Banff National Park of Canada

Backcountry Trip Planner

Backpacking: Minimum Impact Camping and Travel

Camping

Camp only at those campsites indicated on your Wilderness Pass and use the tent pads (where provided). Avoid pitching your tent on undisturbed vegetation. Never dig a trench around your tent or hammer nails into trees. If your route passes through a random camping area, choose a campsite at least 5 km from the nearest trailhead, at least 50 m off the trail, and 70 m from the nearest water source. Do not stay at any one site longer than 3 days. Sleep well away from food storage areas. In some backcountry campgrounds a central cooking / eating area has been constructed near the food storage area, 100 m away from individual campsites. This was done to separate food storage / preparation areas (attractants!) from tenting areas.

Food Storage

To reduce your campsiteâs attractiveness to bears, all food, garbage, toiletries and cooking equipment must be suspended from the food storage cables provided at designated campsites. In random camping areas, find two stout trees and hang your food 4 m above the ground, 2 m from each tree trunk, and 1 m from the rope (bring two 20 m lengths of rope along with you). Make sure that you choose a spot well away from your campsite. Avoid leaving food in your vehicle as it may encourage damage by bears.

Washing

Wash yourself and all dishes well away from lakes, streams or rivers and use little soap if any. Even biodegradable soaps are pollutants. Dispose of gray water on land, at least 50 m from water sources and campsites. Bring a small strainer or cheesecloth, strain out all remaining bits of food waste and pack them out.

Garbage

Litter in the backcountry is both unsightly and hazardous. A piece of broken glass or a shiny bit of foil could magnify the sunâs rays enough to start a forest fire. Animals could be injured scavenging in garbage. They may also learn to associate edible trash with people, resulting in possible danger to travelers who follow. All garbage must be packed out, including diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons, food waste and foil. Litter bags are provided with your Wilderness Pass to make packing out easier. Do not dispose of garbage in pit privies or outhouse buildings ö it may attract animals and shortens the useful life of the privy.

Campfires

Campfires are a luxury in the mountains and are only permitted at certain campsites. If you choose to have a fire, use the metal fireboxes provided, keep your fire small and use only deadfall. Tend your fire at all times and smother it completely before you move on. In random camping areas remove all traces of your fire, including the fire ring, before leaving your site. Gas stoves are cleaner and quicker for cooking and significantly reduce your impact on the environment. We recommend you use one.

Short-cutting Trails

Please take the extra steps and stay on the trail. Short-cutting between trail switchbacks damages the soil and plant life, and causes erosion and trail maintenance problems.

Human Waste

Use the provided pit privies. If there are no facilities provided, select a spot well away from trails, campsites and at least 100 m from water sources. Dig a hole 12 to 16 cm deep with a stick, the heel of your boot or a small trowel. Make sure you reach the dark-coloured, biologically active soil layer. Fill the hole with soil afterward and do not pack it down. Use as little toilet paper as possible. Pack out used toilet paper or burn it if the fire hazard is not extreme.

Dogs

Dogs must be restrained on a leash at all times while in Banff National Park. Dogs may be an intrusion on other backcountry travelers, a threat to wildlife, may provoke confrontations with bears, and are often carriers of Giardia. Please consider leaving your dog at home.

Respect for Others

Hikers share trails and campsites with horse parties and mountain bikers in certain parts of the park. You may plan your trip to avoid encounters with other user groups, but recognize that horse users and cyclists have the same right as you to be in certain areas. Respect for others can go a long way toward reducing conflicts. Move off the trail to allow horse parties to pass, and avoid sudden movements. Cyclists should dismount and walk their bicycles when they encounter hikers or horse parties.

Natural / Cultural Objects

Rocks, fossils, horns, antlers, wildflowers, nests and all other natural or historical objects in a national park are protected by law. Leave them as you found them for others to discover and enjoy. You may be prosecuted for violating this regulation.

Wildlife

Park animals are wild and can be dangerous. Any animal can become aggressive if it feels threatened - make sure you keep your distance. How close is too close? Stay at least 30 to 50 m away from most animals, and at least 100 m away from bears.
Do not feed wildlife. Feeding, touching, or harassing wildlife in a national park is illegal, dangerous, harmful to the animalâs health and alters their natural behaviour.
Black bears and grizzlies are of special concern to backcountry travelers. You can significantly reduce the risk of bear encounters by following the guidelines outlined in the Bear Safety section.

You can learn more about minimizing your impact through Leave No Trace Canada, an organization dedicated to the research and education of minimum impact techniques for travel in wilderness areas. Call toll free, 1.877.238.9343

The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace

1. Plan ahead and be prepared.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3. Dispose of waste properly.
4. Leave what you find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of others.