Why is Stacking Rocks While Hiking in New England Really Bad?

While hiking in New England or spending any time in maintained forestry in New England, you likely have run into cairns - or stacks of rocks.

Many people see balanced rocks in the woods, near the coast, or elsewhere in nature and think it is a good idea to mimic them. But it's not. It is actually the opposite. Stacking rocks into piles in nature may seem like a fun way to "feel connected," but it can do much more harm than good.

Why You Shouldn't Stack Rocks into Piles in New England

Listen, we have all done it - stacked a pile of rocks for a wonderful, balanced photo op at the top of a mountain in New Hampshire...but we need to stop for two main reasons. One seems obvious, but I guarantee you haven't thought about the damage of the second reason.

Stacked rocks usually have a purpose. They are often used as a trail marker or to memorialize an area. As you hike through trails in New Hampshire, especially on many of the highest peaks along the Franconia and Kinsman Notches, the rock piles identify the trail.

When someone adds a rockpile along the ridge, it can confuse future hikers. If someone thinks it is a good idea to go off the trail a bit for a cute picture with a rockpile they made, other hikers may get lost by thinking your rock pile is along the trail they are taking.

The second reason not to create unauthorized rock piles is that it is harmful to our ecosystems.

When you move rocks to create your own pile, you are actually disturbing the soil around them, making the area more prone to erosion. In addition, moving rocks disturbs fragile vegetation and micro ecosystems.