After using a cathole, you’ll need to thoroughly mix the waste with surrounding soil using a stick, then refill completely with the excavated dirt you set aside. Tamp the soil firmly with your boot to eliminate air pockets and prevent wildlife from detecting the site. Replace the topsoil layer last, then camouflage with natural materials like pine needles or leaves until the area matches undisturbed ground. This process protects groundwater quality and accelerates decomposition—though proper technique involves several terrain-specific considerations that determine your environmental impact.
Key Takeaways
- Fill catholes completely with excavated soil, keeping topsoil separate and replacing it last to preserve microorganisms and seeds.
- Thoroughly mix waste with soil using a stick, then compact firmly with body weight to eliminate air pockets.
- Camouflage the site with natural materials like leaves, needles, and twigs to match surrounding ground cover exactly.
- Adapt techniques to terrain: shallow holes in deserts, careful moss replacement in forests, snow cover in winter.
- Recognize cathole limitations in fragile areas where pathogens persist and erosion can expose waste over time.
Why Proper Cathole Filling Matters for the Environment
Wildlife disturbance compounds these issues when animals unearth contaminated deposits, spreading pathogens through zoonotic transmission.
Your waste contaminates groundwater—studies show 56% of camping zone samples exceed safety standards for coliforms.
In high-traffic areas, poor cathole management affects ecosystem health while consuming half the annual budgets of Forest Service districts.
Soil contamination from buried waste persists for 6 months or longer, creating ongoing exposure risks for subsequent visitors.
Proper filling techniques protect both wilderness integrity and the freedom to explore unspoiled landscapes.
Remember that only human waste and toilet paper should ever be placed in a cathole to ensure proper decomposition.
Gathering and Saving Your Excavated Soil
When you dig your cathole, place the excavated soil in a neat pile close to the hole where you can easily reach it.
Keep the top layer of soil—the dark, organic-rich topsoil with its roots and vegetation—separate from the lighter subsoil beneath it.
This topsoil plug contains essential microorganisms and seeds that’ll help restore the site after you’ve finished backfilling. Preserving topsoil maintains the soil’s biological activity and supports faster recovery of the disturbed area. Proper soil separation prevents contamination between layers and ensures the most biologically active material remains available for site restoration.
Preserve the Topsoil Plug
Before you dig that hole, understanding how to properly segregate and store your excavated soil will determine whether your restoration efforts succeed or fail.
You’ll need to strip and separate at least 12 inches of topsoil from the subsoil—or salvage the entire layer if it’s shallower. Don’t rely on roots alone to identify topsoil depth; they extend deeper than the nutrient-rich layer you’re trying to preserve.
Proper soil segregation means keeping topsoil and subsoil completely separate throughout your project. Never use your salvaged topsoil as padding or fill material—it’s too valuable.
For effective stockpile management, keep piles shallow to prevent compaction, minimize storage time to maintain viability, and stabilize them with sediment barriers or temporary seeding. Cover stockpiles with breathable material such as mulch or weed barrier fabric to prevent erosion while allowing air exchange. Periodic soil testing helps monitor nutrient levels and biological activity throughout the storage period.
Your future restoration depends on preserving these living soil characteristics.
Store Dirt Within Reach
Where you place your excavated soil can make the difference between a properly restored site and a muddy scramble. Position your dirt pile within arm’s reach before use—you’ll need immediate access when it’s time to refill.
Select rich, stable soil from durable locations like thick undergrowth or gentle hillsides, avoiding fragile surfaces that compromise erosion prevention.
Keep the excavated material close enough to grab quickly, ensuring you can cover waste completely without wandering around exposed. This placement supports soil stabilization when you refill the cathole with its original contents.
After disposal, return every bit of saved dirt to restore the site properly. Mix in a handful with waste using a stick to accelerate decomposition, then disguise the area with natural materials—leaving the landscape as undisturbed as you found it. Position your cathole at least 70 steps from water sources to protect water quality and preserve wildlife access. Cover and disguise the cathole site completely to maintain the area’s natural appearance and prevent wildlife attraction.
The Right Way to Replace Dirt After Use
After you’ve finished using your cathole, the way you refill it matters just as much as how you dug it. Push all the original excavated soil completely back into the hole—don’t leave any waste exposed.
Use a stick to mix the waste thoroughly with the surrounding earth material, which helps the soil composition work its magic through microbial breakdown. This step’s critical for proper decomposition and contamination prevention. Dig your cathole 6-8 inches deep in rich soil that’s sun-exposed and in a discreet location.
Once filled, camouflage the disturbed area with natural materials like pine needles, leaves, or small sticks. The site should look untouched, discouraging animals from digging and preventing disease spread. Covering scuffed areas helps promote natural recovery and conceals signs of prior use.
Before moving on, give your tools maintenance by cleaning your trowel. Complete naturalization means you’re protecting water sources and preserving wilderness for everyone’s future adventures.
Compacting Soil to Prevent Discovery
After refilling a cathole, you’ll need to firmly compact the replaced soil to match the surrounding ground level. Step on the fill multiple times to eliminate air pockets and restore the area’s natural appearance.
Making the site indistinguishable from undisturbed terrain helps to prevent animals from detecting and excavating the buried waste. This protection benefits both wildlife health and the next visitor’s experience.
Step Firmly on Fill
When you’ve finished using a cathole, firmly tamping down the soil cover serves a dual purpose: it accelerates decomposition and conceals evidence of your presence.
Stepping on the filled hole compacts the material, eliminating air pockets that slow bacterial breakdown while improving moisture retention for microbe activity. This simple action transforms loose soil into a natural-looking surface that blends seamlessly with surrounding terrain.
Proper tamping technique:
- Step firmly multiple times across the entire filled area using your full body weight to compress all layers evenly.
- Add organic litter like pine needles or leaves over the compacted surface to match the surrounding ground cover.
- Brush away footprints radiating from the site using a stick to eliminate visual evidence of disturbance.
Your freedom to explore wild places depends on leaving zero trace of your visit.
Restore Original Ground Appearance
Compacting soil alone won’t hide your cathole if the surrounding area shows obvious signs of disturbance. You’ll need to actively restore the site’s natural appearance by re-covering the filled hole with leaf litter, pine needles, or other organic materials that match the surroundings.
This camouflage obscures evidence of ground disturbance while protecting against erosion. Place a stick in an X pattern or position a dislodged rock over the site to prevent others from accidentally re-digging the same spot.
Varying your techniques based on the environment ensures minimal soil disturbance—what works in forested areas differs from desert landscapes. The goal isn’t just filling the hole; it’s making the site indistinguishable from undisturbed ground, preserving both wilderness character and preventing unwanted discovery by future visitors.
Prevent Animal Excavation
Wild animals possess keen senses of smell that’ll lead them directly to buried waste, and loose soil provides an easy excavation opportunity they won’t hesitate to exploit. Proper compaction eliminates this problem while minimizing habitat disturbance.
Compaction technique sequence:
- Layer and compress incrementally – Add soil in 3-inch layers, compacting each thoroughly with your boot heel or a flat rock to eliminate air pockets and achieve maximum density.
- Target surface-level firmness – Apply repeated pressure until the filled area matches surrounding ground resistance, preventing soil aeration that signals disturbed earth to wildlife.
- Disguise the location completely – Scatter natural debris like pine needles, leaves, or small stones over the compacted area to replicate undisturbed terrain.
These steps protect your waste from discovery while preserving the landscape’s natural appearance and ecological integrity.
Restoring the Topsoil Plug for Natural Appearance
After you’ve filled a hole with appropriate soil amendments, restoring the topsoil plug becomes the critical final step that determines whether your repair blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape or stands out as an obvious patch.
Position the plug so its crown sits exactly at the original soil level—neither buried nor elevated. Press firmly around edges to eliminate air pockets while avoiding excessive soil compaction that restricts root growth.
Proper plug placement at original grade with firm edge compression prevents air pockets without compromising soil structure for healthy root development.
Water immediately for sixty minutes to settle roots and establish contact with underlying soil.
Apply 2-4 inches of native mulching materials like wheat straw or dried grass clippings to retain moisture and suppress weeds. This approach preserves the site’s natural character while supporting vegetation recovery.
Monitor settling over time, adding material as needed to maintain proper elevation.
Disguising Your Cathole With Native Materials
After filling your cathole with the reserved soil, you’ll need to disguise the site using materials found within a few steps of the location.
Select leaves, pine needles, twigs, and other organic debris that match the surrounding ground cover in color, texture, and decomposition state.
This camouflage layer should blend seamlessly with the natural environment, making the disturbed area virtually undetectable to other hikers and wildlife.
Natural Camouflage Materials Selection
Once you’ve filled your cathole with soil, proper camouflage becomes essential to preserve the area’s natural appearance and prevent other hikers from inadvertently disturbing the site. Selecting materials from your immediate surroundings maintains trail etiquette while minimizing wildlife interaction with human waste sites.
Choose camouflage materials that blend seamlessly with the terrain:
- Leaves and pine needles – Scatter dead vegetation over the filled hole to match the forest floor’s texture and color patterns naturally.
- Sticks and small branches – Layer lightweight debris to discourage reuse while creating an undisturbed appearance that won’t attract attention.
- Rocks and moss – Add smooth stones or native moss patches to replicate the surrounding landscape authentically.
Your goal is making the spot indistinguishable from untouched terrain, protecting both environmental integrity and fellow adventurers’ wilderness experience.
Restoring Original Surface Appearance
Beyond selecting the right camouflage materials, you must restore the ground layer methodically to erase all evidence of disturbance. Replace the duff and topsoil exactly as you found them, matching the original texture and arrangement. Scatter surface materials evenly to achieve seamless surface blending with surrounding terrain.
Apply light soil compaction by tamping with your foot—firm enough to mimic natural ground density, yet avoiding over-compaction that creates obvious patches.
Verify your work from multiple angles, ensuring no visual detection from trails or camps. The restored site should withstand casual foot traffic without revealing what lies beneath. This meticulous approach preserves wilderness integrity while protecting your privacy.
Remember: your freedom to explore responsibly depends on leaving zero trace of your presence for others who follow.
Keeping Your Trowel Clean Throughout the Process
While digging a cathole in backcountry terrain, maintaining a clean trowel isn’t just about convenience—it directly affects your digging efficiency and the tool’s longevity. Trowel ergonomics depend on minimal soil adhesion, while proper soil analysis requires clear blade visibility throughout the process.
Essential cleaning steps:
- During digging: Tap your trowel against rocks or boot heels periodically to dislodge loose soil, preventing buildup that compromises cutting performance.
- Between catholes: Wipe the blade with leaves or cloth, then rinse with water if available—dispersing wastewater 200 feet from trails and sources.
- After filling: Scrape residual soil immediately and air-dry your trowel on your pack exterior to prevent rust.
Store your cleaned trowel separately from waste bags, and pack out all cleaning materials to maintain Leave No Trace principles.
Common Mistakes When Refilling Catholes
Though digging a proper cathole requires careful attention to depth and location, many backcountry users undermine their efforts through critical refilling errors. You’re risking environmental damage when you don’t fully replace the original soil, leaving depressions that accelerate erosion and compromise soil stabilization.
Incomplete coverage exposes waste to wildlife and weather, while haphazardly scattered fill material fails at concealment. Your biggest mistake? Skipping natural camouflage entirely. Without replacing pine needles, leaves, or native brush, you’ve destroyed the site insulation that protects decomposition processes and masks your presence.
Rolling rocks back without proper waste coverage leaves obvious traces. Even worse, throwing soil carelessly prevents effective restoration. These shortcuts concentrate impact, invite animal disturbance, and violate Leave No Trace principles—ultimately restricting access for future adventurers seeking wilderness freedom.
Special Considerations for Different Terrain Types
Different terrain types demand distinct cathole techniques that respect both environmental constraints and decomposition science. You’ll need to adapt your approach based on what nature provides underfoot.
Terrain-Specific Refilling Methods:
- Organic soils: Replace removed earth in layers, tamping gently to promote soil stabilization while maintaining air pockets for microbial activity and vegetation regeneration.
- Rocky/alpine zones: When digging’s impossible, use existing depressions and mark high-use spots with sticks. Pack out waste when there’s insufficient soil coverage.
- Desert environments: Create shallow 4-inch holes that maximize sun exposure and rain percolation. Always pack out toilet paper since decomposition occurs slowly in arid conditions.
In snowy terrain, kick additional snow over filled catholes to increase cover depth.
Mossy areas require careful layer restoration—replace moss precisely to accelerate natural camouflage and protect underlying soil structure.
Long-term Impact of Properly Filled Catholes
Even when you’ve followed proper cathole techniques for your specific terrain, the story doesn’t end when you walk away from that carefully camouflaged spot.
Research from the University of Montana reveals that pathogens—over 100 types—persist in buried waste regardless of depth or location.
Human waste contains over 100 pathogen types that remain active in soil regardless of burial depth or terrain.
Soil microbiology varies drastically: organic-rich environments accelerate breakdown, while desert and alpine conditions slow decomposition to a crawl.
Pathogen inactivation depends heavily on sunlight penetration and microbial activity, which desert soils often lack.
Erosion eventually unearths even properly dug catholes, and in high-traffic zones, accumulated waste threatens water sources and soil quality.
Above treeline, cold temperatures halt decomposition entirely.
That’s why many wilderness managers now require pack-out systems in fragile areas—acknowledging catholes’ fundamental limitations in preserving backcountry health.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Deep Should I Dig a Cathole in Desert Environments?
Dig your desert cathole 4-6 inches deep, shallower than urban sanitation standards. This depth respects cultural practices of desert ecosystems, allowing sunlight to accelerate decomposition while you maintain freedom to explore responsibly in arid environments.
Should I Pack Out Toilet Paper or Bury It?
Leave the paper trail behind—pack out your toilet paper instead of burying it. This waste disposal technique prevents wildlife from scattering it across trails. Consider toilet paper alternatives like smooth stones or leaves to lighten your load responsibly.
What Items Must Always Be Packed Out Instead of Buried?
You must always pack out toilet paper, hygiene products, trash, leftover food, and WAG Bags. Leave No Trace principles and proper waste disposal protect wilderness areas while preserving your freedom to explore these incredible landscapes responsibly.
How Far From Water Sources Should I Locate My Cathole?
Want to protect water quality? You should locate your cathole at least 200 feet from water sources. This distance minimizes environmental impact by filtering contaminants through soil and prevents wildlife disturbance near their drinking areas.
Can I Use the Smear Technique Instead of Digging Catholes?
You shouldn’t use the smear technique—it’s no longer recommended by Leave No Trace due to contamination and health risks. Instead, dig proper catholes or pack out waste using alternative methods that protect wilderness areas effectively.
References
- https://thetrek.co/how-to-dig-an-lnt-compliant-cathole/
- https://www.alpineinstitute.com/leave-no-trace-dispose-of-waste-properly/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Ej5m6gr1U
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6-O0bm-DWo
- https://appalachiantrail.org/experience/hike-the-trail/essential-skills/health-hygiene/pooping-like-a-pro/
- https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/leave-no-trace/053b-dispose/
- https://lnt.org/when-nature-calls-how-to-dig-a-cathole/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7586839/
- https://appalachiantrail.org/news-stories/decoding-the-appalachian-trail-leave-no-trace-edition/
- https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/colorado-poop-study/
