While some iconic National Parks like Yellowstone and Glacier tend to see visitorship dwindle during winter months, place further south like Big Bend National Park in Texas actually experience holiday crowds as folks take off work and head to enjoy its desert landscapes without the oppressive heat of summer.

With Big Bend seeing a recent uptick in visitors entering their gates, they took to social media to remind folks be respectful and not to leave a mess behind. This simple message was delivered after park rangers discovered a campground left in disarray strewn with litter thanks to some careless campers.

Remember, Big Bend as well as all National Parks operate under a single mantra when it comes to preserving their landscapes: Leave No Trace. Read Big Bends message about keeping the park tidy and find out more about Leave No Trace below.

Big Bend National Park:

We’re asking—please pick up after yourselves.

Over the past week at Rio Grande Village Campground, park rangers found trash left behind by campers that had blown into nearby trees and surrounding areas. Cardboard boxes, plastic store bags, paper and paper towels, aluminum cans, and abandoned camping gear do not belong in Big Bend.

With the holiday weekend bringing more visitors, we need your help. Big Bend is not a trash can. If you pack it in, pack it out and dispose of trash in its proper place. Litter threatens wildlife, damages the desert, and takes time away from staff who are here to help visitors enjoy the park.

If you see trash or food left out, please let a camp host or park ranger know so it can be addressed quickly. Be part of the solution—not the problem. Thanks for helping keep Big Bend wild and beautiful.

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace:

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors. The Principles can be applied anywhere — from remote wilderness areas, to local parks and even in your backyard. Each Principle covers a specific topic and provides detailed information to empower you to minimize your impacts. The 7 Principles are well-established and widely known but not static. Leave No Trace continually examines, evaluates, and reshapes the Principles and conducts research to ensure that they are up to date with the latest insights from biologists, land managers, and other leaders in outdoor education.

• Categories:  
• National Parks