TIPS FOR MINDFUL TRAVEL IN UTAH

Consider those ethereal amber-tinged sandstone walls of Kanarra Canyon. They are stunning for a reason. They’ve been untouched. Mindful tourism starts with minimizing your footprint but the term also means positively impacting the place you visit with your vacation dollars. Become a local while you’re there. By having your own haunts during your stay, you’ll engage with owners and regulars, learn their stories and share yours.

Here are some other lesser-known tips for mindful travel in Utah:

Come when the crowds don’t

The state’s breathtaking natural beauty is legendary. Yet PRE-COVID, some of Utah’s iconic landmarks were really being “loved to death” with over-tourism, especially in high season. Consider visiting during off-peak times. Late fall is actually the perfect time to hike Snow Canyon State Park when this hiker’s paradise through sand dunes and lava tubes is not too hot or crowded. So there’s no need to start at 6 a.m. to beat the crowds and heat.

’Gram good

Think taking a photo doesn’t do any harm?

Sometimes there seem to be as many people taking selfies in the fields during Cedar Breaks Wildflower Festival as there are wild blooms! That’s a lot of tramping on wildflowers! If you have to get the shot, walk on established paths. Same for Utah’s red-rock deserts and their rich but fragile biological soil crust. You might want the angle no one else has, but to prevent damaging the terrain, always stay on existing trails or else durable slickrock. And be mindful of where you plant your tripod. Avoid light pollution, too. Goblin Valley State Park is not just home to hundreds of unique mushroomshaped rocks. It’s one of Utah’s designated International Dark Sky Parks, offering gobsmacking celestial experiences.

Waste not

You know to pack food when camping or hiking but you might not know that human waste has to be properly disposed of too, especially in the desert. Desert environments don’t benefit from human “fertilizer;” waste can take up to a year to break down. Luckily there’s a way to pack it that’s not too gross: a W.A.G. Bag. They’re basically dog bags for humans in the backcountry. Just tell yourself you’re doing your part to keep Utah beautiful!