These days, most rock stackers do it as a way to mark a trail, especially in less frequently navigated backcountry. Rock cairns created by visitors in Joshua Tree National Park, California © Pam Susemiehl / Getty When a pile of rocks points the way home So, is rock-stacking as harmless as it seems? Let’s dig in. Depending on whom you ask, rock-stacking is either a crucial navigational device, an environmental menace, or even a rewarding mindfulness practice. What many don’t know, however, is that it is a practice rife with controversy, especially as it finds its way into national parks and other protected areas. And over the course of the past decade or so, for better or worse, it has been becoming even more popular thanks to social media. Others favor more colorful terms like “stone balancing” or “prayer stone stacks.” Whatever the name, the act of stacking rocks atop each other is as ancient as it is ubiquitous. Hike far enough on just about any trail in the world and you’re certain to spot what may at first seem like benign additions to the landscape: collections of stones placed on top of each other to form impromptu sculptures. Understanding the contention surrounding one of humanity’s most ancient art forms: rock-stacking.
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