Overview
Together with thousands of other users, your actions impact and disturb the landscape, vegetation, wildlife, waterways and other users. Irresponsible or unmanaged use, or both, can contribute to:
- impact on others experiences
- loss of vegetation
- soil compaction, contamination and erosion
- transfer of weeds
- water contamination
- wildfire
- wildlife disruption
By acting responsibly, we collectively maintain our access privileges and preserve our public lands for future generations.
Trip and trail 101: Basics for everyone
It is your responsibility to know the regulations that apply to the land you are travelling on.
- Plan ahead and be prepared. Know the following:
- applicable regulations
- ground and weather conditions
- terrain
- your route
- Travel only on trails open for your activity, and use legal watercourse crossings (bridges, fords) that appear on provincial maps. Use established and well-defined trails.
- Travel on trails and park in areas with the hardest, most durable surface.
- Avoid wet, sensitive and alpine areas whenever possible.
- Contact the leaseholder and follow conditions for access prior to travelling on private or leased land.
- Call 310-LAND (5263) for assistance.
- Follow posted signs and notices.
- Travel in small groups to minimize soil compaction and vegetation damage.
- Share the trail and be respectful of other users.
- Remember, all users must yield to equestrian users.
- Indicate how many are in your group when passing other users.
- If marking your route, do not mark or blaze your trail with axes or paint. If using flagging, remove it when you leave.
- Leave nothing behind. Take all garbage and waste with you, and properly dispose of it.
- Don't disturb artifacts, fossils, livestock, property or wildlife.
- Don't harm or remove live native vegetation.
- Leave all gates and fences as you find them.
- Report illegal activity – contact 310-LAND (5263) to report concerns.
Activity specific tips
Hikers
- Don't mark the bark. Step over, rather than on, exposed roots to prevent damage to bark.
- Spread out in alpine areas that don’t have an established trail.
- Avoid travelling single file to minimize trampling of fragile vegetation.
Mountain bikers
- Ride only on open trails.
- Building of ramps and permanent structures is prohibited except where written permission has been granted.
Equestrian users
- Use weed free supplemental feed to prevent overgrazing and non-native plant infestation.
- Avoid soft or marshy banks when riding or watering horses.
- Locate holding areas at least 100 metres (328 feet) from water.
- Avoid tethering horses to live vegetation to prevent damage.
Canoe and kayak users
- Respect the shorelands – avoid launching or landing, or both, in soft or marshy areas.
- Don't disturb wildlife – nesting waterfowl are particularly vulnerable to disruption.
- Manage your waste – avoid urinating or defecating, or both, directly into water.
Climbers and cavers
- Don't drill – use existing or removable protection whenever possible.
- Approach with caution – be sensitive to trail erosion on steep approaches and fragile alpine areas.
- Don't mark the bark. Avoid anchoring to – and stepping on – exposed roots and vegetation to minimize bark damage.
- Watch for wildlife – avoid disturbing nesting birds, bats and other creatures.
- Behave in the caves – cave formations and life are vulnerable to outside contamination. Avoid touching anything you don't have to.
Skiers and snowboarders
- Ensure adequate snow cover—avoid travelling on top of trees and other vegetation that may be broken or damaged by direct contact with skis.
- Avoid disrupting alpine wildlife.
Resources
For overnight, campfire and waste disposal information, see Camping on public land.