The Importance of Leave No Trace in Colorado
Leave No Trace in Colorado
If you’re an outdoors enthusiast, “Leave No Trace” is a phrase you’ve likely encountered. Every year, people flock to Colorado’s great outdoors seeking adventure and a respite from the daily grind. With the state’s population now surpassing 6 million, it is wonderful to see so many new faces on the trails trying sports like mountain biking or backcountry camping. However, with record-breaking numbers of people exploring our peaks and canyons, following Leave No Trace practices is more critical than ever.
What is Leave No Trace?
Leave No Trace (LNT) is an environmental initiative that provides a framework of seven practices for anyone interacting with the outdoors. It’s an easy-to-remember philosophy that helps you make minimal alterations to the environment, preserving nature for other visitors and the wildlife that calls it home.
The general idea is simple: when you leave the trail and get back into your car, no one should be able to tell you were ever there. That means packing out your trash, respecting the wildflowers, and not disturbing wildlife. If you’re camping, it means not digging trenches for your tent. If you’re on a romantic excursion, it means no carving initials into the trees.
Leave No Trace in Colorado
The “Leave No Trace” movement has been around for decades. The organization started in 1994 and is proudly headquartered right here in Colorado. Since the ’90s, LNT has grown exponentially, partnering with federal agencies like the BLM and the National Park Service. In Colorado, LNT provides site-specific training and restoration projects at popular “Hot Spots” such as Mount Bierstadt, the Maroon Bells, and the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness to help these heavily trafficked areas remain pristine and wild.
Protect Our Dark Skies
Stewardship doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Colorado is home to some of the clearest, darkest skies in the country, but light pollution from growing urban areas and irresponsible camping can dim this natural wonder. To “Leave No Trace” at night, use shielded lighting, keep your campfires small, and avoid pointing bright flashlights into the sky or toward wildlife. By minimizing light pollution, we protect nocturnal ecosystems and preserve the celestial views that make our state famous. Learn more about where to find the best views and how to protect our nocturnal environment on our Stargazing & Dark Skies Page.
7 Tips For Your Colorado Adventure
Leave No Trace teaches people that they can take seven key actions to minimize their impact on nature.
- Know Before You Go. Educate yourself before you head outside. Is the trail you plan on hiking very popular and crowded on weekends? Consider going on a weekday or at an off-peak time of day (keep an eye on the weather!) or even choosing a different, less heavily trafficked trail. Know Before You Go also means being prepared for whatever you encounter on your adventure. Pack enough water for your trip, layers of clothing, sunscreen, snacks, first-aid supplies, and other essentials you might need. Using a reusable water bottle or a thermos for your beverages is also essential.
- Stick to the Trail. When you can see switchback after switchback in front of you, it can be tempting to create a shortcut, but stepping off the trail means you risk damaging the plants that grow there and creating erosion patterns that could ultimately destroy the mountainside. Trails are there for a reason, and they are designed to have the least impact on nature, so as tedious as it may be, please, no trailblazing.
- Leave It As You Find It. We’ve all been there—you find the perfect, smoothest rock and want to bring it home for your garden, or the most colorful, vibrant wildflower you know would look whimsical and sweet tucked behind your ear. But taking bits of nature away from where they belong—whether it’s dragging logs across a rock face to make an excellent shelter or stepping into an abandoned historical structure and damaging the nature that has grown up around it—means you’re leaving your mark, and potentially ruining the same unique find for anyone who comes after you. So next time you see a beautiful wildflower, take a picture. It’ll last longer.
- Trash the Trash. Pack it in, pack it out. Get used to carrying a small trash bag in your backpack if you want to keep everything together and in one place. This includes biodegradable trash like fruit peels or pits, as well as dog poop. Dispose of these items only in a designated trash receptacle; if there isn’t one, you must hold on to it until you find one.
- Be Careful With Fire. The Pine Gulch Wildfire of 2020 has been named the largest wildfire in Colorado history. A lightning strike started it, but that’s not always the case. Colorado’s dry climate means it’s like a tinderbox during the summer, and wildfires are a severe risk. Human-caused wildfires create immeasurable damage to the environment and put both people and wildlife at serious risk. ALWAYS check to see if there’s a burn ban before starting a fire, and keep those campfires small and manageable when you light them. Never let a fire burn unattended, and always drown it with water until you can handle the embers with your bare hands. As for smoking in nature? Don’t. But if you have to, put your cigarettes out safely, and never leave your butts on the ground.
- Keep Wildlife Wild. It sounds like common sense, but many people out there approach wildlife to get that perfect up-close picture or to feed them in an attempt to make friends. But this does more harm than good—once animals are accustomed to humans or come to expect food, they can become dangerous and might even have to be killed. Use bear-safe canisters when hiking or camping in bear country, pack away your food waste instead of tossing it where critters will find it, and keep your dog(s) on a leash so no one gets into a dangerous situation.
- Share Our Trails and Parks. You’re not the only person on the trail, meaning you need to be respectful to the others you’re sharing it with. Everyone is there to enjoy nature, so be considerate by silencing your cell phone and speaking softly to your companions to preserve tranquility. Avoid playing loud music, and yield to hikers or bikers moving much faster than you or those coming uphill when you’re on your way down—they need the momentum more than you! And like we said above, try to seek out less crowded trails so you can enjoy the peace and quiet of nature without the crowds.
Why is Leave No Trace Important?
Did you know that 9 out of 10 people are unaware of the environmental impact of their actions? Leave No Trace helps you remember that everything you do in nature carries greater consequences. Those who disregard their impact in the wild risk harming the world around them. Some of the problems Leave No Trace aims to address include damage to trail systems, water pollution, park overcrowding, disturbance of wildlife, and human-caused wildfires.
Leaving no trace when you explore nature is always important. Still, with visitors flocking to Colorado from other states and plenty of beginner hikers, bikers, and adventurers dipping their toes into the Colorado outdoors, it’s more important than ever. Overcrowding is a significant factor in the destruction of trail systems and natural areas. Not everyone who visits these places understands that they are causing harm.
How Can I Help?
Leave No Trace is always looking for volunteers for its cleanup initiatives, which take place on popular trails and in the heart of Colorado’s biggest cities. It also accepts donations for further outreach and education, restoration projects, and other valuable initiatives.
The most important thing you can do is start at the individual level. Follow the 7 Principles every time you step outside. If you see someone ignoring these guidelines, remember that they are likely among the 90% who simply don’t know they are causing harm. Use the situation as an opportunity for gentle education. By working together, we can keep Colorado beautiful and pristine for generations to come.
By working together and being conscious of our impact on the world around us, we can keep Colorado beautiful and pristine for generations to come.
