Leaving no trace while camping means just that; do not leave any indication that people have been there. The number of people who camp have nearly doubled in the past decade, and many of these are camping in the back country. Each camper needs to remember that they are a guest in the environment. Just like they would not like someone to come and destroy their home, they need to be courteous of the outdoors while camping.

The first rule of not leaving a trace is to leave things even better than they were. If someone else left trash behind, pick it up for them. If someone trampled the vegetation, do not follow their poor example. Leave interesting rocks and flowers behind for others to enjoy. Take a picture to remember them by.

Another rule of leave no trace camping is to pack it in and pack it out. Campers who are capable of carrying food and other items into the wilderness are certainly capable of packing them out. Trash and litter can destroy the beauty of the wilderness. Even if each camper only left behind one piece of litter, that would result in a lot of garbage when multiplied by millions of campers.

Respecting wildlife is another guideline to follow. Visitors in the backcountry must remember that wildlife are wild animals; not pets. Do not feed wildlife, or get too close to them. Feeding wildlife human food may cause sickness, cause dependency on humans, or even kill them. Animals that are mating or caring for young can be extremely dangerous.

Choosing the appropriate surface to travel on is extremely important in not leaving a trace. Pick the most durable surface to travel on. Follow established trails whenever possible. Avoid taking short cuts off the trail. Going off the trail can either wear away dirt or pack it down, resulting in the death of plants and trees. If established trails are not available, try to travel on rock or sand. Rocks can withstand a lot of human traffic, but try to avoid any plants that may be growing from the rocks. Footprints can be left in the sand, but it is better than walking on vegetation. Only travel on vegetation if there are no other options. Walk single file in order to minimize trampling of plants. Trampled wild flowers and vegetation can take years to recover.

Leave no trace camping should be practiced by campers of all ages. Even the youngest child can understand that stepping on plants, or picking them can hurt the environment.