Oregon’s forests, waterfalls, beaches, deserts and alpine trails can be damaged by a single careless visit—and by thousands of small choices repeated over time. Leave No Trace is a practical framework for reducing those impacts while hiking, camping, visiting waterfalls or spending a day on the coast.
This guide is not a substitute for site-specific rules. Closures, permits, fire restrictions, dog rules, camping limits and waste requirements vary by land manager and can change quickly. Always check the agency responsible for your destination before leaving home.
The Leave No Trace Seven Principles
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Others
© Leave No Trace. www.LNT.org. The principle names above are reproduced for educational use; the Oregon guidance below is our own practical summary. That Oregon Life is not affiliated with or endorsed by Leave No Trace.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
Research the route, weather, road access, seasonal hazards and land manager before you go. Download or carry a map, know whether your trail requires a permit or parking pass, and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Bring the food, water, layers, navigation and emergency supplies appropriate for the most difficult conditions you could reasonably encounter—not merely the forecast at the trailhead.
Use our Oregon Hiking Guide and interactive trail map to compare routes, then confirm current information with the Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service, Oregon State Parks or other managing agency.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Stay on the established trail even when it is muddy. Walking around puddles widens trails, damages plants and creates erosion. Do not cut switchbacks or follow unofficial social paths to cliff edges, waterfalls or riverbanks. Camp only where camping is permitted, favor established sites and durable surfaces, and avoid trampling fragile meadows, moss, dunes and shoreline vegetation.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack out everything you bring in, including food scraps, tissues, wipes and pet waste. Orange peels, sunflower shells and other “natural” litter do not belong beside a trail. Bathroom and human-waste rules vary greatly in alpine zones, canyons, beaches and high-use recreation areas, so follow the destination’s posted instructions. Never assume burying waste is allowed everywhere.
4. Leave What You Find
Leave rocks, flowers, driftwood, artifacts and natural features where they are. Do not carve trees, stack rocks, move historic objects or build structures. Photographing something preserves the memory without removing part of the place for the next visitor.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
Fire rules in Oregon can change by the day during summer and early fall. If fires are prohibited, do not build one. Where fires are allowed, use an established fire ring, keep the fire small, never leave it unattended and extinguish it completely. Check the Oregon Department of Forestry restrictions and closures and the specific land manager’s rules. Oregon State Parks also maintains a current park fire-restrictions page.
6. Respect Wildlife
Observe wildlife from a distance and never feed animals. Secure food and trash, give animals room to move, and leave an area if your presence changes their behavior. Keep pets under control and follow leash restrictions. Dogs are not permitted on every trail, and even friendly pets can disturb wildlife or other visitors.
7. Be Considerate of Others
Share the trail, keep noise low, yield according to posted guidance and avoid blocking viewpoints or narrow paths. Control pets, use headphones instead of speakers, and respect closures and private property. Drone rules vary and many wilderness areas, parks and wildlife-sensitive locations prohibit their use.
Oregon-specific checklist before every trip
- Confirm the trail, road and trailhead are open.
- Check permits, parking passes and reservation requirements.
- Review fire restrictions and current wildfire closures.
- Check weather, snow, heat, tides and river conditions as appropriate.
- Know the current dog, camping, bathroom and waste rules.
- Carry a map and the supplies needed to turn around safely.
Use Leave No Trace across Oregon
These principles apply whether you are exploring one of our Oregon waterfall guides, choosing a route from the statewide hiking guide, visiting the coast or camping on public land. The details change from place to place, but the goal remains the same: arrive prepared, reduce your impact and leave the landscape ready for the people and wildlife that come after you.
For the organization’s complete educational material, visit the official Leave No Trace Seven Principles.