How to be good stewards of the places we visit

This blog is the second in a 3-part series about responsible travel, and how to be good stewards of the places we visit.

At the time of publication, British Columbia was in Phase 2 of its COVID-19 restart plan(link is external) which allows for non-essential travel within the province of British Columbia The travel orders continue to restrict non-essential travel from other provinces, however, we look forward to welcoming visitors from across Canada soon. To learn more about British Columbia’s travel orders www.gov.bc.ca/covidtravel(link is external)

Let’s get down to brass taxes: you’re visiting Golden because it’s special. And what makes it special is that so much of the landscape is unmarred by human hands. That’s rare these days, and since you don’t want yours to be the hands that mar it, we’ve put together some helpful tips on how to tread lightly while still finding the adventure you seek.

• The first thing to know is that Golden is surrounded by six national parks. Count ’em, six! Be aware that environmental stewardship isn’t just good and respectful practice while in the parks, it’s the law. You cannot, for example, ride your bike in some places, fly drones, pick flowers, bring fossils home, or even just camp overnight unannounced. We know it sounds crazy, but doing any of these could get you a fine or even a court date. So that you can breathe easy while out on the trail, check out the rules here.(link is external)
• Even when outside of the parks, the age-old adage holds true: pack it in, pack it out. In simpler terms, don’t litter. But go beyond that and also leave as little mark as you can. Sure, your apple core decomposes, but not before attracting a bear, for example. It didn’t come from there, so it doesn’t belong there. Leave the places you visit as you found them, so wildlife, and the next visitors can find them that way too. Whenever feasible, leave no trace.