Education: our stewardship ethos
Join us in pledging to promote positive impacts while minimizing negative ones!
In order to ensure our beautiful area can be enjoyed while continuing to provide thriving wildlife habitat and protect vital natural resources for years to come, we encourage you to be a responsible user of these places.
Check out these educational sites to help you be better prepared and know how to recreate responsibly
What do you do when you come to a muddy section of the trail? Walk through that mud!! Going around the mud widens the trail, creating more erosion and plant damage. Visit the LNT website to learn more ways to minimize your impact with their 7 Principles.
To stay safe and keep others from having to risk their safety to rescue you, know and carry the "10 Essentials." Bonus! Take along the 11th to be a better steward of the landscape. ​​
What's the best way to be safe in the water? Knowing how to swim! Also, know your own limits, as even confident and strong swimmers can get into trouble. Follow, share and contribute to this guidance to safely recreate in, on, or around water.
Climbing our mountains is work - so give that up-hill person the right of way! Let them keep on keeping on up the trail. When you step aside, seek a rock to stand on as that's your most durable choice, Avoid trampling the plants trailside.
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Durango Trails summarizes the simple guidelines to practice trail etiquette. Sharing the trail ensures we can all enjoy the natural wonders of our area. ​
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Stay on the trail.
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If the trails are wet or muddy, it’s not the day to hike or ride. Check our Trail Conditions Report to double check conditions before heading out.
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If another trail user approaches you, say hello, especially if they say hi first. Remember that trails connect us to one another!
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Mountain bikers trudge and toil to get uphill; please let them through to do so.
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When other trail users try to pass you, let them. In general, other trail users should say “on your left” as they pass so you can move to the right out of their way. (If trying to pass someone yourself, make sure to announce yourself as well!)
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When approaching a horse on the trail, be sure to: announce yourself so the rider and horse both hear you; be clearly visible; pull off to the lowside of the trail to allow them to pass; and say hi!
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Please keep your dog on a leash or under voice control.
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Give back to the trails you love by volunteering and donating to area trail organizations.
Learn more about Trail Rules 101 from Durango Trails. ​​
Know what constitutes responsible OHV use and modify and mitigate irresponsible use in an effort to minimize resource damage on public land. Learn trail tips and etiquette from Stay the Trail Colorado.
Know the safety essentials of snowmobiling. Take the Snowmobile Safety Awareness Program
Review the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) hunting and fishing regulations to become/remain an ethical sportsperson while in the field.
Living with Wildlife
Southwest Colorado is graced with abundant wildlife, which comes with the responsibility to safely live with wildlife. Supporting wildlife conservation and habitat through protection, preservation, and stewardship is a foundational element of SCCORR's purpose. You can help by keeping wildlife wild.
The following links provide detailed information for living with specific species: ​
​Bats
Bears: Bear Smart Durango YouTube video
Bears: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Information page
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Additional Colorado Parks and Wildlife articles, such as Crossing Paths with Wildlife, Help Prevent Wildlife Conflicts, and information on protecting your home, pets, campsite, can be found on their "Living with Wildlife" page.