Quick answer: when there is no toilet, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics recommends digging a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches across, at least 200 feet (about 70 adult steps) from water, trails and camp. Cover and disguise the hole when you are done. Pack out used toilet paper and hygiene products in a sealed bag where you can, and always pack them out where rules require it. Some places, such as the Mount Whitney Zone in California’s Inyo National Forest, require all human waste to be packed out in a waste bag. Wash or sanitize your hands every time.
Everyone goes, and at a primitive campsite or a dispersed site on public land there is usually no outhouse waiting. Handling waste properly matters for more than good manners. Poorly buried waste can contaminate water, spread disease and leave unpleasant surprises for the next camper. On popular public land, those problems add up quickly.
This guide explains the methods recommended by land agencies and the Leave No Trace Center. It is part of our complete guide to free camping in the US, where most campsites have few or no facilities.
Sources: Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Principle 3 “Dispose of Waste Properly”; U.S. Forest Service, Inyo National Forest Mount Whitney Zone wag bag requirement; National Park Service backcountry sanitation guidance; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) handwashing and hand sanitizer guidance. Checked October 2026.
First Choice: Use a Toilet if There Is One
Before heading into the trees, check for facilities. Many campgrounds and trailheads, including some free ones, have vault toilets or outhouses. Using them keeps waste concentrated in one managed place. Our guide to campground etiquette covers shared facility manners.
If you will spend several days at a dispersed site with no toilet, consider bringing a portable camping toilet with disposable waste bags, especially for families and groups. Waste bags designed for this purpose contain a powder that gels liquids and reduces odor, and many are approved for disposal in household trash. Check the packaging and local rules.
How to Dig a Cathole
The cathole is the standard method recommended by the Leave No Trace Center for most of the backcountry in the United States.
- Walk at least 200 feet from water sources, trails and campsites. That is roughly 70 adult steps.
- Pick a spot with organic soil, ideally with some sun exposure, which helps waste break down faster. Avoid dry washes and low spots where water collects.
- Dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches wide using a small trowel. That depth reaches the soil layer where microorganisms are most active.
- Do your business in the hole.
- Stir in a little soil with a stick if you like; some guidance suggests this speeds decomposition.
- Fill the hole with the original soil and disguise it with leaves, needles or rocks so it looks natural.
- Pack out toilet paper in a sealed bag, or bury it deep in the hole only where that is allowed.
Spread catholes out. Using the same spot repeatedly concentrates waste, which slows decomposition. In camp, groups often agree on a general direction and spread individual holes widely.
What to bring
- A small trowel. Lightweight plastic or aluminum trowels are easy to pack, and digging with a stick or heel rarely reaches 6 inches.
- Toilet paper or wipes in a waterproof bag.
- A separate opaque bag for used paper, often a zip-top bag wrapped in duct tape or a dedicated dark bag.
- Hand sanitizer and, if you have water to spare, biodegradable soap.
Choosing a Good Spot
Picking the right place for a cathole takes a minute of thought, and it makes the whole process cleaner and more private.
Look for a spot that is out of sight of camp and the trail, on slightly raised ground where rainwater will not run through it. Soft, dark soil under trees or shrubs is ideal, because it holds the organisms that break waste down. Sandy or rocky ground is harder to dig and slower to decompose waste, so use it only when nothing better is nearby.
Avoid the obvious problem areas: stream banks, lake shores, dry creek beds, the edges of meadows and anywhere near a spring. Water can carry pathogens from waste into sources other people drink from, even when a creek bed looks dry in late summer. Steer clear of animal burrows and nests, and of cultural sites such as rock art or old structures.
At night, it helps to scout a direction before dark. Walking 200 feet in the dark, especially in unfamiliar terrain, is easier when you already know the way. Bring a headlamp and tell someone in your group where you are going.
Groups and Longer Stays
Groups create more waste in a smaller area, so planning matters. On a group trip, agree on the rules at the start: which direction to walk, how far to go, where the toilet kit lives and how used paper will be packed out. Some groups keep the kit hanging on a tree branch by camp as a simple signal; when the kit is gone, someone is out.
For stays of more than a night or two at the same dispersed site, or with a large group, a portable toilet with waste bags is often the most responsible option. It prevents dozens of catholes from collecting around one campsite. The Leave No Trace Center notes that a latrine, a single larger trench, is occasionally appropriate for large groups staying several days, but only where local rules allow it.
Toilet Paper: Bury It or Pack It Out?
The Leave No Trace Center says packing out toilet paper is best. Paper breaks down slowly in many environments and is often dug up by animals. If you do bury it, use plain, unscented white paper, use only a small amount and bury it deep in the cathole. Never burn toilet paper; it has started wildfires.
Wet wipes, even products labeled flushable or biodegradable, should always be packed out. They do not break down quickly in soil.
Some campers reduce paper use with natural materials such as smooth stones, snow or large leaves, but know your plants first. Poison ivy and its relatives are not a good surprise. Our guide to poison ivy, oak and sumac shows how to identify them.
Urinating Outdoors
Urine is less of a concern than feces, according to the Leave No Trace Center, but location still matters.
- Go at least 200 feet from water and away from campsites and trails.
- Avoid peeing directly on plants. Animals are attracted to salts in urine and may dig up or chew vegetation.
- Rocks, gravel or bare ground are better targets in many areas.
- On river trips, some land managers ask visitors to urinate directly in large rivers, where dilution is high. Follow the specific rules for that river.
Pee rags and funnel devices make the process easier for some campers, especially in cold weather or in places with little cover.
When You Must Pack Out Waste
In some places, catholes are not allowed and all human waste must be carried out. Common reasons include very high use, thin or rocky soil, cold temperatures that slow decomposition and fragile environments.
Examples include:
- The Mount Whitney Zone in California’s Inyo National Forest, where the U.S. Forest Service requires visitors to pack out human waste using waste bags provided with permits.
- Many river corridors, where boaters must carry portable toilet systems.
- Some high alpine areas, slot canyons and glaciers.
Always check the managing agency’s rules for your area. Rangers and permit pages usually make pack-out requirements clear.
How waste bags work
Waste bags, often called WAG bags, are double bags with a powder that gels waste and controls odor. You use the inner bag, seal it, place it in the outer bag and pack it out with your trash. Store them in an outer container or a dedicated stuff sack.
Hygiene: Clean Hands Prevent Illness
Poor hand hygiene is a common way stomach bugs spread at camp. The CDC says washing hands with soap and clean water is best. When soap and water are not available, it recommends a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, while noting sanitizer does not work as well on visibly dirty hands.
Practical habits include:
- Sanitize every time after going to the bathroom and before handling food.
- Keep sanitizer in an easy-to-reach pocket, together with your toilet kit.
- Wash with soap at least 200 feet from water sources, and scatter the rinse water.
- Do not share snack bags that people reach into with bare hands.
Our article on finding and treating water while camping explains why untreated water is another major source of illness.
Special Situations
Deserts
In dry climates, waste breaks down slowly. The Leave No Trace Center still recommends catholes in most desert areas, dug in organic soil if you can find it and away from dry washes that flood. Some desert parks and canyons require packing out waste, so check local rules.
Snow and winter camping
Catholes are hard or impossible in deep snow, and waste buried in snow reappears in spring. Packing out waste in bags is the best practice in winter. If you must use a cathole, dig through the snow to soil, well away from water and trails.
Periods
Pack out all menstrual products in a sealed, opaque bag. Animals are attracted to the scent, and these products do not break down. Menstrual cups can be emptied into a cathole and rinsed with clean water. Carry extra sanitizer and a dedicated bag.
Kids
Teach children the routine before the trip. A practice cathole in the backyard or a walk-through of the toilet kit can make the real thing far less stressful. For younger kids, a portable potty with waste bags is often easier.
Dogs
Dog waste carries bacteria and can affect wildlife. Many parks require dog owners to bag and pack out dog waste. Where catholes are permitted, some guidance allows burying dog waste the same way as human waste, but packing it out is always acceptable.
A Simple Toilet Kit Checklist
- Small trowel
- Toilet paper in a waterproof bag
- Opaque pack-out bag for used paper and products
- Hand sanitizer
- Waste bags if required or for winter trips
- Optional: pee rag, funnel device, small headlamp for night trips
Keep the kit together near the top of your pack or by the tent door so you can grab it quickly.
Why This Matters on Public Land
Dispersed camping areas on national forests and BLM land often have no trash service and no toilets. When waste and paper pile up, land managers sometimes respond with closures or stricter rules. Proper waste disposal is one of the simplest ways campers help keep free camping open. Our guide to dispersed camping rules explains other regulations to know.
Common Mistakes
- Going too close to water. Two hundred feet is farther than most people think.
- Digging too shallow. A shallow hole lets animals and rain expose waste.
- Leaving toilet paper under a rock. Pack it out.
- Burning toilet paper. It can start fires.
- Skipping hand sanitizer. Illness spreads quickly through a camp group.
- Ignoring pack-out rules. Fines can apply, and the rules exist for good reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep should a cathole be?
The Leave No Trace Center recommends 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches wide.
How far from water should you go to the bathroom?
At least 200 feet, which is about 70 adult steps, from water sources, trails and campsites.
Should I bury toilet paper?
Packing it out is best. If you bury it, use a small amount of plain white paper and bury it deep in the cathole. Always pack out wipes and hygiene products.
What is a WAG bag?
A WAG bag is a double-bag waste kit with a gelling powder. You use it to pack out human waste where catholes are not allowed or practical.
Where is packing out human waste required?
Requirements vary. Examples include the Mount Whitney Zone in California’s Inyo National Forest and many river corridors. Check the managing agency’s rules.
Is hand sanitizer enough after going to the bathroom outdoors?
The CDC says soap and water is best, and a sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is a good option when soap and water are not available.
