Tongass National Forest

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Leave No Trace Camping

Plan Ahead and Prepare:

To have a safe and enjoyable paddling trip you must spend time planning your trip. Having the right maps and tide tables, proper gear, appropriate paddling skills and the right amount of food are all very important. The same is true in protecting the places you will visit. Research hazards and possible campsites along your route.

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces:

Durable surfaces are those minimally affected by human use. Examples are rock outcrops, sand, gravel, boardwalks, and roads. Southeast Alaska is a harsh environment for plants, and the growing season is very short. You’ll find thick layers of moss that may look like a wonderful bed, but in fact they're decades old and struggling. By concentrating use on durable surfaces we can enjoy an area and leave it as we found it. In Southeast Alaska the beach is the perfect durable surface. This Website lists campsites on the beach along with the maximum tide that allows use. Because our tides are so big, the only time you may feel a little cramped is right at high water. Another benefit of camping on the beach is it’s the first place to dry out after a rain shower. I’m sure you have been under a tree in a rain storm; the trees do a wonderful job slowing down the moisture but have you noticed that it’s the last place to dry out?

Dispose of Waste Properly:

It’s easy these days to pack out any trash that you may have. The zip lock bags that stored your food easily turn into trash bags that can be brought back to town. Fish viscera should be scattered below the high tide well away from any campsite. Any dish water (use mild soap) is best disposed at low tide. What to do with the other trash we humans create is a little harder. Since urine is typically not a major health concern, the best place for it is the beach. There are several ways to handle feces. One is to use a portable toilet system that is currently available, and bring everything back to town. A second is to dig catholes. A cathole is a shallow hole (6-8” deep) dug at least 200 feet from any fresh water source. A small trowel is very handy for digging catholes. Toilet paper, if you need it, is best completely burned or packed out.

Leave what you find:

Leave things as you find them so the next person can make the same discovery you made.

And remember that it’s unlawful to remove artifacts from our National Forests.

Minimize Campfire Impacts:

These days modern cook stoves make simple work of heating up a meal. They are easy, fast, and reliable. Dry firewood around here is not easy to find. Remember this is a rainforest! If you must build a fire, put it below the high tide and keep it small. A good rule is to use only driftwood or down and dead wood no larger that your wrist. Spend the time to burn everything up and mix the cooled ash into the beach gravel. See the Leave No Trace pamphlet for several fire building tips and techniques that will minimize impacts.

Respect Wildlife:

Marine mammals are one of the wonderful attractions here. Frederick Sound is a great place to see humpback whales and LeConte Bay is home to hundreds of harbor seals. When you'reout paddling, think of yourself as a visitor to the local wildlife’s home. A couple simple rules will protect them and you. Remain at least 100 yards from marine mammals; don’t get between a mother and her young, and limit close viewing to half an hour. When paddling in areas with lots of whale activity, its best to travel as a close group rather then all spread out.

Bears are a fact of life here, so keeping a clean camp will protect you and help keep the wild animals wild. Food should be stored 100 yards from your tent and never in the kayaks. Bears don’t like to be startled, so make some noise then you land at a beach or walk into the woods. When salmon are in the streams, the dinner table is set for the bears, so extra caution is needed. There are several books and pamphlets on camping available at bookstores or on line. Always ask at the local Forest Service or Fish and Game office if there are problem bears in the area you are traveling. A good pair of binoculars will allow you to have incredible encounters without disturbing the wildlife.

Be Considerate of other Visitors:

Our interaction should reflect the knowledge that we can and do enjoy wild lands differently. Although our motivations and sense of adventure vary, there’s always room on the water for people with open minds and generous hearts.

Leave No Trace is a non-profit organization set up in the early 1990’s to help people enjoy an area without damaging it. They offer skill and ethics booklets for many different areas and selected activities. The above principles are from their Sea Kayaking pamphlet. These are very condensed here so please consult the pamphlet for more detailed information. You can get the pamphlet at the Petersburg Forest Service Office or at www.LNT.org

USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest Accessibility Statement
Last Modified: June 06, 2006