9 Ways Thru-Hiking Can Harm the Environment (And How To Lower Your Impact)

Thru-hiking is an incredible way to connect with nature, but it’s not without its negative impacts. From the gear we carry to the food we eat, every choice we make on the trail has an environmental footprint. The irony of exploring pristine wilderness while contributing to waste and resource consumption isn’t lost on many hikers.

While thru-hiking may be a more environmentally friendly hobby than many others, single-use plastic and gear consumption are two things that come to mind as things we could do better on.

Minimizing your impact doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or safety — it means being mindful of your choices and how they affect the ecosystems you’re moving through. From choosing durable gear to following Leave No Trace principles, there are countless ways to protect the wilderness while continuing to enjoy it.

This article will explore practical strategies for reducing your environmental impact on trail, ensuring the natural beauty you enjoy remains intact for future generations. 

Pre-Hike Preparation

Minimizing your environmental impact starts long before you set foot on the trail. Thoughtful preparation can go a long way in reducing waste, conserving resources, and ensuring you’re making sustainable choices from the get-go. 

1. Your Gear Matters

Investing in durable, high-quality gear is one of the most impactful steps you can take. While ultralight gear may seem appealing, it’s often less durable and more likely to end up in a landfill after a single thru-hike. Look for gear made with sustainable materials, repairable designs, and reliable warranties. Companies that offer repair services or sell refurbished equipment are great options to consider.

I’m not implying that all ultralight gear is overly delicate and not worth the environmental impact, but I do think it’s important to be mindful of the lifespan of your gear when making purchases. 

Most of my gear has now seen multiple trails, and I hope to continue using the same items for many more trails in the future.

If you’re trying to be ultralight, the easiest way to do this is to simply not own a lot of gear. As luck would have it, this is also the most environmentally friendly choice.

Reduce your consumption, budget, and base weight at the same time by not packing those unnecessary items. For me, this means never purchasing an inflatable pillow. For you, this may look different. The best thing you can do is stay mindful of your habits on trail and only buy the items you truly need. 

2. Getting to the Trail

Transportation to and from trailheads can have a significant environmental impact, but there are ways to reduce it. Whenever possible, carpool with other hikers or use ground-based public transportation to minimize emissions. Many long-distance trails have online communities or forums where hikers can connect to share rides. If flying is unavoidable, consider offsetting your carbon footprint through a reputable carbon offset program. 

Carpooling is great for local adventures as well! Coordinate with your friends when hiking around your hometown to minimize the number of cars on the road.

The good news is you’ll soon be getting around almost exclusively by walking and hitchhiking — two exceptionally environmentally friendly modes of travel. Go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back for that. 

On the Tail

The choices you make while hiking and camping are just as important as your preparation.

3. Follow Leave No Trace Principles

The seven Leave No Trace (LNT) principles serve as a guide for minimizing human impact in natural spaces. These include planning ahead, traveling on durable surfaces, properly disposing of waste, leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impact, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of others.

Camp in designated locations when possible and certainly avoid camping above treeline.

On trail, stick to established paths to avoid trampling vegetation, even if it means taking a less direct route. Avoid shortcutting switchbacks, which can cause erosion and damage fragile ecosystems. When you take breaks, choose durable surfaces like rocks or dry ground, rather than delicate plants or moss.

The most common ways thru-hikers fail to adhere to LNT principles often stem from carelessness and convenience, such as not properly disposing of waste, shortcutting switchbacks, random-camping above treeline (alpine ecosystems are fragile!), and ignoring fire restrictions. We’re all out there because we love nature. Don’t get lazy and complacent with your habits — hiking a long distance doesn’t exempt you from the regulations, no matter how tired you may be!

4. Repair Over Replace

Trail life is hard on gear, and small issues can quickly turn into big problems if not addressed. Repairing gear instead of discarding it for a new item not only keeps you comfortable and safe but also reduces waste. Carry a basic repair kit that includes items like tape, a needle and thread, and patches.

Learn simple fixes for common issues like patching a tear in your tent, sewing a ripped pack strap, or sealing a leaky sleeping pad. Many gear companies provide repair instructions or sell repair kits tailored to their products, so check for resources before your hike.

Repairing Busdriver’s pack in town with a needle and some dental floss.

Taking care of your gear also means taking care of the trail. A repaired pack or patched jacket keeps you from leaving behind broken gear or other waste. It also helps you get the most out of your investment, making it a win for you, your wallet, and the environment.

Food and Waste

The food you pack for a thru-hike plays a significant role in your environmental impact. Every wrapper, package, and uneaten meal has a footprint, and how you handle your waste is just as important as what you bring. Being mindful about food choices and waste management can make a big difference.

5. Food Choices

Start by selecting food with minimal packaging. Thru-hikers can attest that the pile of packaging left behind after each resupply can be massive. Not only will making an effort to reduce your packaging help you to be more environmentally friendly, but it will also save you from having to use a giant bag for all your garbage between towns.

And, just for fun, always take advantage of the identifiable and edible treats along the way!

If you’re prepping your meals at home, consider using vacuum-sealable bags that can be washed and reused for future hikes. Dehydrating your own meals is another great way to control packaging and reduce the need for heavily processed, prepackaged trail food.

When buying prepackaged items like energy bars or freeze-dried meals, look for companies that use compostable or recyclable packaging. While it’s not always possible to go entirely waste-free on trail, even small changes — like choosing a large bag of trail mix over individually wrapped snacks — add up over the course of a long hike.

6. Packing Out Trash

No matter how careful you are, you’ll likely generate some waste on the trail. The golden rule here is simple: pack it in, pack it out. This includes everything from food wrappers to broken gear. A lightweight, sealable bag is perfect for collecting trash as you hike. Some hikers use odor-proof bags to manage smells and keep critters away from their packs.

I use my BearVault for both food and trash storage.

Remember, it’s not just your own trash you should be mindful of. If you come across litter on the trail, consider packing that out too. Leaving the trail cleaner than you found it helps protect the wilderness for everyone.

I can’t even tell you how many Welch’s Fruit Snack wrappers I would find on every stretch of the CDT, but it’s easy to just grab these and shove them in your own trash bag. I’m sure I accidentally dropped a few wrappers somewhere between Mexico and Canada, and I’d like to think a good Samaritan behind me grabbed those.

7. Burying Human Waste

Properly disposing of human waste is one of the most important ways to minimize your impact on the trail. Follow Leave No Trace guidelines by digging a cathole at least 6-8 inches deep and 200 feet away from water sources, trails, and campsites. Pack out all toilet paper and hygiene products in a resealable bag — yes, even if the packaging says they’re biodegradable.

Some hikers prefer to carry a lightweight trowel to make digging catholes easier, while others swear by using a sturdy trekking pole for the job. If you’re in a highly sensitive area or one with specific regulations, consider carrying a portable waste system, like a wag bag, to pack out your waste entirely.

I bring a WAG bag every time I hike above treeline. Luckily, I’ve never had to use it (because, gross!), but I’d rather be prepared than mess up this incredibly fragile ecosystem.

By making thoughtful choices about food and waste, you can get that deeply satisfying feeling of knowing you’ve done your part to leave the trail better than you found it.

Giving Back While Off-Trail

Your responsibility to protect the wilderness doesn’t end when your hike is over. The actions you take off-trail can have a lasting impact on the environment and the hiking community, and are a great way to give back to the trail.

Trail crew in the rain, organized through the Colorado 14ers Initiative.

8. Donate

Supporting organizations dedicated to trail maintenance, conservation, and public land protection is one of the easiest ways to give back. Trail stewardship organizations like the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Pacific Crest Trail Association, and Continental Divide Trail Coalition rely on donations to fund trail upkeep, educational initiatives, and advocacy efforts.

If financial contributions aren’t possible, consider donating your time. Volunteer opportunities, such as clearing trails, repairing shelters, or assisting with educational programs, allow you to make a hands-on impact. Many organizations host trail maintenance events where you can connect with like-minded people while giving back to the trails you love.

Working with a crew to install check steps on Quandary Peak. Not only was the weekend incredibly fulfilling (and wet and cold!), but it’s made that hike even more special now to see the effort I put into the trail.

9. Educate

Sharing what you’ve learned about minimizing your impact can inspire others to follow suit. Whether it’s through social media, hiking forums, or conversations with friends, spreading awareness helps reinforce responsible practices within the hiking community.

If you encounter someone on the trail who isn’t following Leave No Trace principles, approach the situation kindly and offer helpful suggestions. For example, if you see someone camping above treeline, mention how camping in alpine areas can damage fragile ecosystems and suggest they move to a lower, more durable location. Education, when done with respect, often leads to positive change.

To Sum It Up

Nobody’s perfect, and thru-hiking is a journey full of learning curves. Over the course of hundreds or even thousands of miles, mistakes will happen—it’s part of being human. Thru-hiking is hard and incredibly tiring, and it’s easy to slip into an entitled mindset of doing whatever you want while on the trail. What matters most is staying conscious of your decisions, making a consistent effort to minimize your impact, and adjust your habits as you go.

As much as hikers hate to hear it, your thru-hike is a vacation. You chose to be there. It’s your responsibility to adhere to LNT principles regardless of how tired you are.

Even small, intentional changes — packing smarter, managing waste responsibly, or educating others — can add up to a meaningful difference, especially when multiplied across the hiking community. When every hiker makes the effort to tread lightly, we protect the wilderness we love and ensure it remains as beautiful for future hikers as it was for us.

Nobody is perfect! Taking the time and space to educate yourself and recognize the importance of your impact is the first step towards being the best steward you can be.

Take the steps you can, one at a time, just like on the trail, and let your actions speak for the kind of stewardship we all aspire to.

Featured image: Photo via Katie Jackson; graphic design by Zack Goldmann.

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Comments 2

  • Jake : Feb 3rd

    I think it’s really important to follow LNT to preserve the environment, but I reckon even with all of the single use plastic-wrapped food and the occasional long shuttle, my carbon footprint out on the trail is about 5% of what it is back in everyday life. Electricity use is near zero, waste is near zero, and I’m driving an average of zero miles a week!

    Reply
  • Dana : Feb 12th

    I’m waiting for someone to seriously consider the heavy shedding of microplastics inherent in Alpha D in remote and wilderness environments.
    This list is pretty nice, but also seems inherently privileged. Also ~ don’t heavily supplement your trail diet with wild berries and other foods. The local critters and birds depend on them to survive; eat your expensive bar in compostable wrapping instead.

    Reply

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