Leave No Trace Calculator

Waste and impact minimization from group size and duration.

Group size

Trip duration (days)

Camp Type

Fire Use

Camp-to-water (ft)

Tab to move between fields

Impact score (0–100)

Impact rating2

Total trash (lb)6

Cat holes needed12

WAG bags needed12

Gray water (gal)6

Firewood needed (lb)18

Fire Scar (sq ft)3

RatingLow

How to Use This Calculator

Enter group size and trip duration (days), then choose a camp type: ultralight/LNT-focused, standard backpacking, or car camping.
Select your fire use level (no fire, small campfire, or large campfire) and enter the camp-to-water distance in feet.
Read the LNT impact score (0–100, lower is better) and impact rating (Minimal, Low, Moderate, or High).
Review the estimated total trash, cat holes and WAG bags needed, gray water volume, and firewood/fire scar estimates.
Use these results to plan trip logistics that minimize impact, such as packing out more waste or reducing fire use.

How the result changes with Trip duration (days)

Group size: Number of people in your camping group.
Trip duration (days): Number of days/nights on the trip.
Camp Type: Camping style affects environmental impact.
Fire Use: Campfire usage level.
Camp-to-water (ft): Distance from camp to nearest water source. LNT recommends 200+ ft.

Impact score (0–100): Environmental impact score. Lower is better. Under 20 = Minimal impact.
Impact rating: 1 = Minimal, 2 = Low, 3 = Moderate, 4 = High impact.
Total trash (lb): Estimated pack-it-out trash weight for the trip.
Cat holes needed: Number of 6–8" deep cat holes needed (200+ ft from water).
WAG bags needed: Pack-out waste bags if above treeline or in sensitive areas.
Gray water (gal): Cooking/washing water to scatter 200+ ft from water sources.
Firewood needed (lb): Estimated firewood consumption. Use only dead and downed wood.

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Group size = 4, Trip duration (days) = 3, Camp Type = 2, Fire Use = 1 = 5 input(s) provided
Calculate Impact score
Impact score
39 = 39
Calculate Impact rating
Impact rating
2 = 2
Calculate Total trash
Total trash = dailyTrashLb * tripDays
6 = 6