Last updated on: March 30, 2025 at 12:58 pm
At Hudson Valley GO, we celebrate the natural wonders that make our region magical. We’re on a mission to help you discover hidden gems while nurturing a community that treasures these special places. By embracing principles like Leave No Trace, we ensure these landscapes remain available for future wanderers. After all, the most memorable adventures are the ones that leave nothing behind but footprints and take nothing away but photographs.
Are you familiar with the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace?
Leave No Trace is a global initiative to promote outdoor ethics. The tenets of this movement are listed below.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Put the principles into practice
Here are some tips for making sure you’re enjoying nature in a responsible way:
- Plan Ahead and Prepare! The NYSDEC, NYS Parks, and NPS websites are great resources for exploring public lands. Check weather conditions, trail status, and any permit requirements before heading out.
- Stay on Designated Trails: Don’t just head to the trails willy-nilly— grab a trail guide or otherwise familiarize yourself with the area. Hike the Hudson Valley remains a favorite resource of ours. ⚠️ Many popular trails have seen increased erosion due to off-trail hiking, so staying on marked paths is more important than ever.
- Leave No Trash: Many of the areas worth exploring are carry-in, carry-out facilities. Minimize waste concerns with reusable water and food containers, and carry along bags to put your garbage into so that you can dispose of it properly afterwards.
- Respect Fire Restrictions: Build fires only in designated areas, and educate yourself on proper campfire building and safety techniques. Be aware that many parks have implemented stricter fire regulations due to increased wildfire risks, so always check current restrictions.
- Protect Wildlife: DO NOT feed any animals you encounter in the wild. Maintain a safe distance and never approach or chase wildlife. Use a zoom lens for photography instead of getting too close.
- Be Considerate of Fellow Visitors: Live the golden rule – treat other visitors with the same courtesy and respect that you want to be treated with! This includes keeping noise levels reasonable, yielding to uphill hikers, and being mindful of shared spaces.
- Teach the next generation: Include children in Leave No Trace practices and explain why these principles matter. The future of our natural spaces depends on upcoming generations understanding their value.
⚠️ Digital Leave No Trace: When sharing your outdoor experiences on social media, consider whether geotagging specific locations might lead to overcrowding. Some fragile ecosystems have been damaged due to sudden popularity from social media exposure.
If you want to learn more about the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, visit LNT.org for resources and more information about how you can support and get involved in this initiative.
