Outdoor Ethics

OUTDOOR ETHICS leave no trace

If you are planning to spend time outdoors, remember to be kind to the environment. Around here, you will hear the phrase “Leave No Trace.” Simply put, Leave No Trace encompasses a set of outdoor ethics with seven basic principles.

Though most of us don’t intend to harm our natural surroundings, we may lack the knowledge to preserve it. Before embarking on your next adventure, embrace the Leave No Trace model to help protect our natural spaces.

PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE

• Carry a map and know your route to reduce the chance of needing off-trail travel. • Know regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit. • Prepare for extreme weather, hazards and emergencies. • Schedule trips during low-use times and travel in small groups.

TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES

• Stick to using established trails and campsites. • Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent. • Protect plant and wildlife habitats by camping at least 200 feet from water sources.

DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY

• Pack it in, pack it out: All trash, food waste and litter. Leave it cleaner than you found it. • Do your business in “cat holes” at least 200 feet from water. Cover the hole when done. • Washing yourself or your dishes?

Stay 200 feet away from streams or lakes. Scatter dishwater.

LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND

• That antler or arrowhead looks better where you found it than it does on your shelf. • Preserve the past: Examine, but don’t touch, cultural or historic structures or artifacts.

MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS

• Keep fires small. Use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. • Burn only when necessary in established fire rings or lowimpact mound fire. • Firewood from home could introduce pests and diseases.

Buy wood from a local source or gather it responsibly where allowed.

RESPECT WILDLIFE

• Photograph or view from a distance. • Never feed wildlife. • Control pets so that they don’t harass or scare wildlife.

BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS

• Be quiet. Let the sounds of nature prevail. • Yield to others on the trail. • When encountering horses or other pack stock, step to the downhill side of the trail.

Our love for the outdoors can take its toll on nature. And impacted areas can suffer from litter, invasive species, habituated wildlife, trail erosion, polluted water sources and more. Be mindful of outdoor ethics and leave the wilderness wild. For more information visit the website for Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. www.lnt.org

NATIONAL PARKS & MONUMENTS

“National parks and reserves are an integral aspect of intelligent use of natural resources. It is the course of wisdom to set aside an ample portion of our natural resources as national parks and reserves, thus ensuring that future generations may know the majesty of the earth as we know it today.” - John F. Kennedy, 35th president of the U.S.

Accessible trails, diverse ecology, geographical marvels and breathtaking overlooks set the region’s parks and monuments apart from others across the U.S. Protecting both the natural landscape and wildlife is paramount.

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

Entrance located off Highway 191, Moab (435) 719-2299 Fees: $30 for 1-day vehicle pass www.nps.gov/arch

With over 2,000 natural stone arches and hundreds of unique rock formations, Arches National Park is a geological wonder located just five miles north of Moab, Utah. Explore natural bridges, spires and balanced rocks while hiking through the extraordinary landscape or drive along the 18-mile scenic road, which provides travelers with access to points of interest and trailheads. Visitors can also enjoy biking on the roads, horseback riding and camping. Canyoneering and rock climbing are also allowed with a permit. A reservation is required to enter the park. If arriving during the summer season, plan the trip around peak times or expect delays and full parking lots.

AZTEC RUINS NATIONAL MONUMENT

725 Ruins Road, Aztec (505) 334-6174 Fees: free www.nps.gov/azru

Search the ancient mortor for the fingerprints of the past and listen for an echo of ritual drums in the reconstructed Great Kiva. Take a half-mile, self-guided trail winds through the Pueblo great house, the kiva and original rooms. Browse the museum, a garden and a segment of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail that leads to the Animas River. The monument and visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT

Indian Route 7, Chinle (928) 674-5500 Fees: free www.nps.gov/cach

Canyon de Chelly National Monument located in Chinle,

Thursday, Aug. 4 Great American Outdoors Act anniversary Saturday, Sept. 24 National Public Lands Day Friday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day

BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON

9800 Highway 347, Montrose (970) 641-2337 Fees: $30 for a 7-day vehicle pass www.nps.gov/blca

Known for its narrow width and steep canyon walls, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a natural gorge. Though the gorge is about 48 miles long, the national park encompasses just 14 miles of the canyon, including Colorado’ tallest cliff, at 2,250 feet tall, the Painted Wall. Visitors can hear the faint sound of the Gunnison River flowing below and hike along the rim. Open 24-hours a day, the park also offers adventurers a remote escape to enjoy activities such as backpacking, camping, kayaking and rock climbing. The South Rim Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays.

Arizona includes 84,000 acres on the Navajo Nation. Visitors can enjoy camping, hiking and scenic drives around the canyon. There are two paved drives around the canyon with a total of nine scenic overlooks where travelers can enjoy the views of the spectacular site. The welcome center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time), and offers educational programs free of charge led by rangers. Private companies also offer hiking tours, horseback riding tours and vehicle tours for a fee.

CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS

27501 Highway 184, Dolores (970) 882-5600 www.blm.gov Fees: free

More than 6,000 ancient sites including cliff dwellings, kivas and rock art have been identified. The Canyons are accessible from many points along the Trail of the Ancients Scenic Byway. The visitor center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and details, visit the website.

CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

1808 County Road 7950, Nageezi (505) 786-7014 Fees: $25 for 7-day vehicle pass www.nps.gov/chcu

Located in New Mexico’s high desert landscape between Albuquerque and Farmington, Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a remote area that preserves a collection of ancient architecture and culture. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From the visitor center, travelers can follow a 9-mile loop which provides access to short, self-guided trail tours of five major sites. More hiking trails to remote sites are also available to explore, and trails are open from 7 a.m. to sunset. Free programs led by park rangers are offered year-round, including astronomy education at the designated International Dark Sky Park. See more about International Dark Sky Parks on page 36.

CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL MONUMENT

3179 Highway 151, Chimney Rock Visitor Center (970) 883-2455 Special Programs (877) 444-6777 Fees: $20 for five-day pass www.chimneyrockco.org

Chimney Rock is accessible for self-guided walking tours from May through September. Throughout the summer, in partnership with USDA Forest Service and Pagosa Ranger District, the nonprofit Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) hosts educational events, including astronomy demonstrations, birding tours, educational storytelling sessions and much more. For more details and schedule of events, visit the website for the CRIA.

DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT

11625 E 1500 S, Jensen (435) 781-7700 Fees: $25 for 7-day vehicle pass www.nps.gov/dino

Follow in the footsteps of giants. On the border of Colorado and Utah, remains of dinosaurs are embedded in the rocks, and petroglyphs from ancient settlers are preserved. The Quarry Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The monument encompasses miles of trails that lead hikers to spectacular vistas.

COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT

1750 Rim Rock Drive, Fruita (970) 858-2800 Fees: $25 for 7-day vehicle pass www.nps.gov/colm

View gorgeous, red rock canyons with smooth walls from years of exposure to the elements when visiting Colorado National Monument. The Historic Rim Rock Drive is a 23-mile road around the site with opportunities to access scenic overlooks. The protected landscape includes 40 miles of maintained trails to explore on foot or by bike, as well as opportunities to climb rocks and watch wildlife. Enjoy camping at Saddlehorn Campground or secure a permit from the Saddlehorn Visitor Center for remote backcountry camping. The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT NAVAJO TRIBAL PARK

597 Highway 597, Teec Nos Pos (928) 206-2540 Fees: $8 per person www.navajonationparks.org

The state boundaries for Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico are celebrated with a monument in the rural Southwest, as it is the only place where guests can be in four states – and three nations (Navajo, Ute and United States) – at the same time. The monument is managed by Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation, and is open year round from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., sometimes later in the summer season. Expect to wait in line to snap a photo, then visit the vendors to browse traditional Navajo art for sale.

GREAT SAND DUNES

11999 Highway 150, Mosca (719) 378-6395 Fees: $25 for 7-day vehicle pass www.nps.gov/grsa

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America. Geologists say the natural landscape formed from large lakes that once covered the San Luis Valley. Today, the dunes cover 30 square miles between the San Juan and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Three mountain passes in the Sangre de Cristo range keep the sands contained. Medeno Creek and Sands Creek carry and deposit sand carried with the mountain snowmelt. Along with the sand dunes, visitors can explore a variety of mountainous terrain, including alpine lakes, grasslands, wetlands, riparians and forests.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

1000 Highway 36, Estes Park (970) 586-1222 Fees: $25 for a 1-day vehicle pass www.nps.gov/romo

Rocky Mountain National Park sees millions of visitors per year, and is the third most visited park in the country. Yet, the park offers visitors a sense of serenity, familyfriendly fun and adventurous recreation opportunities. Take a scenic drive along Trail Ridge Road for high mountain scenery, participate in a ranger-led program, or book a commercial tour with a private company. Across the park’s 249,126 acres, the protected landscape includes over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible opportunities to see native wildlife in diverse ecosystems. Activities such as camping, cycling, fishing and horseback riding are also permitted.

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK

35853 Road H.5, Mancos (970) 529-4465 Fees: $20 for a 1-day vehicle pass www.nps.gov/meve

Mesa Verde National Park is home to some of the most notable sites. For more than 700 years, Ancestral Puebloan people lived in the cliff dwellings and sites. The park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. Before exploring the park’s trails, guests can stop in the visitor center to browse the museum, grab a trail map and purchase tickets to guided tours to cliff dwellings or the backcountry.

HOVENWEEP

Latitude 37° 23’ 8.8944” N Longitude 109° 4’ 31.4436” W (970) 562-4282 Fees: free www.nps.gov/hove

The detailed construction and skill of the Ancestral Puebloan builders between A.D. 1200 and 1300, is highlighted in the six prehistoric villages that is Hovenweep National Monument. Once home to more than 2,500 people, Hovenweep is made up of towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders leaving visitors to marvel at the idea of life at Hovenweep. The trail system provides views of the archaeological sites. The Square Tower Group features a two-mile loop beginning at the visitor center.

WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK

1750 Rim Rock Drive, Fruita (970) 858-2800 Fees: $25 for a 7-day vehicle pass www.nps.gov/whsa

Between the Sacramento Mountains and San Andres Mountains sits the Tularosa Basin in southern New Mexico, where White Sands National Park preserves an oasis for plants and wildlife in the Chihuahuan Desert. Covering 275 square miles, the environment’s rainfall and wind carrying water-soluble gypsum sand have shaped the landscape into this magnificent dunefield with over 4.5 billion tons of sand. Visitors enjoy sand sledding, in addition to camping, cycling, hiking and horseback riding. Park rangers often lead educational programs, seasonal activities and tours for groups as well.

YUCCA HOUSE

County Road 20.5, Cortez (970) 529-4465 Fees: free www.nps.gov/yuho

An integral and unique part of Southwestern Colorado, Yucca House National Monument is one of the largest archaeological sites in the region. Yucca House was first thought to be built by the Aztec, but is known today as an important center for Ancestral Puebloan people from 1150 to 1300. This site includes a large traditional pueblo with around 600 rooms, over 100 kivas and a great kiva that could have served the entire community. It has remained largely untouched for the past 800 years, leaving the site preserved in its beauty and integrity for future visitors and scientists.