Practice these Leave No Trace tips while visiting to do your part. 

Tip #1 | Have a Poop Plan

Poop in the form of human and pet waste or diapers can pollute water and gross-out other visitors. Use the restrooms provided at trailheads and day-use areas. Oak Creek Canyon is too steep and busy to go to the bathroom outside and not add significant pollution to the water source. It is never advisable to poop or pee near the creek. In an emergency, the cat-hole method can help with decomposition, but know that this will still add contaminants to the creek | Watch a Video >

At Oak Creek with small children or your dog?

• Here is a diaper hack — Wrap a sealable bag in duct tape to have a discrete, durable, and sealable way to pack out diapers. Drybags can be an excellent option | Learn How >
  
  
• Here is a dog poop bag hack —Take your dog poop all the way to a trash can or make your own DIY pack out bag that is a smell-proof, reusable dog poop carrier | Learn How >

Tip #2 | Stick To Trails

Trails give us a place to explore while leaving the rest of the landscape intact for nature to flourish. Leaving the trail can damage plants, stress out wildlife, and be dangerous. Arizona is also home to living soil crusts, avoid busting the crust | See How > 

Did you Know? 
As few as 25 footsteps can already start to create a new trail. Stick to the trail to stay safe and Leave No Trace.

Tip #3 | Trash Your Trash

Pack everything out, even fruit peels and other food waste can last years when left outside. Trash can make wildlife sick and change their habits. Several of the species here are threatened, endangered, or sensitive. Lower Oak Creek is designated as an important bird area | Learn More >

Let’s take everything to a trash can or recycling bin. Dog poop receptacles are not large enough for trash items and should only be used for pet waste. If a trash can is full, find another trash can or, better yet, take it home with you. Wildlife such as ravens and crows disperse the trash or eat it which is unhealthy and promotes negative behaviors.

Did You Know?
Aluminum cans can last 100 years, and plastic never completely goes away. How long do other items take? | Find Out >

Tip #4 | Protect Watersheds

Oak Creek Canyon is a watershed. Think of a watershed as a giant earth-sized funnel. That means anything we do in this area can end up in the water, including contaminants and litter. Human waste causes E. coli pollution and harms the plants and animals that live here. Use restrooms and pack out all trash, including dog poop and diapers.