Tread Lightly

Goals and Principles

Ways To Tread Lightly


TREAD LIGHTLY




One of the great things about America is the opportunity to travel the backcountry and see many wonderful sights, like wildlife, mountaintop vistas and scenic lakes. Right now, access to over 500,000 miles of backcountry roads and trails are available for backcountry travel. We would all like to see it stay that way, but how do we balance increased backcountry travel with protection of the land!

That's where the Tread Lightly! program can help. Tread Lightly! is an educational program dedicated to increasing awareness on how to enjoy public and private lands while minimizing impacts. It emphasizes responsible use of off-highway vehicles, other forms of backcountry travel, and low impact principles applicable to outdoor recreation activities. It is a Bridge To Assist Your Future Use of Public and Private Lands.

The program was begun by the U.S. Forest Service in 1986, and later adopted by the Bureau of Land Management. In 1990, a nonprofit corporation called Tread Lightly!, Inc. was formed to expand the program's support to include industry, government, public interest, communications and user groups.

Tread Lightly! Inc. unites Federal and State land management agencies with the private sector, user groups, and individuals who share a basic commitment to care for our valuable resources. The organization's message, responsible use of public and private lands, now reaches an audience of motorized and mechanized users. Through Tread Lightly!, recreationists can learn to recreate with care, so the lands will always be available to enjoy.