Leave No Trace is a national program that promotes the protection of our nation’s wildlands through education, research, and partnerships. Leave No Trace teaches minimum impact hiking, camping, and wildland ethics while also building awareness, appreciation, and respect for our public recreation places. The four federal land management agencies—the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service—all promote the Leave No Trace message. Working with outdoor retailers, educators, and user groups these federal agencies are helping to make Leave No Trace the common language for all outdoor enthusiasts.
With increasing visitor use, both day and overnight, it is important to minimize our impacts and Leave No Trace of our visits to wilderness, parks and other special places. Trips that include awareness and the use of minimum impact practices conserve natural conditions of the outdoors which make the adventure enjoyable and allows others the same experience.
Leave No Trace is simple—at its heart it is a set of seven principles which can be applied in any natural setting to minimize human impacts on the environment. Following the Leave No Trace principles and combining them with your personal judgment, awareness, and experience will help protect precious park natural and cultural resources and preserve the park experience for you and for future visitors. Below is listed the 7 principles of Leave No Trace and how to properly follow them at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Plan ahead and prepare
a. Research the park and learn about the area, rules, gear you will need, and permits required.
b. If planning to enter the cave, complete a reservation on Recreation.gov to guarantee your permit.
Travel and camp on durable surfaces
a. Stay on designated/outlined trails.
b. Do not use (or create) social trails
c. Be careful not to step on or damage formations in caves.
d. Pay attention to and avoid areas designated as fragile marked with red and white striped tape.
Dispose of waste properly
a. Throw away trash in proper locations.
b. Pack it in, pack it out.
c. Only use designated restrooms, do not make your own.
Leave what you find
a. Leave only footprints and take only photographs.
i. Do not leave behind trash
ii. Do not take natural items home as souvenirs (rocks, cave formations, plants, etc.).
iii. Take photographs to remember the natural beauty.
Minimize campfire impacts
a. Obey fire bans and restrictions
b. Only smoke in designated smoking areas when allowed.
i. Smoking anywhere can be prohibited during fire bans.
c. Building a fire in a cave is prohibited, headlamps, and flashlights should be used instead.
Respect wildlife
a. Always maintain a safe distance.
b. Do not feed the wildlife.
c. Do not make unecessary loud noises when hiking trails.
d. To prevent the further spread of White Nose Syndrome, disinfect all gear and clothing before and after entering a cave.
Be considerate of other visitors
a. Don't play loud music on trails or in caves.
b. Give space on trails for others to pass.
c. If using a flashlight, be aware of other visitors and do not shine light into their eyes.
d. Keep voices to a whisper in caves because normal voices can echo up to a 1/4 mile.
i. Do not whistle, sing, yell, clap, or make any other disruptive sounds.
Caving - Leave No Trace
There are also Leave No Trace principles that have been modified specifically for specific outdoor recreation activities. This is a way to help ensure that everyone has the ability to follow Leave No Trace when they are recreating. One of the recreation activites that has these modified principles is caving which is listed below:
Plan ahead and prepare
a. Learn about cave specific issues, regulations, and permits.
b. Rule of 3: three sources of light, let three people know here you are going, ad have at least three people in your party.
c. Have emergency contacts and the proper skills and gear to cave
Travel and camp on durable surfaces
a. Always stay on marked trails.
b. Only camp, with permission, on durable surfaces.
c. Respect all gates and closed off areas.
Dispose of waster properly
a. Pack it in, pack it out.
b. Use provided restrooms or appropriate human waste bags.
Leave what you find
a. Do not deface, touch, or take cave rocks or formations.
Minimize campfire impacts
a. Building fires in caves is never advised.
Respect wildlife
a. Avoid shining lights directly on cave animals such as bats.
White Nose Syndrome
a. Decontaminate caving gear, equipment, and footwear before/after entering a cave.
Be considerate of other visitors
Report vandalism
Backcountry - Leave No Trace
There are areas in which you can go explore the backcountry of Carlsbad Caverns, most notably is Slaughter Canyon. Backcountry adventures though require an extra level of Leave No Trace. While in the backcountry of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, please observe these Leave No Trace principles.
Stay on established trails—short-cutting and cliff-climbing is dangerous and causes erosion.
Human waste should be deposited (not buried) at least 300 feet from any cave, trail, or water source.
Pack out all trash—your own and any you find, including toilet paper.
Camp at least 300 feet away from any cave entrance, road, trail, or water source. Be sure you are out of sight and sound of these areas, as well.
Campfires are not permitted within the park boundaries. Use a containerized fuel stove instead.
There are no vehicle or RV camping areas in the park. Overnight parking and/or camping is not permitted in any parking lot or other developed area.
Do not clear soil or vegetation, or dig trenches around tents.
Pets are not permitted on park trails or in the backcountry.
Please learn and practice Leave No Trace skills and ethics and pass them on to those you come in contact with. It’s easy to enjoy and protect the park at the same time!
