I Didn't Know That!: Leave No Trace Principle #7 - Be Considerate of Others

You're headed to a trailhead and you picture yourself hiking alone, surrounded by nothing but nature. But when you get there, you are anything but alone. The parking lot is almost full and there are many groups of hikers, mountain bikers, and even people on horseback. You start to wonder, how will we all be able to share the trail? Will you still be able to have an enjoyable trip?

Crowds like these are not uncommon on popular trails like Angel's Landing in Zion National Park.

NPS Photo

Over 300 million people visit national parks each year! That's a lot of people to share our public lands with! We can all do our part to be considerate of others and share the trail to ensure everyone has the same opportunity to enjoy these places. Afterall, the outdoors are for everyone.

Did You Know?

Be Considerate of Others is one of the 7 Leave No Trace Principles. These Principles empower you to leave nature as unchanged by your presence as possible. It’s a way of protecting the natural world and yourself and to preserve our outdoor spaces for the enjoyment of generations to come. 

What You Can Do

The yield triangle for sharing the trail on multi-use trails.

Image courtesy of Leave No Trace.

Follow the Yield Triangle

An important component of sharing the trail is the yield triangle. This tool helps us understand who yields on a multi-use trail. Here’s how it goes: Hikers and bikers both yields to stock users, bikers yield to hikers, and uphill hikers yield to downhill hikers. Everyone will yield to people using mobility devices. Keep in mind that this may differ depending on your location. Good communication is key; when passing others on the trail, be sure to say hello and ask if you can pass beforehand.

Be Mindful of Noise

The noise we make can impact the experience of those around us as well as the wildlife that call the area home. Be mindful of the noise you make and how it can impact others. That might mean skipping the music or avoiding creating too much noise in a big group. Enjoy the sounds of nature and give others the same opportunity.

Hikers take a break off-trail on a durable rocky surface in Yellowstone National Park

NPS / Neal Herbert

Take Breaks on a Durable Surface

To keep the trail open for others to use, it is a good idea to take breaks on a durable surface off the trail. This could be a large rock, a clearing of leaf litter or pine duff, or sandy river bank. Choose a place where your group will not damage vegetation or cause erosion and that leaves the trail open for others to pass by.

Plan Trips to Avoid Times of High Use

Many parks experience peak visitation times during certain seasons, events, or times of day. Planning around these can make your trip more enjoyable and make everything from parking to finding campsites easier. Some parks, sites, or areas may require a reservation or even a timed entry permit during these high visitation times. Make sure you are preparded and know before you go by exploring park websites before your visit.

We all have different ways of enjoying nature - like mountain biking!

NPS / Andrew Kuhn

We're all in this together!

Remember that everyone is out there to connect with nature, to learn more about our history, or to enjoy our natural world. We all have a shared interest in protecting these places, even if we choose to enjoy them in different ways.

Learn more!

Being considerate of others is not just for the trail. Learn more about the seventh Leave No Trace Principle and find out how you can respect others while camping and when you bring a pet along for the adventure.

Pass It On

Did you learn something new? Pass it on! Protecting our ecosystems a job for us all, but there’s no way for everyone to be an expert in everything. That’s why sharing knowledge is so important!

Download or screenshot this card to share with a friend or help spread the word and encourage others to Leave No Trace by being considerate of others. Thank you for helping keep our outdoor spaces enjoyable for all.

Check out other I Didn’t Know That! Topics.

Text Description of Infographic

Title: I Didn't Know That! (with Leave No Trace) Principle 7: Be Considerate of Others

• Over 300 million people visit parks each year! That's a lot fo people to share our public lands with! We can all do our part to be considerate of others and share the trail so that eveyrone has an equal opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
• What You Can Do
  • Be mindful of noise
  • Follow the yield triangle
  • Take breaks off-trail on durable surfaces
  • Plan trips to avoid times of high use.
• Ranger Tip
  • Remember that we are all out there to enjoy the natural world - even if we have different ways of enjoying it!.

go.nps.gov/idkt

In Collaboration with Leave No Trace

This article is part of the I Didn't Know That!: Leave No Trace series and was developed in collaboration with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. 

Leave No Trace 7 Principles © 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics