This Popular Trend Is A Major Trail Etiquette Mistake Other Hikers Can't Stand

There's a trend being noticed on some hiking trails: Unexpected plastic turtles placed along the path, troll‑house ornaments nailed to trees, even leftover holiday decorations dangling from tree branches long after the holidays have passed. But many hikers aren't charmed by these DIY displays. Redditor u/Toddstar70 put it simply in the r/hiking community: "I was wondering why people think this is cute or fun to bring their garbage into a walking trail where nature is beautiful on its own."

Not only is this not good hiking etiquette, but it can be harmful for nature. First, taking the liberty of transforming a natural trail into a quirky gallery can detract from other hikers' experience of being fully immersed in nature. Secondly, there are ecological implications: Plastic items degrade slowly, can be mistaken for food by animals, or even entangle wildlife, harming and killing animals at unprecedented rates.

Some of this trend comes from well-meaning intentions, such as painted rocks left behind as memorials or positive messages for other hikers. But plastic items really have no place in nature because of the harm they cause. As Redditor u/bentbrook put it: "It's litter. It doesn't belong." JD Tanner of Leave No Trace reminded Backpacker: "Leaving unnatural items along trails or in natural space can disrupt ecosystems, introduce pollutants, and diminish the pristine beauty that attracts people to these areas. Such actions can harm wildlife, spread invasive species, and degrade the outdoor experience for everyone."

Whether you're hiking must-visit destinations around the world or just enjoying your local state park, hiking offers us an amazing chance to get away from the hustle of everyday life (and people). So, many hikers agree that we shouldn't disturb serene, natural environments with our own handiwork. That means following the Leave No Trace set of ethical principles. As we often see on signs in national parks: "Take nothing but pictures....leave nothing but footprints." If nature-based self-expression really calls your name, there are less invasive alternatives than disrupting nature with plastic ornaments, such as pinning notes on community boards and sharing nature photography and art on social media platforms.

It's also inconsiderate for others who feel compelled to clean up after you. As hiker u/DDSkeeter argued about holiday decor left on a tree: "Xmas was 8 weeks ago and this stuff is still up, creating a hazard for wildlife for zero reason. I hate the expectation that someone else will clean up after them!"

Leave No Trace urges us to do exactly that by packing out our trash, doing our very best not to disturb natural areas, and sticking to established trails and campsites whenever possible. Plus, if you're hiking with the whole family, it offers an excellent opportunity to teach kids the Leave No Trace principles so they can become good stewards of nature as they get older. So next time you're tempted to leave a token behind, consider whether it's worth echoing across the ecosystem. Nature offers us abundant spaces that don't need decoration to be unforgettable — and following Leave No Trace helps to keep them wild for years (and generations) to come.