犹他州国家公园／州立公园指引

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The National Parks Service was created 100 years ago to protect the United States’ weird, wild wonders. But preservation isn’t the park rangers’ job alone…

Here are five basic points of park etiquette you can adopt to keep Utah’s (or any) national parks pristine for another 100 (million) years.



1. Stay on the Trail

Let’s start with the fundamentals. Footfalls have an obvious cumulative effect, and trails minimize the damage to vegetable and mineral alike. Stay in the middle of the trail and hike single-file if you’re in a group. You know that crusty black stuff that looks like dead moss on southern Utah’s red, sandy soil? It’s actually slow-growing cyanobacteria that helps stop erosion. Don’t squish it.




2. Pets in the Parks

National park rules for dogs et al. are pretty restrictive. In general, pets are only allowed in parking lots, in your car (a bad idea in the desert heat), in most campgrounds and within 50 feet of the road — on a six-foot leash at all times. Don’t plan on hiking with them. Call ahead for specific rules at each park, or find a kennel to board your pup while you take yourself for a walk.




3. Leave What You Find

Your kid’s gonna want to take that rad stick/rock/leaf/rattlesnake he found with him in the car. It’s a great time to teach him the deeper joy of sacrificing some small pleasure for the greater good. Kids love sublimation!




4. Set an Example
for the Kids

Respecting nature is like smoking cigarettes: If you can hook kids while they’re young, it’ll become a lifelong habit — but with less cancer! Teach them the rules and follow them yourself. As always, they notice what you do more than what you say. Once your kids are on board, feel free to start publicly shaming your unsustainable friends. “Uh, don’t know if you know this, but that’s actually cyanobacteria…”




5. National Parking

Finding a parking spot at the most popular trails can be tough, especially in the high season, but don’t park where you’re not supposed to. If it’s full, come back later. Do yourself (and the world) a favor and carpool or use the convenient shuttles in Zion and Bryce Canyon. Most of Utah’s parks are very bike-able, too.




Too easy? Read this expanded list of etiquette tips and…

DON’T BE THAT GUY

读你千遍

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