Leave No Trace

 

At Adventure Idaho, we believe the best way to protect Idaho’s wild rivers is to experience them responsibly and leave them better than we found them.

 

Every Adventure Idaho guide is formally trained in Leave No Trace (LNT) principles and wilderness river ethics drawn from best practices on iconic rivers like the Salmon River, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Main Salmon, and the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. These standards are not suggestions. They are how professional river travel is done.

 

Each season, our guides teach these same practices to thousands of guests, creating a ripple effect of stewardship that extends far beyond the river corridor.

 

A Wild Place Worth Protecting

 

The Salmon River welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year, yet it still feels remote, quiet, and deeply personal. Entire camps often belong to a single group. Long stretches of river pass with no one else in sight. Nights are dark and still.

 

That experience only exists because people before you cared enough to leave no trace.

 

Our goal is simple: when the next group arrives, it should look like no one was ever there.

 

Core Leave No Trace Principles We Practice and Teach

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Leave Camps Better Than You Found Them

 

Every Adventure Idaho trip follows a strict “leave it cleaner” standard:

 

• All camps are restored before departure

• No evidence of occupation should remain

• The goal is a natural, untouched beach for the next visitor

 

Before leaving camp, guides and guests work together to ensure nothing is left behind.

 

Microtrash Is Still Trash

 

Microtrash is one of the biggest long-term impacts on wilderness rivers.

 

We actively teach and enforce:

 

• Daily microtrash patrols at camp and lunch stops

• Picking up even the smallest items:

   

  • Food crumbs

  • Twist ties

  • Bottle caps

  • Foil

  • Zip-tie ends

  • Plastic corners

• Final camp sweeps before departure

 

If it didn’t grow there, it leaves with us.

 

No Rock Stacking, Digging, or Modifying Nature

 

Rock stacking, trenching, digging, and rearranging natural features permanently alter wilderness areas.

 

We strictly follow these rules:

 

• No rock stacks, cairns, or markers

• No sand castles, trenches, or holes

• No rolling, throwing, or moving rocks

• No breaking branches or modifying vegetation

• No carving, writing, or marking natural features

 

Before leaving camp, all sand is smoothed, footprints minimized, and any disturbances erased.

 

Nature stays natural.

 

Boat Mooring and Beach Protection

 

To protect fragile sandy beaches:

 

• Boats are secured using removable sand stakes, never rocks or buried objects

• Stakes are fully removed before departure

• No dragging boats unnecessarily across vegetation or sensitive areas

 

Beaches should look untouched once we leave.

 

Fire Practices and Ash Management

 

Campfires are part of the river experience, but only when done responsibly.

 

We follow professional river fire standards used on the Main Salmon, Middle Fork, and Grand Canyon:

 

• Fires are built only in fire pans

• Fire blankets are used to protect sand beneath pans

• Fires are kept small and efficient

• All ash and charcoal are packed out, never buried or scattered

• During high fire danger, fire use may be restricted.

 

When we leave, there is zero evidence a fire ever existed.

 

Dishwashing and Food Waste

 

Improper dishwashing is a major source of pollution and wildlife attraction.

 

Our dishwashing system includes:

 

• Straining dishwater to remove all food particles

• Packing out all food waste

• Disposing of strained dishwater above the high-water line

• Using a mild bleach solution as appropriate to sanitize

• Never dumping food scraps or greasy water on beaches or into vegetation

 

Clean water protects fish, wildlife, and downstream users.

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Human Waste and Hygiene

 

Protecting water quality is non-negotiable.

 

We follow U.S. Forest Service–approved river sanitation standards:

 

• All solid human waste is packed out using sealed, sanitized portable toilet systems (commonly called groovers)

• Systems are cleaned and sanitized after every trip

• Toilet areas are discreet, respectful, and properly managed

 

For urination, we teach a simple and proven principle used across major river corridors:

 

Urinate directly in the river, not on land.

 

This prevents odors, protects vegetation, and reduces wildlife attraction. As the river community says, dilution is the solution to pollution.

 

Respect for Wildlife and Other River Users

 

The Salmon River is home to diverse wildlife and shared by many user groups.

 

We teach guests to:

 

• Observe wildlife from a distance

• Secure food and trash at all times

• Never feed animals

• Keep camps quiet and respectful

• Respect the experience of other boaters, anglers, hikers, and rangers

 

Wilderness is a shared space.

 

Teaching Stewardship, Not Just Rules

 

Our guides don’t just enforce Leave No Trace. They explain why it matters.

 

On every trip, guests learn:

 

• Why microtrash accumulates over decades

• How careless camps damage fragile beaches

• Why moving rocks disrupts ecosystems

• How small actions add up on heavily visited rivers

 

The goal is not compliance. It’s understanding.

 

Why This Matters

 

We believe exposure leads to empathy.

 

The more people experience Idaho’s wilderness firsthand, the stronger the collective voice becomes to protect it.

 

Every guest who practices Leave No Trace on the river takes that knowledge with them to new rivers, new trails, and future generations.

 

By running clean trips, restoring camps, teaching stewardship, and modeling respect for wild places, Adventure Idaho helps ensure that the next person’s first glimpse of the Salmon River feels just as wild, pristine, and special as yours.