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Ethics

• Ethics & Tips for Minimum Impact & Common Courtesy
  
• Recreate Responsibly
  
• Wildlife
  
• Vandalism
  
• Backcountry Rules of Conduct
  
• Tread Lightly!™
  
• Leave No Trace
• Call Before You Go!
  

 
Ethics & Tips for Minimum Impact & Common Courtesy

Using the backcountry for solitude, recreation, and adventure is an Arizona tradition going back hundreds of years. Everyone using the state and public lands should do their part to ensure that these lands remain available for future generations to enjoy. Many areas attract a variety of backcountry users; regardless of what mode of travel you may choose, remember that we all have a responsibility to the environment, to others, and to ourselves. Please do your part and leave the land the same as or in better condition than you found it.

 
Recreate Responsibly

Hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, and off-highway vehicle recreationists all have certain things in common such as a love of the outdoors and the use of a motor vehicle to get where they are going. Knowing how to tread lightly with your vehicle is the responsibility of all vehicle operators.

Protect Your Privilege: Prevent OHV Site Closures: Abuse it, Lose it.
Excessive complaints about OHV recreation uses such as dust, noise, and speed can force OHV site closures. OHV sites are being closed partly because of environmental damage from OHV use such as violation of clean air rules due to excessive dust from vehicles. Help prevent OHV site closures. Protect your privilege.

“Nature Rules: Stay on roads and trails.”

• Stay on designated routes. Do not make new trails.
  
• Do not harass wildlife. Riding over plants destroys wildlife habitat.
  
• Signs are important for travel and your safety. Do not destroy signs. It is against the law.
  
• Avoid creating dust. Slow down.
  
• Keep out of closed areas. Do not trespass.
  
• Keep your OHV quiet. More complaints, more closures.
  
• Leave gates as you found them, opened or closed.
  
• Fences keep livestock confined. Do not cut fences.
  
• Do not drive on a route smaller than the width of your vehicle.
  
• Pack it in, pack it out. Do not litter.
  
• Reduce the risk of fire. Make sure your vehicle’s spark arrester is in good working condition.
  
• Be considerate of others by sharing trails. Pull off to the side of the trail, shut off your engine, and let horses and hikers pass.
  
• Get involved. Join an OHV club and volunteer to maintain the trails you ride. Provide your input to land managers on OHV projects. Serve on the statewide Off Highway Vehicle Advisory Group: OHVAG through Arizona State Parks.

 
Wildlife

When you encounter wildlife in the backcountry, appreciate it, respect, and LEAVE IT ALONE. It will return the favor. Keep your camp clean; bears and other animals are attracted to smelly, messy camps.

If you observe a game law violation, OR wildlife harassment contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department at 1-800-352-0700.

 
Vandalism

If you observe destruction of the environment or private property while in the outdoors you may notify the proper authorities by calling the Arizona Game and Fish Department's 24-hour hotline at 1-800-VANDALS (1-800-826-3257).

 
Backcountry Rules of Conduct

• Leave gates the way you find them, either open or closed.
• Vehicles must travel on existing roads and trails.
• Camp at least ¼ mile from any livestock or wildlife water catchments, tanks, etc.
• Obey posted signs, respect closed areas.
• If you pack it in — pack it out, don't litter.

 
Tread Lightly!^®

Follow the TREAD Principles at all times:

• Travel responsibly on designated roads and trails or in permitted areas.
  
• Respect the rights of others including private property owners and all recreational trail users, campers and others to allow them to enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed.
  
• Educate yourself by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies, planning for your trip, taking recreation skills classes, and knowing how to use and operate your equipment safely.
  
• Avoid sensitive areas such as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands and streams, unless on designated routes. This protects wildlife habitat and sensitive soils from damage.
  
• Do your part by leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species, restoring degraded areas, and joining a local enthusiast organization.

Organized in 1985 by the Forest Service, Tread Lightly is now a separate non-profit organization. It is considered the nation’s signature outdoor ethics message for motorized outdoor recreation. Call 1-800-966-9900 or visit their website.

Read related articles

 
Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace (LNT) is a national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations. Learn more by visiting their website.

Seven Principles of Leave No Trace:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
   
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
   
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
   
4. Leave What You Find
   
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
   
6. Respect Wildlife
   
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

 
Call Before You Go!

Each agency that manages public land has its own rules, regulations and laws. Before using public or state lands, check with the local land management agency office about current rules and requirements. Learn more about Call Before You Go

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