7 Responsible Hiking Tips: How To Stay Eco-Friendly On The Trail

After reading an article on ABC News that showed the damage to hiking trails in Tasmania caused by tourists, I thought some insight into responsible hiking would be a good idea.

The mere presence of humans in environments can cause damage and so we need to do our best to help minimise negative impacts.

While I wouldn’t suggest that we should stop hiking altogether, I do think it’s important that we think about hiking in a more sustainable way. As Mufasa says in the Lion King: “it’s our duty to protect these places while we’re here.”

I’ve put together 7 responsible hiking tips to help you stay more eco-friendly on the trail.

1. Don’t litter

Let’s start with the obvious. Despite the fact that we all know we shouldn’t litter, people do it anyway. In U.S. national parks alone, over 100 million pounds of waste is generated annually.

Even biodegradable waste like banana peels and apple cores shouldn’t be discarded carelessly as they can introduce foreign parasites into the environment or teach animals that humans are a provider of food.

Whatever we bring with us, we take back with us. No exceptions.

2. Choose sustainable hiking gear

This may sound like a strange way to protect the environment, but the product choices we make can have a huge impact. It takes a surprising amount of energy to manufacture clothing and outdoor equipment, not to mention some is poor quality and needs to be replaced frequently.

Most manufacturers who care for the environment are proud to show it. Look out for the bluesign on clothing, as this means the product has been made from sustainable textiles. Outdoor brands who are bluesign partners include: Berghaus, Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia and The North Face, to name a few.

Decathlon also has many products that fall under its eco-design label. These products have the lowest possible impact on the environment and society.

Read more: 10 Sustainable Outdoor Clothing Brands

3. Light fires responsibly

According to the National Park Service, nearly 90% of wildfires in the United States are caused by humans. Campfires left unattended and negligently discarded cigarettes are thought to be the main reasons for this.

While fires can be used for keeping warm, providing light and boiling water or food, the increased risk of wildfires is not always worth it. If you must light a fire, never leave it unattended, and be certain it’s extinguished before you move on.

It’s better to use a portable camping stove to boil food and water – a good quality one will last you for years. I like this Jetboil stove – its lightweight, durable and compact.

4. Bring a refillable water bottle and anti-contaminant system

No one wants to get sick from drinking contaminated water, but carrying lots of bottled water on a multi-day hike can be not only inconvenient, but will also create unnecessary plastic waste.

If you’ll be hiking where there will be flowing water sources, why not bring a refillable water bottle with a filter? The Lifestraw is a fantastic option, removing 99.9% of waterborne bacteria and parasites.

Another good option is the steripen. I used a friend’s steripen while on a multi-day hike in Kyrgyzstan, and found this worked really well. It works by destroying bacteria, viruses and parasites with UV light. The steripen is quite pricey, but well worth the investment if you hike frequently.

5. Stay on the trail

It may be tempting to wander off the trail a little way to explore further, but marked trails are usually there for a reason. Not only are trails there to protect you from getting lost or injured, but they’re also there to protect the wildlife and environment.

By concentrating hikers onto a narrow ribbon of soil, trails help limit the trampling of vegetation and disturbance of habitat.

6. Respect wildlife

If you love animals as much as me, the urge to get up close and interact with them is sometimes hard to resist. But let’s not forget; wild animals should remain exactly that – wild. Do not touch, get close to, feed or pick up wild animals.

Not only can disturbing animals cause them stress, but when people touch or pick up young animals, it can cause the animal’s parents to abandon them due to their now unfamiliar scent.

Many people are also under the impression that feeding wildlife is beneficial to them. The reality, though, is that animals can learn to associate humans with food, causing them to drop their innate wariness or instinct to hunt or scavenge for food.

7. Try to visit less popular destinations

Peacefulness is one of the main reasons why I enjoy hiking. I like to get away from the crowds and enjoy being outdoors – with minimal interference from other people. But the negative effects from crowds go beyond disturbing the peace and quiet. Lots of people usually cause damage, and this damage can accrue quickly.

The Everest Base Camp Trek is a popular hike, with an estimated 50,000 people taking to the trail every year. This article from Metro shows the reality of how tourism has impacted the region; “much of the land around the mountain was suffering under the weight of so much rubbish being generated.”

Despite the good intentions of many, there will always be consequences to natural areas which are visited by lots of tourists. I would advise choosing less popular areas to go hiking and give overtouristed destinations a break.

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Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren.

Hotels – Booking.com
Hostels – Hostelworld
Cheap flights – Skyscanner
Travel insurance – World Nomads
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Cycling gear – Chain Reaction Cycles

Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee to say thanks!