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Safety and Outdoor Ethics

Safety tips & advice for recreating responsibly 

Whether you’re relaxing in a campground or diving into a backcountry adventure, understanding your surroundings and impact can keep you safe and the ecosystem healthy. Before you visit the forest, check out these resources on how to be a good neighbor—to both humans and the animals that call the landscape home. 

Be bear aware

A healthy bear ambles through the forest

From food storage to an ursine encounter, learn how to navigate bear country safely. 

Pack it in, pack it out

An alpine sunset on a ridgeline

Beautiful places deserve to stay that way. Learn how to do your part. 

Share the trails

Three riders on horseback on a forest trail

Horses, hikers, and motorized users can happily coexist by following these rules.

Winter backcountry safety

A snowmobile jumps in the air over a pristine field of snow.

Tips for staying safe after the leaves fall and the snow flies.

Campfires

Bike gloves drying over a smoky campfire

Enjoy them and then ensure they’re extinguished. 

Last updated March 25th, 2025