Social Content Development
Instagram @LeaveNoTraceCenter
Pack Out Food Scraps to Protect Wildlife
11,837 Reach
690 Likes
104 Profile Visits
Can you spot the items that don't belong here? One is food for wildlife and the other is not. We picked up these strawberry stems with the help of a Girl Scout Troup in Lassen National Park. The troop knew that leaving food items attracted wildlife, like birds and squirrels, closer to humans where they continue to find unhealthy handouts. Food scraps are really where habituation starts, keep wildlife wild by packing everything out! Thanks @girlscouts!
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Apache Tears Disappearing
9,449 Reach
591 Likes
33 Profile Visits
These tiny rocks, known as “Apache Tears,” are really neat, rounded pebbles of obsidian with varying levels of opacity. Unfortunately, the land managers in the area where this rock was found have noticed a significant decrease in the amount of Apache Tears in recent years. They suspect visitors may be pocketing the rocks as souvenirs, which ultimately means future visitors will be unable to experience these volcanic wonders. You can help preserve unique natural resources like these by taking photos instead of taking rocks, flowers, or any other objects. #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Our Partners at the Forest Service
7,999 Reach
721 Likes
53 Profile Visits
We had an amazing time at Blue Lakes in Colorado working with the Forest Service for a Hot Spot event week. We love getting to make a difference on our public lands in such a tangible way. If you love public lands, thank a Forest Ranger!
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Widening Trails
613 Likes
This photo shows how our trails can widen over time. Each foot step off trail adds up, ultimately damaging this sensitive alpine vegetation and widening our trails from a once narrow corridor to a dusty trap. Stick to the main trail to prevent trail maintenance costs and destruction of our awesome plants and flowers! #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Land Manager Partners
494 Likes
Did you know? The United States Forest Service manages 193 million acres across 154 forests and 20 grasslands. That’s a lot of land! We can all do our part to help protect these forests and grasslands by practicing Leave No Trace on each and every outing. #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace#ItsAllYours
Finding Artifacts
410 Likes
We were lucky enough to stumble upon the remnants of an arrowhead or tool a few weeks ago in Southern Nevada. We felt especially lucky because it means all of the other visitors who found this object before us left it for us to experience as well. When you find your next cultural or historic artifact, leave what you find so future visitors can share the same experience. #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Burning Tent Equipment
471 Likes
We had heard stories about people burning camping gear at the end of their trips, but we were shocked to actually encounter the remnants of it ourselves. A friendly reminder that camping gear is reusable and should never be burned in your campfire ring. Instead, consider donating unwanted outdoor gear to a local youth or outdoor group. Burning trash, gear, food, or anything besides wood in your fire introduces toxic chemicals and heavy metals to the fire pit and soil, and can be extremely hazardous for you and future campers to inhale. #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Protect Dark Skies
327 Likes
Dark skies are incredibly important, not only because they are spectacular to see but also because nocturnal animals depend on the night to hunt and stay healthy. Turn off those bright lights, let your eyes adjust to the starlight and enjoy the view! #LeaveNoTrace #EnjoyYourWorld#OptOutside #DontFeedTheLandfills
Earth Week Campaign
528 Likes
This #EarthWeek @leavenotracecenter is taking social media outside and challenging you to #LeaveNoTrash! Tag us in your trash cleanup photos and use the hashtag #LeaveNoTrash, we’ll be announcing prizes throughout the week so get outside and pick up some trash! #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Leaving your Mark is Overrated
321 Likes
Enjoyed an amazing feeling of solitude as we climbed up to a vista point on a hike today. As we turned the corner our hearts sank when we saw this beautiful canyon feature scarred with "... was here" and " .... ❤️'s ...." Leaving your mark is overrated and affects visitor experiences forever. #LeaveNoTrace #EnjoyYourWorld
Developing Outlet for Visitors Leaving Their Mark
273 Likes
"If you would like to leave your mark, sign in here and not on our rocks, trees, and benches". We passed this sign on a recent hike, seemed to be working- no markings on the benches and trees nearby. What do you think? Give an outlet for leaving your mark? Or discourage the behavior completely? #LeaveNoTrace#EnjoyYourWorld
Pack it In, Pack it Out
279 Likes
Did you know Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is a completely Pack It In, Pack It Out park? There are no garbage services to this remote part of New Mexico so all visitors are asked to take out what they bring. We particularly loved the poem they made up to encourage visitors to lend a helping hand towards this effort:
That trash that you've been saving up,
The dirty tissue, empty cup.
Please, take them with you when you go,
Don't leave them here, Oh no, no, no!
No garbage truck will pick them up,
So we'd be left with your old cup.
Your help is what it's all about,
So Pack It In and Pack It Out! #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Fire Pits an Unnatural Scene in the Backcountry
319 Likes
Settling down for the extra hour of sleep tonight! What makes the perfect campsite? Leave No Trace like ours on durable surfaces, 200 ft from water, and not too close to other visitors. Oh and a good view for the morning! #EnjoyYourWorld #OptOutside#LeaveNoTrace
Stay on Muddy Trails to Prevent Trailside Erosion
6,315 Reach
472 Likes
26 Profile Visits
It's #TriviaTuesday! At this time of year, trails can easily get muddy. Swipe to see if you know why you should stick with the mud!
View here.
Prayer Flags in National Parks
8,155 Reach
1,009 Likes
11 Profile Visits
At Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, visitors might find prayer cloths and prayer bundles attached to trees around the park, especially along the Tower Trail. These represent a tangible connection which native peoples still maintain with this area. You can help be considerate and respectful of this cultural tradition by leaving the prayer cloths where you find them.
View here.
Historical Sites
395 Likes
We were pleasantly surprised to find a Leave No Trace hang tag for Heritage Sites during recent explorations of petroglyphs in Southern Nevada. Historic, archaeological, and fossil sites are special places that tell a story of our past. Help protect and respect these places by practicing Leave No Trace, particularly by leaving sites the way you found them and never adding your own carvings or markings. #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Thank A Ranger!
271 Likes
For the past week we've been working with the Forest Service on a popular backpacking spot- #conundrumhotsprings. The hot springs sees 7,000 overnight visitors every summer and there can be more than 50 people sitting in this pool. It's absolutely gorgeous. And we're working to keep it that way. We picked up trash, dismantled fire rings, removed down trees from the trail, dug catholes for human waste, fixed signage, and educated visitors about the impacts causing harm. Next time you visit an area, hike a clear path, soak or swim in a clean wild pool, thank the people who are behind the scenes. It's not just the place that's beautiful, it's all the work that went into keeping it that way for you. The people we met this week believe in Wilderness, in wildness, in exploring and discovering, and in conserving what makes these places extraordinary. #ThankARanger#LeaveItBetterThanYouFoundIt#EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Outdoor Inspiration
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Some inspiration as we go into the weekend: "The irony of our existence is this: We are infinitesimal in the grand scheme of evolution, a tiny organism on Earth. And yet, personally, collectively, we are changing the planet through our voracity, the velocity of our reach, our desires, our ambitions, and our appetites." #EnjoyYourWorld#LeaveNoTrace
Leave No Trace Culture
355 Likes
Sometimes they call us tree huggers. Sometimes they’d be right. #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Picking Wildflowers
293 Likes
The #superbloom has inspired many visitors to our public lands. We love it! But remember that these native flowers aren't just for art and beauty, they are part of a larger ecosystem. When we pick flowers we take resources for many insects, we take seeds for the next generation of wildflowers, and we set the example that it's ok. If everyone who visited these public lands took a handful of flowers, there would be nothing left. So go to these fields, get to know the flowers, admire, inhale their fragrance, be inspired by such a rare landscape, take photos, and then leave them as they are- for they have an important job to do. If you see someone picking wildflowers try our Authority of the Resource technique (link in bio) to educate and engage. If you see a child ready to rip flowers from their roots turn this into a teachable moment. If you do this already, thank you! Our public lands need more advocates like you. | 📷@zachbehrens | #Superbloom2017 #EnjoyYourWorld#LeaveNoTrace #DontFeedTheLandfills
Protect Petroglyphs
291 Likes
Seeing petroglyphs is pretty incredible. It puts into perspective our human history with the land. But the oils on our hands can damage this art and carving our own name next to it can alter the experience for others. Take a photo instead! #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace#DontFeedTheLandfills
Mountain Goats Attracted to Urine
385 Likes
Can you spot the mountain goat in this picture? One of our Leave No Trace tips that many don't know but may find interesting: In high-elevation areas wildlife is often salt deficient so they actually seek out places where hikers, backpackers, and other visitors have peed because our urine contains salts. Leave No Trace always recommends urinating 200ft or 70 big steps away from water sources and packing out toilet paper. In these high-altitude areas, we also recommend peeing on a rock. That's because mountain goats and sheep will tear up vegetation in an effort to get at the salt in our urine. Vegetation is disappearing at alarming rates in our favorite alpine areas. When you pee on a rock, the mountain goats will lick the rock but can't hurt this durable surface. Who knew?! Pee on a rock on your next high-altitude adventure to protect the places you visit! #EnjoyYourWorld#LeaveNoTrace
Dead Logs Brimming with Life
270 Likes
Big logs like this are important for ecosystems as they provide great habitat for insects or small rodents and when they break down they add vital nutrients into soil systems where more plants and trees can grow in the future. If we're building campfires we want to leave these big logs and instead collect firewood with the Four D's in mind: Dead, Down, Distant, & Dinky. Dinky means small. The width of your wrist and the length of your forearm is a great guide to collecting firewood in the outdoors where wood gathering is allowed and fires are legal. #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Top Tips for Leave No Trace Photography
394 Likes
Top Tips for Leave No Trace Photography:
1. Stick to designated trails and travel on durable surfaces when taking photos.
2. Stay a safe distance away from wildlife by bringing binoculars or a zoom lens for your camera.
3. Follow park rules to stay safe and protect important and fragile resources.
4. Think about where your photo might be viewed and shared. Consider adding Leave No Trace information with your photos to ensure protection of our shared lands.
In the Tahoe area this Saturday? Check out our Instameet with @_gabe_l and @tahoesouth for more tips on photography and Leave No Trace - link in bio for calendar details! #EnjoyYourWorld#LeaveNoTrace
Collecting Firewood
254 Likes
Guys it’s #TriviaTuesday! Do you know what to look for in firewood? Swipe ➡️ once you’ve commented to see if you’re right! #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
How to Set Up Camp
319 Likes
Settling down for the extra hour of sleep tonight! What makes the perfect campsite? Leave No Trace like ours on durable surfaces, 200 ft from water, and not too close to other visitors. Oh and a good view for the morning! #EnjoyYourWorld #OptOutside#LeaveNoTrace
Yielding to Others on Trails
247 Likes
To #ProtectPublicLands know when you should yield to other users. Hikers and cyclists yield to horses by finding a safe, durable surface on the side of the trail to stop and let horses pass. This helps minimize erosion and keeps our outdoor places enjoyable for all users. #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Protect Living Waterfalls
261 Likes
Gorman Falls is a 'living' waterfall. The water, fed by a spring, has a high concentration of carbon dioxide which runs through limestone and deposits over tiny underwater plants. These deposits build up, forming a sedimentary rock called tavertine. The waterfall gets larger instead of smaller and has taken millions of years to form but only takes a step to destroy. The soft layers of tavertine can be easily crushed by walking or climbing the falls.
Help us protect unique natural resources like Gorman Falls for each other and generations to come by sticking to durable surfaces like trails and boardwalks.
Cairns Debate
Which view do you like better? Building cairns, or rock piles, has grown in popularity over the past few years and while we love seeing people engage with the outdoors we wonder - does this ultimately impact the experience of others? Not to mention, rocks provide shade and habitat for lots of insects and critters. What do you think? Build and then take down? Avoid this behavior all together? Cairns are awesome, let them be? #EnjoyYourWorld#LeaveNoTrace
Hiking Off Trail
323 Likes
Hiking off trail can offer incredibly rewarding views, and counter to what you might think, it doesn’t go against practicing Leave No Trace. When hiking off trail, choose durable surfaces like rock, gravel, sand, or snow, while taking care to avoid sensitive vegetation. If you’re in a group, spread out your paths instead of walking single file to avoid creating new social trails. Enjoy those views! #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Protecting Winter Wildlife
282 Likes
Winter wildlife sightings are such an incredible treat. If you're lucky enough to stumble upon the hardy few who are out and about in the snow, be sure to give them extra space and respect to prevent them from fleeing and wasting precious energy during these lean months. #LeaveNoTrace#EnjoyYourWorld #DontFeedTheLandfills#OptOutside
How to Do Your Dishes in the Outdoors
237 Likes
What day is it? No not Mardi Gras or Galentine’s Day, it’s #TRIVIATUESDAY! Comment your answers below then swipe on through to see if you’re a genius 🤓 #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Instagram Videos
Time Spent in Nature Reduces Stress
1,284 Views
Multiple research studies show that time spent in nature significantly reduces stress and negative thoughts, while improving concentration, boosting the immune system, and overall increasing mental well-being. It's clear that time spent in the outdoors is valuable to us all. It's up to each of us to help protect the places where we find restoration and rejuvenation.
How Long Does Trash Take to Decompose?
720 Views
Seeing all of your photos this #EarthWeek is really reminding us how vital it is to #LeaveNoTrash all the time. Many people don’t realize just how long even an 🍊 or 🍌 peel can take to decompose. Check out the #LeaveNoTrash hashtag for inspiration and then get outside and help our planet!
Get Your Boots Dirty to Protect Trails
648 Views
Spring and early summer runoff means sticking to the trail and getting those boots muddy. Tag #leavenotrace in your muddy boot photos! #subaru #enjoyyourworld#hikingtrail @keen @fjallravenusa@fjallravenofficial #muddy
Protecting Hot Springs
924 Views
A couple of weeks ago our Traveling Trainers were in Aspen, Colorado for a Hot Spot addressing major impacts and damage. Check out the whole video (link in bio) and stay tuned for more - our Hot Spot this week is in Grand Teton National Park! #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Building Sustainable Festivals
432 Views
What does it mean to be a sustainable music festival? Check out this great video from our time at Telluride Bluegrass Festival hosted by @planet.bluegrass, link in bio #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
What Are You Thankful For on Public Lands?
522 Views
This holiday, protect what you're thankful for! Join, renew or donate at the link in our bio and @kleankanteen will MATCH your donation up to $15,000! #EnjoyYourWorld #LeaveNoTrace
Stop the Spread of Invasive Species
Happy Friday morning everyone! Check out 6 ways to stop the spread of invasive species to learn something productive while staring at your phone 😉#EnjoyYourWorld#LeaveNoTrace
Abandoned Sleds Need Forever Home
2,057 Views
Save the sleds this winter 😉#EnjoyYourWorld#LeaveNoTrace
Brand Promotion Content
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Upslope Brewing
Like many of the finer things in life, there’s a certain aesthetic to the perfect trailhead beer. Part of getting it done in good style means sticking to Leave No Trace ethics. LNT guidelines for post-adventure beers means making sure everyone around you can have a good time, too—keeping music and conversation to a dull roar and not leaving behind any cans. Always pack it in, pack it out. And don’t forget that very important LNT principle: Plan Ahead and Prepare, which in this case means having plenty of snacks to accompany your après-hike beers.