Leave No Trace for Group Trail Runs
Hey everyone, today I want to talk about Leave No Trace (LNT) principles—and how they apply to group trail runs.
First, a quick intro: Leave No Trace is the world’s leading outdoor education organization, teaching people how to protect and preserve the places we play. They’re based out of Boulder, Colorado, and I’m a certified LNT instructor through TripOutside, so I can help educate folks in different destinations and activities on how to recreate responsibly.
Here’s why it matters: people trained in Leave No Trace are five times more likely to take action to protect the environment. But only 1 in 10 people recreating outdoors actually has the info they need to do it. That’s why we’re talking about it today.
No one’s perfect—what’s most important is that we get outside. Loving and using these places is the first step to protecting them. If we don’t, they can get sold off, mined, or developed. These seven principles aren’t rules or laws—they’re guidelines. Think of them as a spectrum, and use your best judgment depending on where you’re recreating.
Let’s run through the seven principles, then I’ll zoom in on the ones that matter most for us as trail runners.
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The Seven Principles
1. Plan Ahead & Prepare
Give yourself time so you’re not scrambling. Check weather, maps, parking, restrooms, and trail conditions. Pack what you need: food, water, a wag bag if necessary. Even if you’ve done the route before, conditions change—re-run the checklist each time.
2. Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Trails, rocks, snow (6+ inches deep), logs, and sand are all durable. Vegetation isn’t. Cutting switchbacks or stepping off into meadows? That damages the ecosystem. I’ll come back to this one—it’s a big one for us.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
Trash, gels, wrappers—all of it comes out with you. If you see trash on the trail, pick it up. Pee? Step off the trail (but not on plants—use rocks or logs). For poop, plan ahead: bring a wag bag if needed. If you can bury it, dig 6–8 inches deep and at least 200 feet (about 70 big steps) from water. Same for dog waste—peanut butter jars make great smell-proof containers.
4. Leave What You Find
Don’t take bones, shells, or carve up trees. Take photos, not souvenirs.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
We live in a dry, high-desert environment. Most of the time, it’s best to skip fires altogether—use a propane pit or just hang out under the stars. If you must have a fire, check restrictions and plan ahead.
6. Respect Wildlife
As a group, we’re loud—which can be good (keeps critters away) but can also stress animals. If you see wildlife, ask yourself: “Am I changing their behavior?” If they’re running when they should be resting or grazing, back off. Use your phone’s zoom for photos rather than moving closer.
7. Be Considerate of Others
Keep the stoke high for everyone. That might mean keeping music off, being mindful of noise, and communicating clearly with others on the trail.
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What Matters Most for Trail Runners
For us, Principle #2—Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces—is huge. Here’s how we can make the biggest impact:
• Stay on the trail. Trails are durable. Cutting switchbacks or stepping on vegetation? Not durable. If you need to step aside, choose a rock, log, or patch of dirt.
• Practice patience. Going downhill fast? If you see a group coming up, look for a durable spot to step aside. If someone’s behind you, communicate and take a single step off rather than trampling plants.
• Snow & mud. When trails are messy, it’s tempting to go around. But enough people doing that creates new “social trails.” Be tough—run through the snow or mud. Get your feet wet and embrace it.
• Wildlife & passing. Respect wildlife (and other humans). Passing? Call out “on your left” and step down with one foot to let others by without creating damage.
Bottom line: Get outside, keep the stoke high, and do your best to protect the places we all love.