Have you ever come across strange stacks of rocks while hiking out at Texas State Parks? I have. I've always wondered if it's a good thing or a bad thing. Should I knock them over or leave them? I'm not the only one who thinks about that question. It's been a trending conversation in the hiking community this week. 

In a Facebook post on July 11, Yosemite National Park gave hikers the green light to knock over the stacked rocks, most commonly called rock cairns, which are often used to mark hiking routes in parks. However, the National Park Service told USA TODAY that it disagrees.

Each park is different in its stance on rock cairns. Here's what the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends at its parks:

TPWD's stance

Rock cairns are not an uncommon sight at some Texas State Parks. While the TPWD staff appreciates finding artistic creativity in parks, the department told MySA it encourages visitors to leave the rocks alone since it can be harmful to habitats. 

Some parks, like Big Bend Ranch State Park near Terlingua, do have cairns in remote and hard-to-follow bare rock sections of trails. However, TPWD staff actively works to remove cairn markers that are not part of the official trail system. 

"The best thing for visitors to do is to leave parks and trails how they found them so someone else can enjoy these one-of-a-kind landscapes in the future," TPWD said.

Remember, it's always best to follow the Leave No Trace ethics while outdoors.