Leave no trace Principle

5. Minimize campfire impact

Fires can be magical, but they come at a cost. Use them only when appropriate—and only when they leave no trace.

In many climbing areas, especially in the desert, alpine, or backcountry, campfires are discouraged or prohibited altogether. In places where they are allowed, using good judgment is crucial.

Campfire Practices: Building, Extinguishing, and Judgment

Even when fires are allowed, it's important to assess whether it's appropriate to build one—and how to do it responsibly.

Where & How to Build a Fire

  • Prefer lightweight stoves for cooking, and use solar lanterns for light to minimize impact

  • If you do build a fire:

    • Use existing fire rings when available

    • If none exist, use a fire pan (metal tray elevated off the ground) or build a mound fire using mineral soil to protect ground vegetation.

    • Always use only dead and down wood that can be broken by hand; never strip bark from live or standing trees.

      How to Build a Mound Fire

      1. Collect mineral soil

        • Look for dry, sandy material—often found from stream banks, already-disturbed sites, or dug-out areas under logs.

        • Avoid stripping live soil with roots or plants.

      2. Use a ground barrier

        • Place a ground cloth, piece of canvas, or flat rock slab on top of the existing ground to protect it from heat.

      3. Build a mound

        • Pile 3–5 inches of mineral soil into a flat-topped mound about 2 feet wide on top of your base.

        • This acts as a raised platform that insulates the ground beneath.

      4. Start your fire on top of the mound

        • Keep your fire small and contained.

        • Burn only sticks no larger than your wrist.

        • Let it burn to ash.

      5. Extinguish fully

        • Douse with water, stir until cool, and disperse the ashes away from camp.

      6. Restore the site

        • Scatter leftover mineral soil in a wide area away from your site.

        • Leave no visual evidence of the fire.

      Mound fires are ideal in pristine areas, alpine environments, or fragile desert terrain where ground scars can last for years.

When to Build a Fire — And When Not To

It might be appropriate if:

  • Fires are explicitly allowed (check local regulations—these change with seasons and drought conditions)

  • You are in an established campsite with an existing fire ring

  • There is ample dead and down wood available (not live branches or standing dead trees)

  • You’re in a lower elevation, forested area with organic soil and minimal fire risk

  • You are prepared to extinguish it completely and restore the site afterward

It’s inappropriate (or prohibited) if:

  • You're in a desert, alpine, or tundra environment where wood is scarce and decomposition is slow

  • There’s high fire danger, windy conditions, or an active fire ban in place

  • You’re camping in a pristine area with no existing fire ring

  • The area is high-use or over-impacted

  • You are unprepared to fully manage and extinguish a fire responsibly

Example: In desert areas like Red Rock or Indian Creek, fire scars from illegal rings often linger for years, damaging visual appeal and leading to fire bans that affect everyone.

Extinguishing Fires Properly

  • Burn all wood to fine ash and coals.

  • Extinguish fires with plenty of water, not dirt—water ensures all embers are fully out.

  • Scatter cool ashes once everything is cold to the touch.

Alternatives to Fires

  • Stoves: Use a small backpacking stove for cooking. Modern stoves are light, fast, and clean.

  • Headlamps or lanterns: Offer light without smoke, scars, or safety risks.

  • Warm layers and shared conversation: Bring the warmth with you—and keep the environment intact.

Climber-Specific Considerations

  • Fires at the base of crags or boulders are a huge red flag—never build fires at climbing areas, even if they seem like good “hangout spots.”

    Scorched rock, smoke stains, and campfire debris have led to access closures in places like Joe’s Valley and the Buttermilks.

  • Cooking with a stove and skipping the fire entirely is standard practice for most climbers and guides

  • If you're camping on an overnight multipitch or bivy ledge—never light a fire. It’s unsafe, unnecessary, and likely illegal in most cases.

Why It Matters

A single careless fire can cause devastating wildfires, leave permanent scars, or jeopardize access for the entire climbing community. Fires also attract wildlife, especially when food is burned or not fully consumed.

By choosing not to build a fire—or by using best practices when you do—you protect the very landscapes that climbing depends on.