Rocky Mountain National Park
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is a national program that promotes and inspires responsible outdoor recreation and stewardship of America's public lands. The National Park Service is a cooperating partner in this program, along with other federal land management agencies. You can help minimize impacts to the natural resources and social experiences of other visitors by practicing the seven principles listed below. For more information, please visit the website: www.lnt.org.
Plan Ahead and Prepare: Know and respect regulations and the inherent risks in the parks. Select activities and routes that have a degree of difficulty suitable for everyone in your group. Pack adequate food, water, clothing, maps, compass, first-aid supplies and equipment. Avoid traveling in the backcountry alone and always let someone know your exact plans. Travel in small groups, split large parties into groups of four-to-six people per group.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Stay on trails and walk single file. Shortcutting, switchbacks and/or leaving trails causes erosion and vegetation damage. Select durable surfaces for rest breaks. If you must travel off-trail, use rock, snow, gravel or dry grasses, and disperse your impact by walking abreast. Use designated campsites to help minimize your impact on the land.
Dispose of Waste Properly: Keep the parks litter-free by packing out everything you pack in. Never leave, bury or burn leftover food items. Scatter gray water away from camp after straining and removing food scraps. In lieu of toilets, deposit solid human waste in a six- to eight-inch-deep cat hole dug in organic soil at least 200 feet from any water source, and well off of the hiking trails. Fill and disguise the hole, and pack out your toilet paper. A small trowel is a must for this technique. Urinate in toilets or on durable surfaces to reduce damage to soil and vegetation from salt- craving wildlife. To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
Leave What You Find: All natural and historical objects are protected by law (except for fish and berries for personal consumption only). Leave objects for others to enjoy. Never make alterations to campsites or to other natural features.
Minimize Campfire Impacts: Consider using a cook stove, which is more efficient. Campfires are restricted to designated fire pits and should be kept small. Burn fires down to white ash and make sure they are dead out.
Respect Wildlife: Never intentionally approach or disturb wild-life. Leave young animals alone and avoid nesting, feeding or mating animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors and exposes them to predators and other dangers. In Rocky Mountain National Park, pets are prohibited on all trails and throughout the backcountry.
Be Considerate of Others: Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. Hikers should yield to stock users by stepping to the downhill side of the trail. Let nature's sounds prevail by keeping noise levels to a minimum.
Rocky Mountain In Depth
News from the Parks
Gettysburg Address to Return for Visitor Center Grand Opening
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
Anglers Wary of North Cascades Plan to Limit Fishing
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
Bison Advocates Go for Space
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
Rapid Climate Change Threatens to Thaw Icy Wonderland of Alaska
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
Park Seeks Construction Comment
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
