4 ways to preserve Utah's outdoors

4 ways to preserve Utah's outdoors

(Mike Godfrey)


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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — Many people are drawn to Utah's outdoors. Whether wandering the alpine trails in the Wasatch Mountains, visiting all five mesmerizing national parks, backpacking the Uinta backcountry, kayaking Utah's riverways or exploring the exquisite red rock deserts and canyons, natives and visitors alike never tire of Utah's beauty and wonder.

Much like the Mormon Pioneers, people are flocking to Utah's wilderness, seeking refuge and peace in a world filled with noise, tensions and roadways. Countless precious family memories have been forged in Utah's mountains and deserts, as well as on the lakes and rivers. Wildness is an integral part of life in Utah.

Most Utahns are hugely proud of our home state and for good reason. It's a breathtaking place to live, raise a family, work and explore. And our secret is out.

The world knows Utah by its unique beauty and people from all over the world are flooding to Utah's wild landscapes in record numbers. Visitation to Utah's national and state parks has exploded, largely due to the "Mighty Five" campaign among others, which highlight Utah's natural wonders. But this surge in tourism is also because when people experience Utah's beauty firsthand, they come back for more and bring friends and family along.

For the past few years, tourism has boosted Utah's economy by more than $7 billion annually. That translates into more than $1 billion in tax revenue per year directly benefiting Utah. Tourism has become Utah's second largest industry and is quickly growing.

But all these benefits don't come without costs. Concerns for Utah's outdoors have also surged proportionally with the ever-increasing pressures associated with millions of local and out-of-state visitors.

Size and visitation comparison of Zion National Park to Yellowstone National Park, according to the National Park Service. Infographic credit: Mike Godfrey
Size and visitation comparison of Zion National Park to Yellowstone National Park, according to the National Park Service. Infographic credit: Mike Godfrey

Zion National Park, Utah's most visited national park, welcomed more than 3.2 million visitors in 2014 and has nearly matched that record this year with a month and a half left in 2015. That's nearly as many visitors as Yellowstone National Park, which saw roughly 3.5 million visitors last year, although it is more than 15 times larger than Zion National Park.

Utah's national and state parks are struggling to keep up with the flood of visitors who want to experience Utah's renowned landscapes firsthand. Tragically Utah's national parks are also among the most vandalized parks in the country, according to the National Park Service.

Knowing what Utah's landscapes have come to mean to many millions of people around the world, it is wise to be concerned about the future of Utah's priceless natural treasures. They provide massive personal, familial, spiritual, ecological and economic benefits for those of us who call this one-of-a-kind state home.

Perhaps in the wake of the "Mighty Five" and "Life Elevated" tourism campaigns, we ought to repay our state's kindness by adopting or renewing both personal and public campaigns to preserve, and where necessary, restore the natural treasures that have made Utah a world-famous icon of natural wonder and beauty.

Here are some tips to preserve Utah's outdoors:

Leave No Trace 2.0

This time-honored mantra may need an update. Even if you would never litter, vandalize or deface trails, trees or scenery, there are people who both knowingly and unknowingly do. Bring a small trash container with you when outdoors to pack out litter you spot on the way. If you witness someone defacing any part of Utah's outdoors —whether rock, tree or other landmarks — remind them that it is not only prohibited to do so on public land, but that it tarnishes something that is precious to millions of people.

Stay on trails

This advice is simple, but so important. You may not think a few footsteps matter that much. But remember that millions of people visit Utah's outdoors each year, and that translates into billions of hugely detrimental footsteps, especially in our fragile desert landscapes.

Straying from trails, slickrock or washes in Utah's national parks is strongly discouraged. Help preserve vegetation, scenery and the experience for others. Staying on the trail also prevents erosion and protects natural landmarks from expensive and sometimes irreparable damage. Utah has some of the best trails in the world, set in some of the world's most spectacular wild spaces. Help keep them that way by staying on the trail.

Don't gamble with fire

Utah is the second driest state in the country and our peak outdoor season runs parallel with our peak fire season. There are many ways to accidentally start fires in all seasons; smoldering/neglected campfires, fireworks, ammunition, lighters and matches are often responsible. But prevention is actually quite simple.

Be responsible enough to know when some activities are best left alone or enjoyed at a different time or location. We are all responsible to help prevent wildfires.

The only souvenirs you take should be pictures

Visitors should know that removing plants, animals or minerals from national parks is federally prohibited. Each flower, rock or artifact is a part of the whole and when many people all take one or two flowers, rocks or other historical/natural artifacts, everyone who follows after is left with less and less. Pictures allow you to take your favorite outdoors locations home with you while allowing others the full experience after you've left.

There is a finite amount of our beautiful state to go around. The tips listed are simple, but crucial practices if we are to preserve Utah's natural treasures for generations to come.


Mike Godfrey is a graduate of BYU, and along with his wife Michelle, the owner/manager of At Home in Wild Spaces: an outdoor recreation website, blog and community dedicated to sharing national parks, wilderness areas, hiking/biking trails, and more.

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