Outdoor Code of Ethics

• Know the rules, access rights, restrictions in effect, and specifics of the site.
• Prepare for bad weather, natural hazards and other emergencies.
• Plan trips during low-traffic periods.
• Explore less frequented areas. Divide large groups and go out in smaller groups of 4 to 6 people.
• Bring a compass and an up-to-date map.
• Repack food in reusable containers to minimize waste.

• Travel and camp on existing trails and campsites.
• For off-trail travel, stay on durable surfaces: bare ground, rock, sand, dry grass, deep snow.
• Avoid altering a site to camp: a good site is found, not made.
• Protect shorelines by camping more than 60 m from lakes and streams.

In frequented areas:

• Use designated trails and campsites.
• Walk in single file down the middle of the trail, even if it is muddy or wet.
• Limit the camping area. Concentrate your activities on areas without vegetation.

In pristine, remote or isolated areas:

• Disperse its impact so as not to create new trails or campsites.
• Avoid damaging surfaces that have suffered little or no impact.

• Bring back waste that was carried in. Separate regular waste from hazardous waste. Burning waste in a campfire is not an acceptable solution.
• Thoroughly inspect picnic areas and campsites for trash, food scraps, cigarette butts and other micro-waste.
• Deposit human feces in a hole dug more than 60 m (or about 70 adult footsteps) from water sources, trails and campsites. Dig the sanitary hole in organic soil 15 to 20 cm deep and dig and camouflage after each use.
• Pack out the toilet paper or put it in the sanitary hole.
• Bath and wash dishes more than 60 m away from waterways. Use a minimum amount of biodegradable soap.
• Spread soiled water in large streams through vegetation.
• Filter food debris through a sieve and place it with the waste to be packed-out before spreading the dishwater.

• Preserve heritage: avoid moving or destroying traditional, historical and cultural elements and sites.
• Leave stones, plants and all other natural objects in their original place and condition.
• Avoid building structures, constructing furniture or digging trenches.
• Prevent the spread of exotic invasive species by removing mud and debris from shoes, clothing and equipment.

• Campfires can cause lasting impacts: cooking on a portable stove is a good solution.
• Place barbecues, fire boxes and portable stoves on durable surfaces.
• Protect soil and roots from burning.
• If open fires are allowed, use designated locations. Keep fires small.
• If wood collection is allowed, burn only dead wood that is collected from the ground and can be broken up by hand.
• Allow pieces of wood and embers to reduce to ash. Completely extinguish fires and check that ashes are cool before leaving the area.

• Leave the field clear for the animals and observe them from a distance.
• Move away at the first sign of nervousness or change in behavior.
• Refrain from feeding animals to avoid harming their health, altering their behavior, or exposing them to predators or other hazards.
• Store food, garbage and other odorous products in a bear-proof barrel, in facilities provided on site, or in car trunks.
• Avoid disturbing animals during sensitive breeding, nesting and calf rearing periods, or during winter.
• Keep control of a pet or leave it safely at home. Pick up after your dog or bury feces in a sanitary hole.

• Act with courtesy. On a narrow trail, give way to uphill hikers.
• Pull over along the trail to give priority to people with mobility aids.
• Take breaks on durable surfaces off the trail.
• Give freedom for the sounds of nature to be heard. Avoid excessive noise. Wear headphones if using electronic devices.
• Limit the use of drones to areas where they are permitted and following the rules.
• On social networks, post photos that demonstrate behavior to better protect natural environments.