How To Be A Decent and Thoughtful Human Being on the Trail

I’ve been hiking, backpacking, and snowshoeing for years, and I’ve seen some atrocious things done by the hands of humans. This page is about how to be a decent and respectful human when out on the trail. This applies whether you are brand new to hiking (think of it as Hiking 101) or if you’ve been enjoying the great outdoors for years.

We’ll cover Leave No Trace, Trail Etiquette, the 10 Essentials, and a few other bits about how to be a polite and ethical person. Whether this is new to you or a refresher – please PLEASE share with anyone who spends time on our public lands.

THE SHORT VERSION: (but please take time to read through it all)

Leave No Trace:
Plan and prepare
Travel on durable surfaces
DISPOSE OF TRASH AND WASTE
Leave what you find”
Minimize campfire impacts
Respect wildlife
Be considerate

Ten Essentials:
Navigation
Sun Protection
Insulation
Light / Illumination
First Aid Kit
Fire
Tools
Water
Food
Emergency Shelter

Trail Etiquette
Know who has the right of way and respect that
No music on speakers
Be a Good Person

THE LONG VERSION:

Leave No Trace

From the National Park Service, Leave No Trace means “minimize your impact on the environment and other people while enjoying outdoor activities.” www.LNT.org  

The 7 Leave No Trace principles are:

  • Plan and prepare – Know where you’re going, have the correct permits or passes (if required), know rules about dogs if your puppy will be with you. Have the 10 Essentials (see below). This also includes checking weather. Mother Nature doesn’t care if you get rained on.
  • Travel on durable surfaces – Don’t cut switchbacks, stay on trail, don’t trample through wildflowers or plants, respect trail closures.
  • DISPOSE OF TRASH AND WASTE –  Please, PLEASE don’t litter. If you bring it with you, take it home with you. It’s that simple. This includes all trash, food, etc. Yes, it means ALLLLL OF IT, including dog poo, banana peels, cigarette butts, and toilet paper (yes, pack out your toilet paper! More on that below).
  • Leave what you find – Please don’t bring home cones, rocks, or other cool things you find while outside. They belong where nature put them. Take photos instead. Be especially careful to not touch, move, or remove anything of cultural significance.
  • Minimize campfire impacts – Obey all burn bans when camping, always. If you don’t know about current restrictions, find out. We have so much trouble with wildfires in much of the United States, don’t be the moron who starts another one.
  • Respect wildlife – Take photos, but respect that wild animals are… WILD!  Do not get too close, respect distance, and don’t be one of the people who thinks it’s fun to “pet the big furry cow” and get gored by a bison. Also, please DO NOT ever feed wildlife, even the cute little chipmunks who beg. Human food is horrible for them. Don’t do it. I’m going to add to this concept – Please also respect plants and trees. They deserve to be treated respectfully as well, not trampled on.
  • Be considerate of others. Often you are not the only person on the trail. Observe Trail Etiquette (below), nod, say hello, and remember that you don’t get the entire trail to yourself. Be kind, please.

This article from Washington State Parks is a great resource for anyone, not just those in Washington State: https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/what-leave-no-trace-and-why-we-should-all-do-it

Don’t be this person:

Trail Etiquette

Hikers v. Hikers – Hikers going UP hill have right of way. That means those going downhill yield. (Trail runners, please take note of this!! More below.) If you’re going up hill and you’d like to stop for a breather or a sip of water, step aside and let the downhill person know they’re free to pass you (please don’t squash plants). If you come up behind someone going slower, a simple “Hello” or “On your left” will suffice to announce yourself. Try to not step off trail if possible. If someone stops to let you pass by, it costs nothing at all to smile and say “Thank You.”

Hikers, Bikers, and Horses – Be aware of what use the trail that you are on is intended for. Is it hiking only, or is it a shared-used trail with mountain bikers as well? Generally bikers are expected to yield to hikers, but if you’re hiking and someone is going fast on a bike, be a good person and step out of their way (try as best as possible to not squash plants as you do so). Some trails also include horses. Always yield to horses, step downhill from them if possible, and talk gently so they know you’re there and aren’t spooked. No sudden movements please. Either way, having an awareness of what’s going on around you on trails is a good idea. Look at “Music” below.

Music – Many people go outside to enjoy peace and quiet. They do not want to hear your music. If you insist on music, there are amazing things called earbuds or headphones, use those instead. A note of caution about music in your ears: When outdoors it’s always best to have an awareness of your surroundings, especially in bear or bison territory. How about tuning into the beautiful sounds of nature instead? Try it, you might like it.  

The same goes for loud voices. There is no reason to yell and shout on the trail. Not everyone wants to hear what you did last night. Remember that song from ‘Til Tuesday called “Voices Carry”?

Large Groups – It’s great that you want to spend time with friends and family in the great outdoors, hooray for no-screen time! But please remember that large groups often mean loud voices, not paying attention to your surroundings, and hogging the entire trail. Please be thoughtful of others who are also out trying to enjoy the outdoors.

Scents – Many people do not enjoy the smell of cigarettes or marijuana. It’s not fun having to walk through a cloud of it in a parking lot, it’s also not pleasant to smell it in the great outdoors. In fact, some people are actually allergic to it (me).

Be a Good Person – Just think of how you would like to be treated by others, and do that. Be Good. Do good.

Be Prepared – 10 Essentials

I can’t count how many times I’ve seen people totally unprepared out on trails. I’ve had to filter water for unprepared people who were dehydrated several times as well. Use common sense and don’t be a Search and Rescue event! Also, appropriate footwear, please.

The Ten Essentials should always be carried when hiking:

  • Navigation: map, compass, GPS system. Know how to read a paper map (apparently this is becoming a lost art). GPS systems on a cell phone or smart watch are great, but remember that batteries die, and technology can sometimes glitch. Research ahead of time from home so you have an idea of where you’ll be going. The NPS websites for each national park always have trail maps that you can look at online. Most state parks do as well. (I use GaiaGPS and love it, but I don’t rely on it 100%. Tip – If you use a GPS system on your phone, set your phone to airplane mode when on the trail, it will extend battery life a lot.)
  • Sun Protection – sunglasses, hat, sunscreen. For those who can’t or don’t use sunscreen, there is some great sun-protective clothing available. 
  • Insulation – Jacket, hat, gloves, rain gear, clothing layers. Especially in mountains, weather can change quickly. Mother Nature can be unpredictable, regardless of what the weather forecast says (I have stories about this). Be prepared, even if you don’t think you’ll need it.
  • Light / Illumination – Have some kind of light source with you, a small flashlight, headlamp, etc. Cell phones have flashlights, but remember that cell batteries are drained quickly using things like that. Invest in a headlamp that will last you for years and years, and let it live always in your backpack.
  • First Aid Kit – This is not just a couple of adhesive bandages. Add in antibacterial ointment, gauze, alcohol or Betadine wipes, Benadryl, etc. Make sure things haven’t expired. A clean tampon in a wrapper makes a great addition to a first aid kit, to be used as a sponge, as a semi-clean bandage or packing material, etc.
  • Fire – No we don’t want to start fires, but in an emergency it can be a life saver for a heat source, and as an emergency signal. Pack waterproof matches and fire starter in your 10-essentials kit.
  • Tools –  A multi-tool like a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman tool can save the day, always have one with you and easily accessible. These can include knives, pliers, screw drivers, etc. So many models to choose from!
  • Food – Plans or weather change, Mother Nature changes her mind, you never know when you might be out longer than expected. Always have a bit of extra food and snacks. A couple of wrapped energy or protein bars living in the bottom of your backpack is a great idea.
  • Water – This is the one that I see go wrong most often. You HAVE to stay hydrated. A single small water bottle for 3 people on a long and hot hike is just not enough. In fact, it’s downright dumb. If you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. I have stories about this too. Consider having a Sawyer water filter or other type of filtration drops/tablets as part of your 10 Essentials.
  • Emergency shelter – There are some great space blankets available that only weigh a couple of ounces and can mean the difference between making it through an emergency or bad weather, or things ending badly.

Other Bits and Pieces:

Do not feed wild animals
Yes, those chipmunks are cute. So are birds, deer, and other wildlife. Bears are too. They should NOT eat human food, it’s horrible for their bodies, and by feeding them they get habituated to humans = food, which always has a bad ending. There’s a saying with a lot of truth in it: “A fed bear is a dead bear.”       
Just. Don’t. Do. It.
Don’t.

Trail Runners
Basic trail etiquette rules state that people going uphill have right of way. That means when you’re running at speed downhill, completely tuned out to what is going on around you, and you come upon backpackers carrying large backpacks heading uphill, you are meant to yield to them, instead of plowing over them and forcing them to quickly hop off the trail to avoid being run over. Perhaps consider reviewing simple trail etiquette before venturing out on a trail run again. Snarky and snide voice intended here.

Dogs
1. Always check to see if dogs are allowed on trails or not. In most National Parks dogs are not allowed on trails, they are allowed where cars can go, i.e. the parking lot. There are many good, solid reasons for this. I know your dog is adorable, but please follow regulations and don’t assume that your pet is the exception to this rule. I also have many stories about this, unfortunately.
2. IF dogs are allowed, please have your dog(s) leashed when required. Your dog might be friendly, but you have no idea if other dogs out on the trail are friendly or reactive. Please PLEASE be a responsible human.
3. CLEAN UP YOUR DOG’S POO AND DISPOSE OF IT PROPERLY. This does not mean bagging it and leaving the bag on the side of the trail. Do you do that at home? Do you have bags of dog poo littering your yard? Be good, do good.

Toilet paper
It is absolutely disgusting to get to a backcountry campsite in the pristine wilderness and see toilet paper littering the landscape, or see it dotting a trail. Have an extra small baggie in your backpack, toilet paper goes into that, and follow Leave No Trace – dispose of it properly. For women: please consider investing in a Kula Cloth or other re-usable pee cloth. It will more than pay for itself in the long run, and is easy to wash at camp or toss in the laundry when you get home. You can then say that you actually practice Leave No Trace, instead of leaving your used toilet paper on the ground for other people to see. Disgusting and absolutely inexcusable.

Please strive to be a decent and respectful human being, both to other people and to Mother Nature herself. Be considerate and thoughtful so that everyone can enjoy their trail time.