Recreate Responsibly (U.S. National Park Service)

National parks across the country provide endless opportunities for recreational activities for everyone from the casual sightseer to the experienced adventurer. With your help, we can enjoy these special places while preserving them for future generations to enjoy.

Protecting You: More than 300 million people visit national parks each year, as well as the communities living in or around them.

Protecting Us: Tens of thousands of NPS employees, plus volunteers, partners, and others, provide services for the safety and enjoyment of parks, including emergency assistance, facilities such as restrooms and visitor centers, transportation, and sales.

Protecting America’s Treasures: National parks are home to some of the nation’s most treasured and irreplaceable resources, including wildlife, scenery, and historic places.

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Plan Like A Park Ranger

Rangers share their insider tips for planning a park visit!

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Trip Planning Guide

Heading to a park? Get planning and safety tips to make your trip a fun, safe adventure.

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Recreation

Find suggestions on how to enjoy the great outdoors in national parks, including tips and trip ideas.

Tips to Recreate Responsibly in National Parks

Whether seeking wide-open spaces or exploring a historic urban neighborhood, remember to #RecreateResponsibly! We encourage you to follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and follow Leave No Trace principles when you visit.

Know before you go. Check the status of the place you want to visit for closures, fire restrictions, and weather.
Plan and prepare. Reservations and permits may be required. Make sure you have the gear you need and a back-up plan.
Build an inclusive outdoors. Be an active part of making the outdoors safe and welcoming for all identities and abilities.
Respect others. There is space for everyone and countless outdoor activities. Be kind to all who use the outdoors and nature differently.
Leave no trace. Respect the land, water, wildlife, and Native communities. Follow the seven Leave No Trace principles.
Make it better. We all have a responsibility to sustain the places we love.

Social Media (#RecreateResponsibly)

Stay connected with parks, programs, and partners on social media for up-to-date safety guidance and tips on how to #RecreateResponsibly. Do your part on social media! Use #RecreateResponsibly in your posts to show us how you enjoy public lands in a safe and responsible way and can inspire others to practice these principles.

Resources to Help You Recreate Responsibly

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Ten Essentials
No matter what activity you choose, it is important to plan ahead. Make a fun adventure a safe adventure! Having the Ten Essentials with you can help you be prepared for minor injuries, sudden weather changes, or unexpected delays.
Leave No Trace Seven Principles
Following the Leave No Trace Seven Principles can help us minimize the effects our actions may have on plants, animals, other people, and even entire ecosystems. The principles can be applied anywhere, at any time, while taking part in recreational activities.
Watching Wildlife
Discover tips and tricks for watching wildlife in national parks.
Keep Safety In The Picture
Come and capture your adventure in the park. Check out these quick tips on how to avoid photography-related hazards when visiting our national parks.
Wildland Fire Safety for Park Visitors
- Sites: Public Risk Management Program, Wildland Fire Program
It's important to enjoy the outdoors safely during fire season. Read about how you can stay safe on public lands during fire season.

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Tips by Activity or Topic

Boating & Paddling

Stay afloat while on your water vessel by being prepared and knowing how to react in situations before heading out.
Camping

Staying in a campground or heading out to the wilderness? Use these practices for before, during, and after your camping experience.
Fire

Get fire prevention tips for a variety of scenarios, use of locations, and activities, one for each week of the year.
Fishing

Find your fishing spot and reel in your catch with tips for fun, safe, sustainable fishing while enjoying the great outdoors.
Hiking

Whether taking a leisurely stroll or a long trek, find tips for hiking smart while also preserving the places you visit along the way.
Pets

National parks are exciting places for pets to visit. Learn the principles of being a B.A.R.K. Ranger to inspire best behavior.