treeline. The soils and plants are very sensitive to the impact of man's presence.
Stay on the trail even if it's wet or muddy. Slog through it. Going around widens the footpath and contributes to erosion.
Learn about rules and regulations that apply to your backcountry trip. Restrictions reflect the past abuse and condition of the area.