Leave No TraceGeorgia TrailsGeneral Hiking Guidelines
Never hike alone.
Bring some food and water.
Check local conditions (trails and weather).
Plan a route on a topo map and stick to it.
Tell a friend your route and where you will park your car.
Be prepared for an emergency (carry rope, a knife and a first aid kit)
Trust your intuition
Leave no Trace
GeorgiaTrails.com practices and supports the 'Leave no trace' ethic, and we ask that you take a minute and read how you can help make hiking more fun for everybody!
Plan Ahead to Avoid Impact
- Avoid holidays and weekends.
- Limit your group size to six or less.
- Repackage food to reduce containers.
- Take along a litter bag to carry out refuse.
- Carry a stove and choose foods that require little
cooking.
- Buy gear only in subdued forest colors (exception in
hunting season).
- Check at the ranger station for low-use areas.
Travel to Avoid Impact
- Travel quietly.
- Walk single file in the center of the trail.
- Never shortcut switchbacks.
- Look at and photograph, but never pick or
collect.
- Avoid popular areas.
- Never discard cigarette butts, candy or gum wrappers
on forest floor.
- Walk softly. Don't kick up dirt and stones or trample
vegetation.
Make "Leave No-Trace" Camps
- Select a site invisible from the trail and any other
camping parties.
- Camp at least 200 feet from water sources and away
from beauty spots.
- Use existing, well-used camp sites, if possible.
- Never cut standing trees and vegetation or pull up
plants.
- Never dig hipholes or trenches.
- Wear lightweight, soft-sole shoes around camp.
- Avoid building campfires or make only small fires in
safe places.
- Never wash dirty dishes, clothes, or yourself directly in
a stream or spring.
- Use biodegradable soap and dispose of waste water at
least 200 feet away from a water supply.
- Bury human waste 6 inches deep, at least 100 feet
from water.
- Stay as quiet as possible. Leave radios and tape
players at home.
Leave A "No-Trace" Campsite
- Pick up every trace of litter.
- Drown your campfire and erase all evidence of it,
including ashes and unburned wood.
- Replace and scatter twigs and leaves cleared for
sleeping areas.
- Pack out all garbage.
- Check for any evidence of your stay.
- For more information on the "Leave No-Trace" ethic,
call 1 800 332-4100.
Want more information on Leave No Trace? Try the National
Organization
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