By Robin Esrock

There's something deeply ironic about destroying nature while trying to enjoy it. Yet that's exactly what millions of well-meaning hikers and cyclists do every year, leaving behind a trail of damage, garbage or trampled vegetation that would make Nature weep if she wasn't too busy dealing with climate change. Fortunately, tourism has embraced a variety of positive initiatives and environmental programs. We’re all learning to be more responsible and aware as we head outdoors in search of adventure. 

Watch Out for Micro-Trash
We’ve come a long way since the 1970s, and nobody in their right mind is dumping garbage bags in the bush. We all pick up the big stuff, but how often are we aware of the little things we leave behind? On a recent wilderness trip, my guide asked me to pay special attention to micro-trash. Even tiny pieces of granola bar wrapper, plastics, or fabric can greatly impact wildlife. Once I paid attention, I noticed all sorts of micro-trash and spent a little more time scooping it up for disposal. 

Leave Only Footprints
Pack it in, pack it out, or better yet, unpack before you pack. Place snacks and toiletries into reusable containers, avoiding unnecessary waste. Great Canadian Trails is fully aligned with Leave No Trace Canada, an international educational program to promote the responsible use of natural areas during outdoor recreation activities. For decades, the science-based Leave No Trace program has operated on some basic principles: 

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimise Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Your Hosts and other Visitors. 

It’s simple enough to read and follow, which is why the movement has enjoyed quick adoption worldwide. You can read more about Leave No Trace here. 

Top Gear
When preparing for an exciting outdoor adventure, it’s natural to start looking at new gear. Stronger, lighter, more rugged, more durable. But what about your old gear? The most environmentally friendly gear is the gear you already own. Your 10-year-old daypack might not have the latest suspension system, but it's got something better: zero waste or additional carbon footprint. When you need to replace or upgrade, look for gear from companies with solid environmental cred. Brands like Patagonia, Arc'teryx, REI, MEC and others now offer repair services and recycling programs. 

Stay On The Trail 
Trail braiding keeps park rangers up at night. It's what happens when hikers and cyclists create their own shortcuts, gradually turning single tracks into wide scars across the landscape. The solution is simple: stick to the designated trail. Switchbacks might seem unnecessarily long, but they're designed to prevent erosion and protect fragile ecosystems. Plus, they give you more time to appreciate the journey – and isn't that why you're out there in the first place? GCT itineraries are well-mapped and easy to follow, with plenty of time and space to responsibly follow your nose. 

Water Wisdom
We’ve seen enough plastic water bottles discarded on trails to fill a small lake. The alternative? A good-quality hydration pack or water bottle. Technology is a beautiful thing. These days, you can pick up water bottles with built-in filtration systems, which means you can fill up from a stream or river without worrying about bacteria, dirt, parasites, or even microplastics. Canada is blessed with an excellent public water supply. Let’s leave the plastic water bottles behind. 

Don’t Go Wild with Wildlife
We're visitors in their home. That means no feeding (even the cute chipmunks), no approaching, and definitely no selfies with animals, especially bears or moose (the things I’ve seen!) Keep your distance and your food sealed, but keep your camera handy. Great Canadian Trails has partnered with World Animal Protection (WAP) and follows an Animal Welfare in Tourism Code of Conduct. Most wildlife experts recommend staying at least 100 meters (that's a football field) away from predators like bears and wolves and about 30 meters from deer, elk, or other herbivores. On your bike? Double those distances – you're moving faster and more likely to startle them. 

Offsetting Carbon
Great Canadian Trails purchases carbon credits at no additional cost to its guests, investing in projects that include solar and wind energy generation, improved domestic stoves, and optimized waste management. These projects are professionally managed, accountable, verified by third parties, and aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. GCT itineraries are already low carbon emitting since they mostly rely on your own physical power to navigate the trails. GCT choose the least carbon intensive transport and accommodation available, while absorbing your carbon footprint with contributions to Canadian-based organization Planetair, which are then directed towards Gold Standard-certified projects and other climate initiatives. You can read more about GCT’s carbon-neutral initiatives here, including support for reforestation initiatives in Canada. 

Giving Back
Responsible travel benefits the environments and communities we visit. With this in mind, GCT is proud to financially support several vital organizations that steward the regions and trails on which they operate. Included in all tour packages that use the Trans Canada Trail - the world’s longest network of trails - is a donation to support ongoing trail maintenance and volunteer-led conservation initiatives. In Ontario, the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) is a volunteer-run organization that promotes and looks after the iconic Bruce Trail that runs along the Niagara Escarpment. When you sign up for one of the Bruce Trail itineraries, the company donate $50 to the non-profit organization. Similarly, the East Coast Trail Association (ECTA) is a volunteer-supported non-profit responsible for managing Newfoundland’s incredible East Coast Trail. Maintenance of this bucket list trail depends solely on donations, volunteers and membership fees. All trips on the East Coast Trail include a $50 donation to the ECTA to support its ongoing mission. Beyond this, GCT is a proud member of 1% for the Planet, a global network with thousands of businesses and environmental organizations working together to support people and the planet. This means Great Canadian Trails donate at least 1% of annual sales to environmental organizations. 

Be Nature’s Ambassador
When your outdoor adventure is over, and you get home, we hope you’ll be inspired to advocate for the regions you visited and how easy it is to do the right thing. Share what you learned about the conservation efforts you discovered, and consider donating cash or time to support the non-profit, volunteer-led organizations that help make it all happen. Every mile we ride or step we take is an opportunity to connect with the outdoors and protect it, too. Small, mindful practices can inspire our journeys with gratitude and respect—leaving behind not only the land as we found it but a legacy that inspires others to do the same.

Robin Esrock is the bestselling author of The Great Canadian Bucket List, The Great Western Canada Bucket List and The Great Atlantic Canada Bucket List.