Leave No Trace is a set of guidelines developed to decrease human impact on our outdoor spaces. It’s important to understand that the goal of the Leave No Trace principles aren’t to be perfect, only better. They can be applied to all aspects of our lives from when we’re at home to when we’re in the back country and every where in between. One person is unlikely to have major impact on the space around them, but there isn’t just one of us. There are more people than ever enjoying our outdoor spaces, so its important to limit our own impact and thus the impact of all of us. Here are the seven Leave No Trace principles and how you can incorporate them into your van living experience.
Leave No Trace Principle 1: Plan & Prepare
The first and core principle of Leave No Trace is to plan ahead and prepare. All other principles build off of this one. Planning your trip can help you prepare for whatever may come your way. You should check what campsites are available, the weather, bathroom and water amenities, and how best to prepare and store food. These preparations can prevent you from camping on and damaging other surfaces, not having the proper clothing or footwear, problems with waste water disposal, and altercations with wildlife. A well-prepared traveler helps decrease the impact of not only the natural resources but also the safety and funding for service workers who may need to repair spaces or find you if you’re in trouble.
Van Life Tip:
Be aware of what kinds of camping areas you have access to where you are going. Some campgrounds have designated car-camping spaces. Utilize apps to know what kind of boondocking sites are available where you’ll be staying. Check the road conditions for where you’ll be driving so you can have a plan in place for getting gas and to ensure you won’t get stuck on muddy or rocky roadways.
Keep your rig well-stocked with bathroom supplies, first aid supplies, and water. Plan for proper water disposal. Always have a plan for trash.
For more information on planning and a list of really helpful apps, check out my Helpful Van Life Apps blog.
Leave No Trace Principle 2: Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
A durable surface is one that is hard to damage (accidentally or intentionally) even with repeated use. It can take as little as 25 people passing over an area to start making an impact, so choosing the surfaces you walk or recreate on is very important! For example, bare rock is more durable than bare dirt/sand, but bare dirt and sand is more durable than dry grass. Dry grass is more durable than moist areas of vegetation. When you’re in nature and there is a trail to follow, make sure to do so. That is the most durable surface. When you’re camping, make sure to set up on designated camp sites if available.
Van Life Tip:
Make sure you’re parking on the most durable surfaces you can find. If there are designated areas (even when boondocking, you’ll sometimes be able to find places where people park), plan to park there even if the view isn’t Instagram worthy. Dry grass, dirt and rock, and pine duff are all more durable than other vegetation or high moisture areas.
Best practice, especially if you have a known oil leak on your rig, is to bring cardboard or a tarp to place under your rig to prevent the oil from dripping into the ground.
For tips about where to stay and how to find places to camp (including some app recommendations), see my blog HERE.
Leave No Trace Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly
Shit happens, literally and its important to know how to dispose of it! Human waste of any kind can pollute our water ways and introduce bacteria into the environment. That includes urine, feces, menstrual waste as well as trash and waste water. Its best to pack out any waste that you create (you can use a WAG bag for urine/feces) but if you’re unable to do so, make sure you’re disposing of waste 200 feet (that’s 70 adult-sized steps) from water sources and campsites/people. Make sure you’re disposing of trash in receptacles only.
Van Life Tip:
Black water must be disposed of in RV waste receptacles, so plan ahead if you’re going to need to refresh a black water tank. Gray water should be strained and ideally disposed of the same way, but can be dumped 200 feet away from humans and water sources (make sure to spread it out).
If you don’t have a toilet set-up in your rig and rely on using the outdoors, make sure to dig a 6-8 inch cat hole 200 feet away from humans and water sources for pooping. With the same distance requirements, you don’t need to dig a hole specifically for urinating. Pack out used toilet paper and menstrual products.
For more information on using the bathroom while traveling, click HERE.
Leave No Trace Principle 4: Leave What You Find
This one might be the hardest of all the principles for humans to truly master mindfully. After all, we aren’t immune to the effects of “oooh, shiny!” and that can sometimes be hard. Its important, however, to leave things you find where they are. That cool rock? It belongs to nature and others should have a chance to see it, too. The same goes for things of historical or archaeological significance as well as plants and vegetation. They are all important to the area in which they have been found. It’s also very illegal in many places (like National Parks) to collect items. Yes, its tempting because its only one but there are a whole lot of us enjoying these spaces and just one can turn into many very quickly!
Van Life Tip:
Best practice is to always leave what you find, but if you do want or need to collect, make sure to check local ordinances and park rules. Some places allow collection and other places strictly do not. Don’t take anything more than what you need.
Leave No Trace Principle 5: Minimize Campfire Impacts
Wildfire is a major human impact on the environment, as 90% of all wildfires are started by humans. If you don’t need to start a fire, don’t! That’s the best way to minimize the impact you have, so use a cook stove instead. If you do need to start a campfire, remember to use existing rings, only collect minimal wood that can be broken by hand and is found or purchased in the area, and make sure your fire is fully put out and cold when you’re done.
Van Life Tip:
Making space in your rig for a cook stove is a great option to minimize the impact of fire. Plan for fuel for your cookstove so you don’t find yourself without it.
Leave No Trace Principle 6: Respect Wildlife
Leave No Trace Principle 6 is extremely important and can have life altering consequences if you ignore it. Respecting wildlife is as much about them as it is about you. Leaving food out can lure animals into camp and put you in harms way. It can also cause food habituation to animals, which can put them in harms way. With increased human-animal interaction, wildlife is at risk of relocation or euthanasia. A cool rule of thumb (literally) to determine if you are too close to an animal is to extend your arm fully in front of you and put your thumb up – the animal should be fully covered. If they aren’t, step backwards until they are. Remember: the rest of the principles also impact wildlife so if you’re doing best by them, you’re doing best by wildlife.
Van Life Tip:
Sounds as low as 40 decibels can cause animals to change their behavior, so its important to turn off the vehicle as soon as possible whenever possible. Keep music in headphones or to a minimum. Be mindful of animal trails and try to park away from water, otherwise you may disrupt their travel patterns or prevent them from getting a drink.
Leave No Trace Principle 7: Be Considerate of Others
We’re all out here trying to enjoy nature and preserving our natural spaces, so its important to remember others are out there doing the same thing, too. That’s just another reason to limit our impact! Remember to share trails, keep groups small, and be quiet. If you want to listen to music, use headphones/earbuds because others want to hear the silence of the outdoors.
Van Life Tip:
Be courteous to others when you’re sharing space with them. They may not want to hear your vehicles or music. Avoid spreading out farther than necessary to allow for others to enjoy the nature you’re seeking to enjoy together. Keep in mind things like quiet hours at campsites.
Bonus Tip
When at all possible, leave the areas you spend time in better than how you found them. If you see trash, pick it up! If you can lend someone a hand, do it! We can all do our part to keep mother earth happy and healthy, and sometimes that includes picking up, even if its not our mess.
If you’re interested in learning more about Leave No Trace, you can visit their website HERE. They have certification courses you can take (I can vouch for them – they were really good and very informative) and a lot of great information.
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