Leave No Trace

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands.

1. Plan ahead and prepare. This will help make your outing safer and more fun. Consider what to bring and what to leave behind. Re-package food into plastic bags to reduce litter. Plan practical, achievable itineraries.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces. Use existing trails and avoid shortcutting switchbacks.

3. Dispose of waste properly. Never bury your trash. Garbage and leftover food cannot be placed in outhouses. If you pack it in, pack it out! Wash yourself and dishes at least 200 feet (75 steps) away from lakes, streams, trails, gullies, or campsites.

4. Leave what you find. People come to Isle Royale to enjoy its natural state. Allow others the same sense of discovery by leaving plants, rocks, historic, cultural, and archaeological artifacts as you find them.

5. Minimize campfire impacts. Campfires are only permitted at a small number of campgrounds. A small, lightweight stove is required for cooking.

6. Respect wildlife. Avoid encounters with wildlife. Use binoculars or telephoto lenses to observe them from a safe distance. If the animal stops what it is doing, you are too close.

7. Be considerate of other visitors. Observe quiet hours and avoid noisy games to allow all visitors to enjoy the peace of the wilderness. Hike quietly. Lessen your impact on others by wearing colors that blend in with the wilderness.