3 Eco-Friendly US Adventures to Plan For

This Fall
Take only pictures, leave only footprints, carve only memories.
Sep 30, 2015
Tags: The Cullture-ist, Autumn, Fall, Adventure, Hiking, Outdoors, Travel

Hiking in the Zion National Park (Shutterstock)

We all know that wistful feeling towards the end of summer, that twinge of nostalgia as we sense
the sun-soaked days beginning to slip away from us like sand through a sieve. The longing for
more lazy hours - and the reluctant acceptance of the cold months lying ahead - tends to set in
around mid to late August and peaks in the first weeks of September. It starts when back to
school advertisements flood us in various forms and we sense the days getting ever so slightly
shorter. It may be tempting to yearn for the hot sun as the haze of summer fades, but we can also
make this period of change more active - a time to search for our next adventure.
While adventure often calls to mind activities such as skydiving, zip lining, and whitewater
rafting, there are a number of other eco-friendly options for unleashing your inner thrill-seeking
self. Here are some sustainable options that are sure to quench your thirst for adventure and give
you something to look forward to as you ease into falls crisper embrace.

1. ZION NATIONAL PARK

When you trek through Zion National Park, you can watch the jagged brown rocks reach up
hundreds of feet towards the sky, forming parallel walls that march inwards towards each other.
The stunning backdrop of these rocks makes merely walking through the slender pathways
thrilling, regardless of the season.
The points where the spaces between two walls becomes the smallest is called the narrows of a
canyon. One of the most famous of these at Zion is Wall Street, a two-mile section when the
space shrinks to about 25 feet wide. To access this portion of the trail, visitors have to trek
through a river and can take the Bottom-Up route or the longer 16-mile Top-Down route.
Mount Zion National Park is quite eco-friendly and is focused on sustainable practices.
According to the National Park Services website, sustainability has been integral to the mission
of the national parks since 1916. Zion, in particular, monitors its environmental impact and
analyzes the results in an effort to promote and uphold sustainability. In May 2004, Zion partook
in the National Park Services tiered Climate Friendly Parks program- part of the National
Park Service Green Parks Plan. Additionally, Zion has designed some of its centers - namely,
The Zion Canyon Visitor Center, Emergency Operations Center, and Lodge landscapes - using
native plants, a particularly eco-friendly approach. Travelers can learn how to be responsible
visitors at the Zion Adventures Company site, and should follow the mantra, noted on the site,
Take only pictures, leave only footprints, carve only memories.

Zion National Park in Autumn (Shutterstock)

2. JOHN PENNEKAMP CORAL REEF STATE PARK

Journey to a region where its always warm and beams of sunlight illuminate the rippling waters
of the sea. Part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, John Pennekamp Coral Reef
State Park is a great place to learn about the fascinating ecosystem of the continental USs only
living coral reef. The US government established the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in

1990 and it comprises 2,900 square nautical miles of water (in the ocean, along the coast, and
submerged lands). John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses 70 nautical square miles
and was established in 1963. It is known as the first undersea park in the United States.
Travelers can visit the Environmental Education and Visitor Center to learn about the coral reef
and participate in educational programs. In addition to visiting the coral reef, there are nature
trails guiding hikers through scenic paths filled with wild Mangrove and Tamarind trees.
The National Marine Sanctuary has great tips on how to be a responsible diver. The suggestions
focus on anything from kelp diving procedures and shipwreck diving techniques, to respecting
the space of marine life by keeping a safe distance, refraining from collecting underwater
souvenirs, and being a marine debris crusader by removing trash and litter on the beach.
Responsible travelers can go a step further and volunteer with the National Marine Sanctuary.

A coral encrusted shipwreck at John Pennekamp State Park (Shutterstock)

3. MOUNT ST. HELEN MOUNTAIN BIKE TOURS

Washingtons Mount St. Helens often evokes smoldering images of the destructive eruption in
1980. Unsurprisingly, one of the main draws of this region is the volcano itself. As Escape
Adventures tells us, however, there is much more to explore in this geographical setting. Steeped
in lush green forests abounding with wildlife and freshwater, the terrain includes volcanic lahars,
verdant meadows, and multi-colored wildflowers. Escape Adventures mountain bike tour of
Mount Saint Helens utilizes the duality of this landscapeon this trail, cyclists will get to see the
Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument as well as the Gifford Pinchot National
Forest. In the fall travelers have the added bonus of seeing the changing russet-colored leaves
and autumnal colors framing the scenic trails.

Escape Adventures is an environmental pioneer dedicated to minimizing their carbon footprint

and is a carbon neutral program. The tour companys diesel engine vehicles run on renewable
vegetable oil and they attempt to use only 100 percent recycled paper and organic foods. The
organization also recycles over 90 percent of waste from their tours and use solar cells.
Additionally, each time an employee must fly in an airplane for the job, Escape Adventures
attempts to plant a tree to counterbalance the negative impact. Employees even get a $5 bonus
each day if they refrain from driving a car to work, and all of their guides follow leave no trace
camping practices.