Leave No Trace When Visiting Zion National Park

An early artist and topographer named Frederick Dellenbaugh spent the summer of 1903 painting Zion Canyon. He said of Zion, “One hardly knows just how to think of it. Never before has such a naked mountain of rock entered into our minds! Without a shred of disguise its transcendent form rises preeminent. There is almost nothing to compare to it. Niagara has the beauty of energy; the Grand Canyon, of immensity; the Yellowstone, of singularity; the Yosemite, of altitude; the ocean, of power; this Great Temple [Zion], of eternity…”

Both the artwork and words of Dellenbaugh ultimately contributed to President Taft’s decision to create Mukuntuweap National Monument in 1909, which Congress would later rename Zion National Park. Now, more than 100 years later, that same “beauty of eternity” Dellenbaugh spoke of is what continues to draw people from all over the world. The beauty of Zion is impossible to explain, it must be experienced to be understood.

As stewards of beautiful East Zion, it’s our responsibility to remind our guests to leave this landscape even better than you found it so this beauty can be enjoyed for generations to come. When it comes to social media, please be sure to follow these Leave No Trace best practices:

1. Tag Thoughtfully

Avoid geotags or hashtags that point out specific locations. Instead, use general locations, states or even regions.

2. Be Mindful of What Your Images Portray

Don’t show yourself in places you shouldn’t be, and don’t reveal remote locations.

3. Give Back to the Places You Love

Pack in, pack out and leave a place better than you found it.

4. Encourage and Inspire #LNT in Social Media Posts

Raising awareness is the number one way to educate others about Leave No Trace. When sharing America’s amazing outdoor spaces on social media, be sure to also share the Leave No Trace message.

As a reminder, the 7 Leave No Trace principles are:

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

Learn more about Leave No Trace best practices at lnt.org or at www.zionponderosa.com. Read more here about social media best practices.

Cover photo by Road Trippin with Bob and Mark

Intro by Johanna Welling