Van life has quite a reputation. From being dirty hippies to rich kids who don’t want to work, there are a wide variety of negative stigmas that are taken on by travelers. One of the big ones is that we trash the land wherever we go. While most of the nomads I have met do the opposite, it’s important to understand and follow Leave No Trace for van life.
By Bekah Whitney
To adventure travelers, van life provides an incredible opportunity to escape being chained to one single location. Our home is close to wherever we want to explore next, be it the incredible mountain biking trails in Fruita, Colorado, interesting hiking in Snow Canyon State Park in St. George, Utah, or even in a campground 15 minutes away from world class skiing and snowboarding at Heavenly Mountain in South Lake Tahoe, California.
However, with great freedom comes great responsibility. Public lands only stay public if they are able to be managed properly by the offices that oversee them and the people who use them. This includes preserving the natural state of the land, protecting the plants and animals that live there, and keeping the people who recreate there safe.
In this article, we will explore the importance of Leave No Trace for van life, weekend warriors, and others enjoying the land.
Leave No Trace is a set of principles and outdoor ethics that promote responsible behavior and minimal environmental impact when enjoying and exploring nature. They were developed in the 1960s by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management, in collaboration with outdoor enthusiasts and environmental organizations.
The primary goal of the principles is to educate the public on potential impacts of their actions while recreating in nature with an emphasis in the importance of preserving the integrity of ecosystems, minimizing pollution, and respecting the experiences of others.
There are 7 core Leave No Trace principles that serve as a guiding framework for responsible outdoor recreation. We will briefly go through each principle and why it’s important.
Although this is great advice for any endeavor for safety reasons, this principle pertains more to research of the area and what human behavior may have negative impacts before recreating.
For example, when exploring the Bloomington Cave in St. George, we had to apply for a permit and learn about the dangers of carrying diseases from one cave to another, the negative impacts on local bat populations, and how to avoid doing further damage. Then, we had a wonderful time spelunking with confidence that we weren’t going to wipe out the resident bat population with a highly transmissible disease.
This is such a huge one for van lifers that camp on public lands. When driving, parking, and camping try to find a spot that will have the least impact on the vegetation. In the desert especially, you should always find a pre-established spot and not set up on any vegetation, as it is especially fragile. Avoiding off-trail travel helps protect native plants, prevent soil erosion, reduce habitat degradation and fragmentation for animals, thus maintaining the natural beauty of the surroundings.
From trash to human waste this principle emphasizes the importance of keeping natural areas free from litter, water sources clean, and spots enjoyable for others. The best rule of thumb is that anything packed in must be packed out, and yes this includes poop.
If every single person who visited an area picked a bouquet of flowers, there would be none left for others to enjoy. This principle is simply asking you to enjoy nature without changing it so that the next person can enjoy it in the same way. This helps with preservation and maintains an ecological balance.
Fires are part of what makes us human. It was the original way we cooked food and started to evolve into the species we are today. Unfortunately, fires can have significant impacts on ecosystems and leave lasting scars. When making a fire, practice fire safety to not start wildfires.
Depending on where you are camping, you may want to use a fire ring that has already been created or “hide” as much evidence as you can that there was a fire. For example if you are camping in Wilderness areas where fires are allowed you will want to destroy your fire ring and bury the ashes (in some areas you must pack out the ashes). In national forest areas with prevalent camping, you will want to keep the fire ring intact so that others keep fires contained to one spot. Research and talking to the local forest service are great ways to learn what you should do if you’re unsure or unfamiliar with an area.
Many highlights of my adventures are seeing wildlife. Respecting wildlife can mean a whole bunch of different things. From keeping yourself safe from a moose or bison charging you to preventing your dog from chasing deer, remember these few key things. Always observe animals from a distance, do NOT feed them, and avoid actions that may disrupt their natural behavior.
Although this principle is mixed in with the other principles, this is added in to remind people that this land is public. You do not have any more right to use it than anyone else. Public land also has a “first come, first served” principle added to it. If someone is camping in your favorite spot, you just have to find another spot until they leave.
Human behavior has changed many ecosystems and even wiped out species. Although we can’t control or protect everything, we can do our best to preserve the lands we enjoy. The Leave No Trace principles are simple guidelines that make a huge difference. If everyone who visits these lands takes care of them and treats them with respect, we will be able to be enjoy them for generations to come.
When offices are not able to properly manage lands they will sell or transfer the land to a private seller or another agency. This happened outside of St. George, Utah. The desert we loved to camp in was trashed. People were living out there full time, dumping large amounts of trash such as mattresses and old appliances, and shooting guns too close to the city limits. The office that managed this area did not have the budget to keep the fragile ecosystem protected, so it was traded to a conservation group. This obviously was something that very much needed to happen, but if people respected the land in the first place, it would still be public land that everyone could enjoy freely.
Gray water is oftentimes fine to dump where you are camped, but there are some guidelines to follow. Only dump if the soap you use is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. If there are any chemicals, such as phosphates (found in many soaps), chlorine (found in bleach), ammonia (found in glass cleaner), harsh solvents (such as paint thinners) you must use an actual dump station.
When safe to dump gray water ensure that you are at least 200 feet away from any water sources, such as rivers, lakes, or streams. This distance helps prevent contamination and protects aquatic ecosystems.
Urine, being sterile, is not as huge of a concern as feces and gray water with chemicals. Many van lifers will have a urine diverter and dump it where they are camping. To ensure proper disposal follow these guidelines:
As for feces, the best option is to pack it out and dispose of it in a dumpster. If you are backpacking or hiking remember your hole must be at least 6 inches deep and 200 feet from water, campsites, and trails. Also toilet paper must be packed out! Since I have a dog, I use my biodegradable doggie bags to pack out any toilet paper I may have used.
As high of a standard as I hold myself to never littering, I know there is no way I can be 100% sure a piece of trash didn’t get swept away in the wind or a piece of trash has never fallen out of my pocket. Before leaving any campsite I have used, I walk around and pick up trash, yes even trash that is not mine, because I want to leave this spot I called home better than I found it. One rule I love to live by is that if you see litter, it is now yours, so pick it up.
Your actions impact the world around you. You have the power to learn what those impacts are and how to make them positive or as insignificant as possible. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about doing your best and educating others.
Comment below and let me know if you have any specific questions or have anything to add! Make sure to share with others who love to recreate in nature so that we can all do so responsibly.
Hi! I’m Bekah, but you can call me Beks, all my friends do! I travel full-time in a tiny home on wheels that my partner, Sawyer, and I built from a cargo trailer shell in 2019. We started out in beautiful Colorado and have been all over the United States over the years. This space is designed to inspire and guide the nature obsessed nomad, weekend warrior, and future roadlifer. I’m so excited you’re here!
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7 Comments on Preserving Nature’s Beauty: Leave No Trace for Van Life
It's a good way to life by, leave no trace. Even if you don't live the van-life.
Love these suggestions.. I have been working hard to leave no trace in many parts of my life, and I am encouraged by others who do the same.
Such an inspiring article, heaps of great tips here and we can all do things to help the environment and leave no trace
Love this! I try to do this + encourage others to do this as well whenever I go hiking/camping/backpacking.
Love it!!! Thanks for reading
You've really explained the Leave No Trace Principles well for those who may not be familiar with them, and I really appreciate your explicit links between the Principles and van life. Hopefully everyone follows these guidelines to keep natural areas in top shape!
Thanks for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed it!