The Backcountry Bathroom Guide

This is the Leave No Trace principle people most reliably get wrong, and the consequences are water contamination and unpleasant heavily used sites. The technique is simple and the placement rules are what actually matter.

1. 1

   Get 200 feet from water, trails, and camp

   That is roughly 70 adult paces. This distance protects water sources from contamination and keeps sites usable for everyone. Pace it out rather than eyeballing it — most people underestimate 200 feet substantially.

2. 2

   Dig a proper cathole

   Six to eight inches deep and four to six inches across, in organic soil where decomposition is fastest. A trowel makes this quick; digging with a boot heel or a stick produces holes that are too shallow. Choose an inconspicuous spot others are unlikely to use.

3. 3

   Fill it in and disguise the site

   Cover completely with the original soil and disguise with natural material. Do not build a cairn or marker. In areas with heavy use, scatter your sites rather than clustering them where others obviously have.

4. 4

   Pack out toilet paper

   Buried toilet paper breaks down slowly and animals dig it up. Carry it out in a doubled opaque zip bag — adding a little baking soda controls odour. Some people use natural materials instead, which reduces what you carry out and takes some practice.

5. 5

   Know where packing everything out is required

   Alpine zones, deserts, canyons, river corridors, glaciers, and many heavily used areas require human waste to be packed out entirely, using a wag bag or similar sealed system. These rules exist where soil is too thin or use too heavy for catholes to work. Check with the managing agency before your trip.

   Leave No TraceThe full set of principles in context

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6. 6

   Urine is simpler, with two exceptions

   Urine is largely sterile and mainly a concern for concentration and salt-seeking wildlife. Go on rock, gravel, or dirt rather than vegetation, and stay 200 feet from water. In heavily used areas, spreading it out prevents odour accumulation at popular spots.

Kit and Distances