Glossary / Glossary Categories / Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace

25 terms

Browse definitions, examples, and related concepts for 25 leave no trace terms commonly used in camping and backpacking.

Key Terms at a Glance

Term Definition
animal waste Waste matter discharged from the bowels of animals.
backcountry sanitation The practices and equipment used to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in...
backcountry toilet A designated or improvised area in the wilderness for human waste disposal,...
camping latrine A temporary toilet set up at a campsite, often a simple hole in the ground.
camp toilet A temporary, portable, or improvised toilet facility used at a campsite.
composting toilet A type of toilet found in some backcountry areas, designed to break down...
drop toilet A simple outdoor toilet, often in remote areas, consisting of a hole in the...
dry toilet A toilet that operates without the use of water.

animal waste

noun

Waste matter discharged from the bowels of animals.

backcountry sanitation

noun

The practices and equipment used to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in remote, undeveloped areas.

backcountry toilet

noun

A designated or improvised area in the wilderness for human waste disposal, often including a hole dug in the ground.

biodegradable soap

noun

A type of soap made to decompose naturally and not cause harm to the environment.

camping latrine

noun

A temporary toilet set up at a campsite, often a simple hole in the ground.

camp toilet

noun

A temporary, portable, or improvised toilet facility used at a campsite.

composting toilet

noun

A type of toilet found in some backcountry areas, designed to break down human waste through aerobic decomposition...

drop toilet

noun

A simple outdoor toilet, often in remote areas, consisting of a hole in the ground with a basic seat above it.

dry toilet

noun

A toilet that operates without the use of water.

eco-toilet

noun

An environmentally friendly toilet system designed to minimize waste and conserve resources, often used in outdoor...

flush toilet

noun

A toilet that disposes of human waste by using water to flush it through a drainpipe to another location for disposal.

green toilet

noun

A toilet that uses environmentally friendly processes such as composting.

latrine

noun

A designated outdoor toilet area, often a simple pit or trench, used for human waste disposal in remote locations.

leave no trace (LNT)

noun

A set of outdoor practices defined by the Leave No Trace Center of Outdoor Ethics. The framework of the LNT message...

pack it in, pack it out

noun

A promise to take out everything you bring into nature. This idea is one of the original doctrines of backcountry...

pit toilet

noun

A small unattached structure that offers toilet facilities in outdoor areas. Outhouses typically do not have...

portable toilet

noun

A lightweight, compact toilet that can be easily transported and used in outdoor settings.

privy

noun

A simple, often rustic toilet facility found at campgrounds and trail shelters, typically consisting of a pit or...

sanitation

noun

The maintenance of cleanliness and hygienic conditions to protect health, especially in outdoor environments like...

separating toilet

noun

A toilet designed to separate solid and liquid waste, often used in remote or environmentally sensitive areas to...

toilet paper

noun

A soft, absorbent paper product specifically designed for personal hygiene and sanitation purposes.

urine diversion toilet

noun

A type of toilet that separates urine from feces to reduce odor and simplify waste management.

waste bag

noun

A bag or container used to store and pack out human waste, toilet paper, or other trash while hiking in order to...

waste disposal

noun

The process of disposing of waste materials, such as garbage.

waste station

noun

A place one can dispose of black water and gray water from RV holding tanks can. These facilities sometimes offer...