The 7 Principles

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. The Principles can be applied anywhere — from remote wilderness areas, to local parks and even in your backyard. Each Principle covers a specific topic and provides detailed information to empower you to minimize your impacts. The 7 Principles are well-established and widely known but not static. Leave No Trace continually examines, evaluates, and reshapes the Principles and conducts research to ensure that they are up to date with the latest insights from biologists, land managers, and other leaders in outdoor education.
a group of people hiking next to thermal pools with steam rising

What should I do next?

There’s a ton more to learn and do! Take the Leave No Trace 101 course or donate to support our work. It will take all of us to protect naure.

Shop the 7 Principles Materials

Need to purchase educational materials or minimum-impact camping gear? Find this and more at the Leave No Trace store.

Copyright and Brand Standards Information

To reprint the Leave No Trace 7 Principles, you must include copyright language and you cannot alter them without a review from Leave No Trace.