Glossary
Leave No Trace
Outdoor ethics principles such as packing out trash and camping on durable surfaces.
Leave No Trace refers to a set of outdoor ethics principles, promoted by the nonprofit Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, aimed at minimizing the impact campers have on the places they visit. Core ideas include packing out all trash, camping on already-durable or previously used surfaces, and leaving natural and cultural features undisturbed.
For car campers, these principles apply a little differently than for backpackers, since vehicle access makes it easier to bring more gear and generate more waste, but also easier to pack everything back out rather than leaving it behind. Choosing existing pullouts or previously used dispersed sites instead of creating new ones protects vegetation and soil from repeated disturbance.
A common mistake is assuming Leave No Trace only applies to backcountry hikers, when car camping's convenience can actually make it easier to leave more behind, from food scraps that attract wildlife to gray water dumped where it damages plants. Checking site-specific guidance before a trip helps match general principles to local conditions.