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Pack It In, Pack It Out: The Camper's Guide to Leave No Trace

Pack It In, Pack It Out: The Camper's Guide to Leave No Trace

There's an unwritten rule that every camper, hiker, and overlander lives by: if you carried it in, you carry it out. It sounds simple — and it is — but the impact of this single principle on our wild places is enormous.

"Pack it in, pack it out" is the cornerstone of Leave No Trace (LNT) camping, a set of outdoor ethics designed to protect natural spaces for future generations. Whether you're car camping at a developed site or deep in the backcountry, these principles apply to everyone.

What Does "Pack It In, Pack It Out" Actually Mean?

It means exactly what it says: everything you bring to a campsite — food, packaging, gear, waste — leaves with you when you go. No exceptions. That includes:

  • Food wrappers, cans, and bottles
  • Leftover food scraps (yes, even "natural" ones like apple cores and orange peels)
  • Toilet paper and hygiene products
  • Cigarette butts
  • Fishing line
  • Marker signs, flagging tape, and trail markers you placed
  • Any trash you find that others left behind

Don't Forget Your Marker Signs and Flagging Tape

This one gets overlooked more than almost anything else. Hunters, hikers, and campers often use flagging tape, marker signs, or trail blazes to mark routes, campsites, or hunting spots — and then simply forget to remove them when they leave.

Left behind flagging tape and marker signs:

  • Confuse future visitors — old markers can lead people off trail or to dead ends
  • Create visual pollution — bright orange and pink tape scattered through a forest breaks the natural experience for everyone else
  • Take years to degrade — most flagging tape is plastic and will outlast your camping trip by decades
  • Harm wildlife — animals can ingest or become entangled in tape and signage left on the ground or low branches

The rule is simple: if you put it up, take it down. Before you leave your campsite or hunting area, do a full sweep and remove every piece of flagging tape and every marker sign you placed. If you find old tape from previous visitors, pack that out too.

Why It Matters More Than You Think

  • "Natural" food waste is still harmful. Orange peels can take up to 2 years to decompose. Apple cores and other scraps attract wildlife to campsites, conditioning animals to associate humans with food — which often leads to dangerous encounters and animals being euthanized.
  • Microtrash adds up. Twist ties, foil pouches, and tiny wrappers are easy to miss but accumulate quickly in high-traffic areas.
  • Campfire ash contains trash. If you burned packaging in your fire, the ash still contains residue. Pack it out.
  • Popular sites get loved to death. The more people visit a spot, the more critical LNT practices become. Your choices directly affect whether that place stays beautiful.

How to Pack It Out Like a Pro

Plan Your Meals to Minimize Waste

Before you leave home, repackage food into reusable containers or zip-lock bags. Remove excess packaging at home so you're not hauling it into the backcountry. Plan portions carefully so you're not left with large amounts of uneaten food.

Bring a Dedicated Trash System

Pack a few heavy-duty trash bags — one for general waste, one for recycling if you sort at home. A small hanging trash bag for your tent or vehicle keeps waste contained and out of reach of wildlife.

Use a Bear Canister or Hang Your Food

Proper food storage isn't just about protecting your meals — it keeps wildlife safe too. In bear country, a bear canister or hang system is essential. Store all food, trash, and scented items (toothpaste, sunscreen, lip balm) together.

Handle Human Waste Properly

In areas without restroom facilities, dig a cathole 6–8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites. Pack out all toilet paper in a sealed bag — it does not decompose as fast as people think, and it's one of the most common forms of campsite litter.

Do a Final Sweep Before You Leave

Walk the entire campsite before packing up. Check under picnic tables, around the fire ring, and in the grass. Remove every piece of flagging tape and every marker sign you placed. Pick up any trash you find — even if it's not yours. Leave the site better than you found it.

The Bigger Picture: Leave No Trace 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 other visitors

Final Thought

The wild places we camp in don't belong to us — we're just passing through. Pack it in, pack it out isn't just a rule. It's a commitment to the land, to wildlife, and to every camper who comes after you. And that includes every scrap of flagging tape and every marker sign you nailed to a tree.

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