Key takeaways
- A cat hole is a small dug hole for burying human solid waste in the backcountry.
- Dig it 6–8 inches deep and at least 200 feet (~70 steps) from water, trails, and camp.
- Cover and disguise it after use; pack out toilet paper or bury it appropriately per local rules.
- Where catholes aren't allowed (alpine, desert, high-use, snow), pack waste out in a WAG bag instead.
What a cat hole is
A cat hole is a small hole dug to bury human solid waste in the backcountry — the most widely accepted disposal method where packing waste out isn’t required. Done properly, it lets the waste decompose in the soil while keeping it away from water, trails, and other people.
How to dig one properly
- Depth: 6–8 inches deep, 4–6 inches wide.
- Distance: at least 200 feet (~70 adult steps) from water, trails, and campsites.
- Location: organic soil that aids decomposition, where possible.
- After: fill it in with the original soil and disguise it; pack out toilet paper (or bury per local rules).
At a forested camp, a backpacker walks well away from the creek and trail, digs a 7-inch cat hole with a trowel in dark organic soil, uses it, then fills and disguises the spot — packing their used toilet paper out in a bag.
When to pack it out instead
In fragile or high-use environments — the alpine zone above treeline, deserts, river corridors, and snow or glaciers — catholes don’t work and are often prohibited. There, pack waste out in a WAG bag. See cathole vs WAG bag. Both are core Leave No Trace practice.
The bottom line
A cat hole is the standard, low-impact way to dispose of human waste where you can't (or don't have to) pack it out: dig 6–8 inches deep, 200 feet from water, trails, and camp, then cover and disguise it. But in fragile or high-use places — alpine, desert, rivers, snow — a cathole isn't enough; pack waste out in a WAG bag. Either way, it's core Leave No Trace.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cat hole?
A cat hole is a small hole you dig to bury human solid waste in the backcountry. It's the most widely accepted method of human-waste disposal where packing it out isn't required, allowing the waste to decompose in the soil while keeping it away from water, trails, and other people.
How do you dig a proper cat hole?
Dig it 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches wide, at least 200 feet (about 70 adult steps) from any water source, trail, or campsite, ideally in organic soil that aids decomposition. After use, fill it in with the original soil and disguise it with natural materials. Pack out your toilet paper, or in some areas bury it — follow local regulations.
When should you use a WAG bag instead of a cat hole?
Use a WAG bag (packing waste out) where catholes are prohibited or impractical: above treeline and in alpine zones, deserts where waste won't decompose, river corridors, high-use areas, and on snow or glaciers. Many parks and permits now require packing out waste in these sensitive environments. See our cathole vs WAG bag comparison.
Sources
- Disposing of waste properly — Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
- Backcountry sanitation — National Park Service