The goal of backcountry travel is to move through the backcountry while minimizing damage to the land. Understanding the impact of travel on the land is necessary to accomplish this goal.
Damage occurs when hikers trample surface vegetation or communities of organisms beyond recovery.
The resulting barren area leads to the development of undesirable trails and erosion. Concentrate Activities in Heavily Used Areas Backcountry travel frequently involves travel over trails and off-trail areas. Land management agencies construct trails in backcountry areas to provide identifiable routes that concentrate foot and stock traffic. Concentrating travel on trails reduces the likelihood that multiple routes will develop and scar the landscape. It is better to have one well-designed route than many poorly chosen paths.