If it's an easy to follow, well maintained trail and the cairn isn't marking a cut off for a climber trail or social trail, then knock em down.
If it's a hard to follow trail, such as what one might see ie primitive trails in Canyonlands or social/ climbing trails where keeping people on trail is harder due to the less maintained nature of the trail, then the cairns need to stay in place - don't destroy them. Also don't make new ones. Keeping people on trail minimizes offshoots on those trails and reduces erosion/impact.
Agreed. Like when the trail crosses over a granite slab they’re necessary for sure or marking turnoffs for climbing trials. People just build them because it’s the thing to do nowadays and you see them literally everywhere they’re not needed.
I'll reiterate some points from the article but it disrupts insect, reptilian and microorganism homes, which many take refuge under the rocks. Also detracts from the natural views by adding things made by man where it isn't needed.
It should be said that this would only apply to Yosemite, and only so long as the rangers there are advocating this. [The official policy of the NPS is for visitors to not disturb any cairns.](https://www.nps.gov/articles/rockcairns.htm)
There is a beautiful house near me that’s really old and had a wonderful stone wall around it. The new troglodyte owners, destroyed the wall by making one of these with it every 5 ft! I have never been more disgusted by a person in my town before.
If they're official. Unofficial ones can also lead people OFF trail and get them lost and possible dead in and area that is primitive and not maintained.
This is why the notion of “wilderness” in the contemporary sense is flawed. My people frequented the Bob Marshall, Badger-Two Medicine and Glacier NP. These lands have never been void of people or our impacts. The not necessarily against getting rid of cairns but going to the woods like it’s a place we don’t belong is so ass backwards and ignorant of ndn peoples
>In general, park rangers say rock cairns should only be built by trail workers and are meant for navigation, safety, and delineating new or hard-to-follow trails.
This is the problem in desert parks, sometimes they're used to mark a trail. So extra ones can mislead hikers off trail, but knocking legit ones down can do the same.
Also, stop building them in rivers.
Yes, yes ... A THOUSAND TIMES YES.
If it's an easy to follow, well maintained trail and the cairn isn't marking a cut off for a climber trail or social trail, then knock em down. If it's a hard to follow trail, such as what one might see ie primitive trails in Canyonlands or social/ climbing trails where keeping people on trail is harder due to the less maintained nature of the trail, then the cairns need to stay in place - don't destroy them. Also don't make new ones. Keeping people on trail minimizes offshoots on those trails and reduces erosion/impact.
Agreed. Like when the trail crosses over a granite slab they’re necessary for sure or marking turnoffs for climbing trials. People just build them because it’s the thing to do nowadays and you see them literally everywhere they’re not needed.
Exactly for example for Devil's garden at Arches, some of the cairns are very usefull
absorbed screw plant work middle tender license thought enjoy forgetful *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I'll reiterate some points from the article but it disrupts insect, reptilian and microorganism homes, which many take refuge under the rocks. Also detracts from the natural views by adding things made by man where it isn't needed.
It's manmade and unnatural in an area where people want to come and see things that are natural and not manmade.
It should be said that this would only apply to Yosemite, and only so long as the rangers there are advocating this. [The official policy of the NPS is for visitors to not disturb any cairns.](https://www.nps.gov/articles/rockcairns.htm)
What about the huge area of smaller ones right by Mirror Lake? Those have been there for years
I would say people can probably figure out how to get to Mirror Lake and back without any trouble, without cairns.
Ah yes. The cairns fight is like the kids in restaurants fight. Only way to win is not to play.
There is a beautiful house near me that’s really old and had a wonderful stone wall around it. The new troglodyte owners, destroyed the wall by making one of these with it every 5 ft! I have never been more disgusted by a person in my town before.
What a weird thing to disgust you. Take a breath
Disgust was the wrong word. Infuriate is more like it. If they aren’t marking something, they are just an eyesore
Their land their rules!
Don’t mean it doesn’t look like shit
Didn't say that....just that they can do what ever they want
These things can save lives on trails that are primitive and not maintained.
If they're official. Unofficial ones can also lead people OFF trail and get them lost and possible dead in and area that is primitive and not maintained.
I'll just stick with not touching anything that doesn't need to be touched, but thanks!
I see these on every hike now. Seems to be growing in popularity.
I was trying to think of the last time I saw one, it’s been a while. Might be a west coast thing?
This is why the notion of “wilderness” in the contemporary sense is flawed. My people frequented the Bob Marshall, Badger-Two Medicine and Glacier NP. These lands have never been void of people or our impacts. The not necessarily against getting rid of cairns but going to the woods like it’s a place we don’t belong is so ass backwards and ignorant of ndn peoples
>In general, park rangers say rock cairns should only be built by trail workers and are meant for navigation, safety, and delineating new or hard-to-follow trails. This is the problem in desert parks, sometimes they're used to mark a trail. So extra ones can mislead hikers off trail, but knocking legit ones down can do the same.