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Non-Motorized

Who is a Non-Motorized User?

Collectively, non-motorized users are recreationalists who:

  • Canoe and Kayak
  • Climb
  • Hike
  • Ride horses
  • Ride mountain bikes
  • Ski or snowboard

Together with thousands of other users, your actions impact and disturb the landscape, vegetation, wildlife, waterways and other users. Irresponsible and/or unmanaged use 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

  • 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.
  • Stay off private and leased land unless permitted
    • It is your responsibility to know the regulations that apply to the land you are travelling on.
    • Leave all gates and fences as you find them.
  • Travel in small groups

    • This helps to minimize soil compaction and vegetation damage.
  • Use established, well-defined trails
    • Never short-cut or create your own pathways around muddy or rough areas. This leads to multiple or "bowled-out" trails.
  • Avoid wet, sensitive and alpine areas whenever possible
  • Choose routes with hardest, most durable surface

    • Hard surfaces can tolerate more use with less damage.
  • Never litter

    • Dispose of waste properly, including human waste.
    • Pack out what you pack in.
  • Be courteous
    • Share the trail with other legitimate users.
    • Report user infractions to local authorities.
  • Be respectful

    • Don't disturb:

      • Artifacts
      • Fossils
      • Livestock
      • Property
      • Wildlife
  • Don't harm or remove live native vegetation

    • If marking your route, do not mark or blaze your trail with axes or paint. If using flagging, remove it when you leave.

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
    • Avoid travelling single file to minimize trampling of fragile vegetation.
  • Yield the trail to horses.
    • Indicate how many are in your group when passing other users.

Mountain Bikers

  • Ride only on open trails
  • Building of ramps and permanent structures is prohibited except where written permission has been granted
  • Ride in control
    • Never skid and always slow down when approaching other users.
  • Yield the trail to other non-motorized users.
    • Indicate how many are in your group when passing other users.

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
  • Be alert for other trail users
    • Indicate how many are in your group when passing other users.

Canoe and Kayak Users

  • Respect the shorelands
    • Avoid launching/landing in soft or marshy areas.
  • Don't disturb wildlife
    • Nesting waterfowl are particularly vulnerable to disruption.
  • Manage your waste
    • Avoid urinating/defecating 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.

For overnight, campfire and waste disposal information, see:

For a summary of appropriate non-motorized recreation guidelines that should be used on public lands, see:

 

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Updated: Aug 19, 2009