How to pee and poop outside while hiking might sound like a funny topic, but it’s one of the most common questions we get!
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we’re diving into the details of how to handle bathroom breaks on the trail with practical tips and a sprinkle of humor. Whether you’re managing #1 or #2, we’ve got advice to help you go while keeping nature clean and your boots dry!
Podcast Episode Overview
How do you go to the bathroom while you’re out hiking? Surprisingly, this is one of the most common questions we get!
In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we’re diving into the nitty-gritty of how to handle bathroom breaks on the trail. Tune in for some handy tips on relieving yourself in the great outdoors—with a sprinkle of potty humor!
In this episode, we discuss:
- Key things to keep in mind when peeing outdoors
- The cardinal rule for peeing and pooping in nature
- Rules that will keep you out of a bad situation
- Our best tips for managing poop while out on the trail
We hope these bathroom tips keep you prepared for your next adventure—and that they give you the tools you need to only get dirt in your shoes and nothing else!
Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:
The Two Golden Rules of Going to the Bathroom in the Wilderness
There is no delicate way to go about your business when you’re deep into a hike and suddenly have to go #1 or #2 – especially if you’re a woman. There are responsible ways to answer nature’s call while keeping nature clean for everyone else around you. For that, I have two rules.
1. Pack out your toilet paper
Toilet paper is among the most frequently left-behind litter in our national parks. Ask any volunteer or National Park Service employee what the most common item they have to clean up is – it’s almost always toilet paper.
Leave No Trace teaches us to pack out what we pack in. That means all toilet paper you use has to come back on the hike with you. You can leave behind your waste, but you can’t leave behind your toilet paper waste.
2. You need to be at least 200 feet from all water sources
Leave No Trace also dictates that to keep water sources clean for everyone to drink, you have to make your pit stop 200 feet from the nearest stream or lake. When the next person goes to filter their water from the stream, they don’t want to filter your waste!
My Outdoor Bathroom Kit
I’ve honed my bathroom kit for my hiking pack over many years. While everyone has their preferences, this is what I’ve found works for me.
- Gallon Ziploc Bag
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- Smaller Ziploc Bags
- Tampons
- Doggy waste bags – or any opaque bag
Some people use Kula Cloths or handkerchiefs, but that’s not for me. Your preferences may be different! Experiment and find out, but bring plenty of supplies with you either way. Nothing is worse than being on a hike and having nothing to help you go when you have to go.
Navigating the Moment When Nature Calls
You’ve prepared your kit. You’re on your hike. You get the urge to go. Now is your moment to try going to the bathroom for the first time on the trail!
The first step you’ll want to take is to find an isolated spot off the trail. Keeping our two rules in mind, head to a spot behind some vegetation, a tree, a rock, or anything you can find.
Before you start going, tear off your toilet paper so you’re prepared. I also have one of my smaller Ziploc bags open to toss my toilet paper in when I’m done. You can use the same Ziploc bag a few times over your trip before switching to a new one. If you poop or have your period, use your opaque bag first before putting your toilet paper in your Ziploc bag.
After you zip up your Ziploc, wash your hands with sanitizer and put it all away. Then that’s it! You’ve gone to the bathroom and can continue your outdoor adventure.
If you’re hiking with your family and need to keep your bathroom kits altogether, grab a marker and write your names on each bag so there are no mix-ups when it’s time to make a pit stop.
Important tip: check the slope before you start peeing. While you’re probably excited to see waterfalls on your hike, you won’t be as happy to see pee waterfalling into your hiking boots.
Best Practices for Men
There’s no doubt that women have it harder when it comes to doing our business outside. Squatting just the right way, getting your period on a hike, and being careful not to moon everyone who hikes by. It’s a lot! Men also have a few rules to follow.
1. Keep your wits about you. When you’re tired and stumbling out of your tent with sleepy eyes, make sure you step far enough away.
2. Don’t pee uphill.
3. Don’t pee into the wind.
4. Don’t stand too close to what you’re peeing on. Don’t let the splashback get you!
5. Don’t pee too close to the tent, common areas, or trail. Head for the perimeter, not the interior of your territory.
6. Don’t pee on the fire. Have you ever tried to cook on a fire that’s been peed on the night before? We hope you never have to find out how bad it smells.
7. Don’t pee in water. You don’t want to drink pee, and neither do we!
Pooping in the Woods
If you spend enough time outdoors, you’ll eventually need to poop. Some people go through entire backpacking trips while holding it in, but to have a better time, you have to learn to do what bears do in the woods.
You can use the same bathroom kit you set up using our list, but add a trowel. You’ll dig down six inches and perfect your squat over the hole. When you’re done, cover it up, but take your toilet paper with you. Stick your poopy toilet paper in your not-clear bag, put your doggy bag in your small clear ziploc bag, sanitize your hands, and move on!
Following our tips will keep nature clean for you and everyone else who follows. Trails that are visited by millions of people can get gross really fast. Learning how to use the bathroom outside correctly keeps our National Parks enjoyable for years to come! Get dirt in your shoes, not other things :)
Don’t forget your task for this week! Head over to the Dirt in My Shoes Facebook or Instagram page and find the photo of my ziploc bag system. Leave your questions in the comments, or drop some extra potty jokes for John to enjoy!
Links mentioned in this podcast episode:
- Bad (Michael Jackson) – Bluegrass Edition (catch the full podcast episode!)
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