Responsible Travel

Leave No Trace Principles

We urge all travelers to follow the seven principles of Leave No Trace when visiting national parks:

• 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

  Understand park rules, weather forecasts, and route hazards. Pack layered clothing, extra provisions, and download offline navigation maps to handle sudden microclimate transitions.

• 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

  Stay strictly on marked trails to protect fragile alpine tundra, mosses, and coastal soils. Avoid shortcutting trail switchbacks, which accelerates soil erosion.

• 3. Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack It In, Pack It Out)

  Carry all trash, food remnants, and litter out of the trails. Secure food in bear-proof containment units or hanging canisters to prevent attracting predators.

• 4. Leave What You Find (Protect Geologic Artifacts)

  Preserve nature. Leave rocks, wildflowers, plants, fossils, archaeological items, and other natural objects as you find them for future travelers to enjoy.

• 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts (Review Fire Bans)

  Check fire bans daily. Use designated metal fire rings when fires are permitted, and put out fires completely until ashes are cold to the touch. Do not gather firewood from live branches.

• 6. Respect Wildlife (Maintain Safe Buffers)

  Never feed wildlife; this alters natural feeding habits, makes them dependent, and exposes them to traffic hazards. Observe animals from afar using binoculars or zoom lenses.

• 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

  Yield to uphill hikers. Keep noise levels low by leaving speaker systems off, allowing others to hear the sounds of nature, and respect trail spacing limits.

• 8. Stay Safe and Hydrated

  Carry at least 4 liters of water in dry desert zones like Zion. Do not rely on natural streams unless you possess certified filtration pumps to eliminate bacteria.

• 9. Abide by Pet Access Restrictions

  Keep dogs on standard 6-foot leashes and verify pet exclusion zones before starting trails. Many national parks exclude pets from deep backcountry routes to protect local wildlife.

• 10. Support Local Gateway Economies

  Utilize small local guest houses, gateway diners, and regional outfitters. This ensures your travel expenditures directly benefit the communities surrounding park borders.

• 11. Minimize Vehicle Emissions

  Use park shuttle networks where available (such as Zion or Yosemite Valley). Carpool with other hikers to reduce greenhouse gas accumulation in tight canyons.

• 12. Respect Historic and Indigenous Heritage Sites

  Leave old buildings, historical stone structures, petroglyphs, and Native American monuments undisturbed. Do not touch or mark historic rock surfaces.

• 13. Carry Proper Communication & Signaling Equipment

  Cell coverage is weak in canyons and forests. Always carry a physical compass, topo maps, trail whistles, and a satellite messenger for remote emergencies.

• 14. Reduce Single-Use Plastic Consumption

  Pack reusable stainless steel or BPA-free water flasks. Avoid bringing plastic wrappers or single-use bags that can blow away in strong wilderness winds.