Welcome to Your National Forests & Grasslands!

So you're visiting your national forest or grassland. Are you ready? Watch this video to find out.(this is specific to CO but applies everywhere.)

Did you know that 2020 has seen the highest amount of first time visitors to date? Visitation to our national forests and grasslands has more than doubled from last year. We are glad you are here to enjoy the outdoors & create lasting memories. Whether you are a first time or frequent visitor, here are some things to know about experiencing the outdoors in a way that protects you, other visitors, wildlife & the lands you love.

Know Before You Go

No matter what your activity, be respectful of others and wildlife. Follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. The following information is based on Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly principles that seek to minimize human impact. Leave the place as you found it or better than it was when you arrived.

• PLAN AHEAD. Need help planning your outdoor adventure? Check out our interactive visitor map or call your local forest service office. Always check the weather, it can change quickly from sunny & warm to rainy & cold.
• HAVE A PLAN B. Consider taking the path less traveled. If your go-to spot is crowded, move on to a less crowded area. Overcrowding & illegal parking can cause accidents, damage resources, and prevent first responders from responding to emergencies. If you are taking a day-trip consider arriving very early in the morning and catch a beautiful sunrise. 
• Check local regulations 
  • Fire regulations are likely in effect. "Solo" and other small woodburning stoves are considered campfires.
  • Stay limits in campgrounds & dispersed areas.
  • Leash laws are meant to keep you, other visitors & wildlife safe.
  • Dispersed camping
  • Traveling off-road- Tread lightly! Know and understand OHV regulations and where you can ride. There are miles and miles in the Rocky Mountain Region designated as off-road.
• Always bring 
  • Water, food, toilet paper, small trowel, zip-top, & trash bags to take all your trash and pet/human waste with you. Toilets & trash pick-up may not be available. Keep trash out of the toilets. Leave nothing behind, fire pits should be clean & cool to the touch. If you brought it with you, it goes home with you.
  • Paper map & compass- cell coverage may not be available.
• Leave what you find-do not add or take anything away. "Leave no trace" that you were there. It’s illegal to destroy, remove or damage natural features- including flowers, rocks, and archaeological artifacts. This includes arrowheads. Avoid damaging living plants.This includes carving initials into tree trunks, using trees for target practice, or cutting live trees for firewood. Firewood is often available in local communities or from some campgrounds. Buying firewood locally cuts down on the spread of insects and diseases. Do not build any structures such as rock cairns or fire pits.
• Respect wildlife & NEVER feed wild animals. When observing wildlife, stay at least 100 feet away and remain quiet. NO selfies with wildlife. Visitors end up in the hospital every year after getting too close. Squirrels have sharp teeth, deer have sharp hooves & large mammals such as bears, bison, elk & moose are much faster than they look. If you find a fawn (baby deer) or other baby animals, leave it alone. Don’t touch or move them. Mom is probably nearby getting something to eat. If you believe an animal is abandoned or injured, contact your local ranger station. Be bear aware
• Respect other visitors. Follow CDC guidelines. Consider listening to music with earbuds, keep your pets close to you & under control, adhere to quiet hours in campgrounds. Follow etiquette guidelines. Just as there are traffic laws to keep traffic flowing and accident-free, in the outdoors there is trail etiquette. Hike single file on narrow trails. When passing others wear your mask & try not to step off the trail.

National forests and grasslands are really feeling the pressure from the following. Help us care for this land that we all share.

Unattended campfires-Leaving a campfire, no matter how small, is not cool. It could start a wildfire that destroys forests & kills wildlife. Lives & homes can be lost, & it can cost millions of dollars to put it out. Do you want to be responsible for that? When you leave your campfire, even for a little while, put it out. Mix it with water & dirt until it is cool to the touch. No one dies, wildlife & people keep their homes, & you & others have a beautiful place to visit.

Trash-Leaving your trash behind, even outside of dumpsters, stinks! It can attract bears, cause wildlife to become aggressive towards people and spread germs that make people sick! Pack it in, Pack it out. If you brought it with you, take it home with you & don’t leave it in toilets. Leave No Trace principles ask everyone to leave the area in better shape than you found it. Wildlife will stay healthy & you & others -have a clean place to visit.

Sanitation-Leaving human & pet waste behind is a health hazard- it pollutes water, spreads germs, attracts flies, is ugly & stinky, can spread germs that make people sick & close areas you want to visit! If restrooms aren’t available-pack it in, pack it out. If this isn’t possible, dig a cat hole at least 6” deep, & at least 100 steps from water, bury with dirt and pack out toilet paper. Leave the area in better shape than you found it. You will have a healthy, clean & beautiful place to visit.

Dispersed recreation-When looking for a place to camp on public lands you have a couple choices. Developed campgrounds often have some amenities such as designated sites, toilets, maybe water or other camping “luxuries”. If you are looking for a little more solitude, are self-contained or don’t need amenities, dispersed camping may be an option. Know & adhere to all regulations. Most areas have stay limits to prevent damage from continual use. This includes both how long you can stay and/or leave gear unattended. Most likely there are distance requirements from water, roads or other campers. And, of course, never ever leave a campfire unattended or dispose of trash, hazardous materials, sewage or anything else that can pollute the surrounding area.

Crowding in parking areas-Summer activities have been cancelled & people are heading to the woods. The number of visitors has more than doubled since last year. Parking areas are full early in the day & people are parking outside of designated parking area. This creates a hazard, may cause accidents damage plants or cause erosion. It can also result in a parking ticket or having your vehicle towed. Plan ahead. Have a Plan A, B & even C. If a parking area is full, go to your next choice. Consider arriving early & catch a sunrise or come later & watch the stars before heading home. Park legally. Enjoy a safe & beautiful day in the outdoors.

​Disrespectful OHV riding-National forests & national grasslands are multi-use public lands. All types of recreation, motorized & non-motorized. With so many opportunities, all users need to be respectful of other users. When this doesn’t happen resentment, friction & conflict can occur. Within the motorized community, remember to ride legally, slow down, let faster riders pass, keep a safe distance & use hand signals to let others know your intentions. Talk to others & share experiences. There are many OHV groups that volunteer to help maintain trails, respect their work. Always be an ambassador for the sport & leave a good impression. This will result in continuing access to 100s of miles of amazing, fun trails.

Illegal OHV riding-Riding illegally causes ruts, trail-braiding & the widening of trails which all lead to resource damage. Native plants are killed allowing noxious weeds to come in & that may drive out wildlife who need native plants to eat. Erosion causes dirt to go into streams damaging fish habitat & water sources can be polluted for humans, wildlife, recreationists (such as hiking, hunting, fishing, photography) & local economies. Please ride legally, it keeps trails open in an environment that’s good for everyone.

If you are looking for some fun challenges & want to develop new skills, consider the following:

• Ride over rocks & small trees on the trail to provide new challenges
• Have fun & get wet by riding straight through mud puddles & streams at a 90-degree angle
• Ride over bumps & whoops on the trail rather than riding around them.

Respect your special place by following Leave no trace & Tread lightly principles.