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May is when the backcountry finally opens back up. Snow levels drop, trail permits release, and backpackers who’ve been cooped up since October start pulling gear off the shelf and loading packs for the first multi-day trip of the year.
And every year, the same thing happens: someone in the group gets three miles out and realizes nobody planned for the bathroom situation.
On a backpacking trip, this isn’t a minor inconvenience — it’s a Leave No Trace violation waiting to happen, a potential permit infringement, and in wet spring conditions, a genuine environmental problem. High water tables, saturated soils, and proximity to snowmelt streams mean that improperly disposed waste reaches waterways far faster in May than any other month of the year.
The fix is simple, lightweight, and costs less than your camp coffee setup: WAG bags.
Here’s everything you need to know before your first trip of the season.
Why a Cat Hole Isn’t Enough in May
Cat holes — the traditional Leave No Trace method of burying waste 6–8 inches deep, 200 feet from water — work well under the right conditions. May in most of the U.S. is not those conditions.
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics explicitly recommends pack-out waste systems over cat holes when:
- Soil is saturated from snowmelt or spring rain — waste doesn’t break down and leaches rapidly into groundwater
- The area is heavily used — popular spring trails can see hundreds of visitors daily, and the cumulative impact of cat holes in a small area is significant
- You’re within a riparian zone — near rivers, lakes, or streams where the 200-foot rule is hard to maintain on narrow trails
- Land managers require it — an increasing number of permit areas explicitly mandate WAG bags year-round or during high-use seasons
Many of the most popular May backpacking destinations — Zion Narrows, the Enchantments, Havasupai, Mount Whitney, Coyote Gulch — already have mandatory pack-out requirements. If you’re heading somewhere that requires a permit, check the specific waste disposal rules at Recreation.gov before you pack. Showing up without WAG bags to a mandatory pack-out area means turning around or risking a citation.
Even where they’re not required, WAG bags are the right call in May. Bring them regardless.
What Makes Cleanwaste WAG Bags the Backpacker’s Choice
Not all poo bags for camping are designed with backpackers in mind. Weight, packability, and odor control all matter when you’re carrying everything on your back for multiple days.
The Cleanwaste Original WAG BAG® checks every box:
Ultralight: Each kit weighs virtually nothing — negligible pack weight even carrying 5–7 for a multi-day trip
Complete kit: Every bag includes an inner waste bag pre-loaded with Poo Powder (NASA-developed gelling agent that instantly solidifies and neutralizes odor), a puncture-resistant zip-close outer disposal bag, toilet paper, and a hand wipe — nothing extra to remember
Odor-proof: The double-bag system and gelling action contain odor completely — no smell in your pack, no attracting wildlife to your campsite
Landfill-approved: Dispose of sealed bags in any trailhead or campground trash on the way out — no special handling, no hazardous waste designation
Long shelf life: Unused bags last at least one year in proper storage — buy a 12-pack now and you’re covered for the whole season
Prefer a simpler, even more minimal option for solo trips? The Cleanwaste Toilet in a Bag® is the no-frills version — same reliable waste containment at a lighter footprint for ultralight packers.
How Many WAG Bags to Pack Per Trip
A common first-timer mistake: underpacking. Here’s a straightforward guide:
Per person, per day: 1 WAG Bag kit (each handles approximately 3–4 uses — more than enough for a typical day)
| Trip Length | Per Person | Group of 2 | Group of 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days | 2 kits | 4 kits | 8 kits |
| 3 days | 3 kits | 6 kits | 12 kits |
| 5 days | 5 kits | 10 kits | 20 kits |
Add one extra per person as a buffer — weather delays happen, and running short on day three of a five-day trip is a problem nobody wants to solve creatively.
The 12-pack is the most popular option for groups and multi-day trips. Any unused kits keep for your next trip.
How to Use a WAG Bag in the Backcountry: Step-by-Step
New to WAG bags? It takes one use to get completely comfortable. Here’s how it works in the field:
- Find a spot — at least 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites per Leave No Trace Principle #3
- Open the inner waste bag — Poo Powder is pre-loaded and ready; position it on the ground or hold it open beneath you
- Do your business — the powder activates on contact, immediately gelling waste and neutralizing odor
- Add the toilet paper — put used TP directly into the inner bag (do NOT bury it separately)
- Seal the inner bag — twist or fold the top closed
- Place into the outer zip-close disposal bag — seal completely
- Pack it out — store in a dedicated outer pocket or hanging stuff sack away from food; dispose of in any trash at the trailhead or campground
Pro tip for groups: Designate one person to carry a small dry bag or stuff sack exclusively for sealed WAG bags. Keeps the system organized and ensures nothing gets mixed with food or shared gear.
Permit Areas Requiring WAG Bags in May: Know Before You Go
These are among the most popular May backpacking destinations with mandatory or strongly recommended pack-out waste requirements. Always verify current rules directly with the land manager before your trip:
- Zion Narrows (UT) — overnight permits require pack-out systems through the slot canyon
- The Enchantments (WA) — Core Zone permits mandate pack-out waste year-round
- Mount Whitney (CA) — WAG bags required above 12,000 feet on the main trail
- Havasupai (AZ) — pack-out waste required for the full permit zone
- Coyote Gulch / Grand Staircase-Escalante (UT) — BLM strongly recommends and increasingly requires pack-out systems
- Weminuche Wilderness (CO) — popular spring high routes require pack-out near heavily used camping areas
Check your specific permit requirements at Recreation.gov or the relevant National Park Service or USDA Forest Service land management page.
Build WAG Bags Into Your Pre-Trip Ritual — Starting Now
The best backpackers treat WAG bags the same way they treat water purification tablets or bear canisters: non-negotiable, packed before anything else, never left behind.
May is the ideal time to establish that habit — for your first trip of the year and every one that follows. Stock a supply now, keep them with your backpacking gear, and replenish after every trip. The 12-pack gives you enough to cover several outings before you need to reorder.
Shop WAG Bags → Shop Toilet in a Bag® (ultralight option) → Shop All Cleanwaste Products →
Car camping this season too? Read: Memorial Day Camping? Don’t Forget Your Portable Toilet & WAG Bags — the full guide to bathroom planning for the biggest camping weekend of the year.
Cleanwaste has been America’s trusted portable sanitation brand since 1999. Made in the USA. Pack it in, pack it out.
