Digital Leave No Trace: Yes, you can cause harm without directly violating LNT IRL

We’ve all heard of Leave No Trace: the seven principles that help us protect the outdoors by minimizing our impact. And you probably already know the basics: stay on the trail, pack out your trash, don’t feed wildlife, and so on. But there’s one area we don’t talk about nearly enough: what happens after we leave the trail.

I call it digital Leave No Trace, and it might be just as important as the physical kind.

Online behavior shapes IRL behavior

Social media has changed how we explore the outdoors. Beautiful shots of wildflower meadows, alpine lakes, and scenic overlooks inspire us to get outside. And, of course, that’s not a bad thing.

But when we share those photos without context or care, we may be unintentionally encouraging others to harm the very places we claim to love.

Here’s a real example: I recently shared a video showing public Instagram posts tagged at Mount Rainier National Park. These were not just casual nature shots. Many clearly showed people trampling meadows, feeding wildlife, or going off-trail (direct violations of Leave No Trace).

Every time I share a video like this, I get pushback: accusations of “shaming,” demands to blur usernames, and defensive comments like “I didn't see any signs.”

So let’s talk about one of those comments in particular.

Perception outweighs intention

One post I included showed two people laying on a picnic blanket in what looked like a protected meadow. The original poster commented that not only were they told it was okay by a ranger, but the ranger was sitting right there when they took the photo.

Let’s assume they’re telling the truth. Let’s say the ranger really did give them the green light. Even so, there’s a big difference between what happened and what was posted.

To anyone scrolling past that image online, it looks like people violating Leave No Trace. It looks like they’re lounging in a fragile wildflower field. And because social media strips away all context, viewers don’t know what conversation happened with the ranger. They just see a dreamy photo that they now want to recreate—whether or not it's responsible to do so.

Intent vs. impact

Here’s the thing: you don’t need a massive following to influence behavior. Whether you have 20 followers or 200,000, the content you post has ripple effects.

People imitate what they see. If your cousin sees your cute meadow picnic and doesn’t know the context, they might try to do the same thing in a different park. Multiply that by the millions of people who visit national parks each year, and the cumulative impact becomes massive.

The harm this causes

Still think it’s no big deal? Let’s talk data:

• According to the National Park Service, it can take over 50 years for vegetation in alpine tundra environments to recover from a single human footprint.

• In high-use wildflower areas, picking flowers can prevent plants from reproducing. Some species take 5–7 years to regenerate.

• Every year, dozens to hundreds of animals are euthanized in national parks due to human interaction—often from feeding wildlife, getting too close for photos, or disrupting fragile ecosystems.

The land can’t speak for itself. So we have to.

What is digital Leave No Trace?

Digital Leave No Trace is the practice of posting content responsibly to avoid promoting harmful behavior—intentionally or not. Just like how we wouldn’t leave trash on a trail, we shouldn’t leave digital breadcrumbs that encourage others to stray from best practices.

Some things to consider before you post:

• Would someone with no background knowledge of LNT be able to recreate this photo safely and ethically?

• Could this content be misinterpreted as encouraging behavior that damages the environment?

• Is this image reinforcing bad habits or setting a bad example?

If you MUST post something questionable:

• Include detailed context in your caption.

• Explain how you got the shot ethically.

• Tag trusted resources like @leavenotraceorg or outdoor educators who provide more information.

But honestly? If you’re not sure it’s responsible to share… maybe don’t.

Some of the most popular outdoor content is shot in ways that look unethical—even if it technically isn’t. For example, many viral wildflower videos are filmed on designated trails, but they appear as though people are running through meadows.

The problem? Most people won’t know that. They’ll see a magical video and try to recreate it—off-trail, in an actual protected area. Perception shapes behavior.

If you’re a creator or a photographer, consider this a call to lead with transparency. Share how you got the shot, talk about your LNT practices, and educate your followers along the way. Some of the best landscape photographers I know do exactly that—and they build loyal, respectful communities because of it.

Accountability isn’t shaming (although I'm OK with a little shaming)

It’s not mean to call someone in. It’s not cruel to care about the impact our content has on the places we love. It’s easy to feel defensive. Being held accountable (especially publicly) can feel like bullying and harassment when you lack the ability to learn and grow. But we’ve all made mistakes (myself included). But the goal isn’t to “cancel” anyone (as if I had that kind of power). It’s to help people learn.

I’ve personally taken and posted photos that violated Leave No Trace when I first started my outdoorsy life as an adult. I just didn't know. But here's the thing: When I learned better, I took the photos down and then talked about why. I used it as a learning experience. That’s the work. That’s how we grow.

Final thoughts

We all have a role to play in protecting our public lands—online and off. If we want these places to exist for future generations, we have to lead by example.

That means:

• Practicing physical Leave No Trace on the trail

• Practicing digital Leave No Trace online

• Taking responsibility for the influence we have, no matter the size of our platform

Because the truth is, these parks aren’t getting more funding. They’re not getting more protection. And they’re definitely not getting more time to recover from the damage we cause.

They need us. Let’s do better for them, for each other, and for the future.