Backcountry Considerations
Responsible Tourism
This page presents some basic rules for becoming a responsible tourist in canyon country.
Because these lands are for multiple use, it is very important that all visitors work together to preserve our wide open spaces. Recreational users have a special responsibility to employ minimum impact practices while enjoying the forests and deserts.
- The earth is fragile. Respect it.
- Help keep the forests and canyon country clean. Pick up and pack out trash and dispose of human waste properly.
- Protect and conserve water sources. Carry your own water for drinking and washing to protect scarce desert water sources and forest watershed areas.
- Leave only footprints. Take only photographs. Tread lightly and leave no trace of your camping.
- Respect others' customs, manners, and cultures.
- Ask permission before photographing anyone.
- Always follow designated trails. Stay on established roads and trails.
- Camp only at designated sites.
- Promote sustainability of the environment and economies.
- As you travel, when possible, reduce, recycle, and reuse.
Minimizing your impact in the backcountry begins with careful planning before you leave home. Try to learn as much as you can about the area you are visiting, and plan your trip carefully. This allows you to remain comfortable in all conditions and therefore make unhurried, thoughtful decisions. Those visitors who come to the desert unprepared are far more likely to find themselves in a dangerous situation that causes them to disregard impact concerns as they try to maintain their personal safety and comfort. It is almost always possible to plan ahead and avoid survival situations.
The desert environment can be unforgiving. Daytime temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer, while nighttime temperatures in winter regularly drop below freezing in the mountains. Proper clothing to protect the body from wind, rain, sun, and cold exposure is crucial. It may not rain often, but rain can fall in any season, so be prepared—and be alert for swollen rivers and flash flood hazards.
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