TREAD Lightly: Travel Responsibly

In partnership with Tread Lightly! and Arizona State Parks and Trails, the Arizona Office of Tourism is sharing how you can responsibly enjoy the outdoors while visiting Arizona's vast and diverse outdoor environments by off-highway vehicle (OHV). In this series, we break down each of the T.R.E.A.D principles.

T - Travel Responsibly

When you hit the trails on an off-highway vehicle (OHV), it's crucial to be a responsible visitor. Follow these tips to travel responsibly.

• Buddy up with two or three riders, reducing vulnerability if you have an accident or breakdown.
• Ride in the middle of the trails to minimize widening of the trails. Avoid sideslipping, which can lead to erosion.
• Slow down when sight lines are poor.
• Maintain a reasonable distance between you and your fellow riders.
• Make your presence known when approaching others and going around blind corners.
• Comply with all signs and respect barriers.
• Pack out what you pack in. Carry a trash bag and pick up litter left by others.
• Drive over, not around, obstacles to avoid widening the trail.
• Cross streams only at designated fording points or where the trail crosses the stream.
• On slick trails, moderate the throttle and use the clutch to gain maximum traction with minimum tailspin.

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About Tread Lightly!

Tread Lightly! is a non-profit organization that leads a national initiative to promote the responsible use of motorized vehicles when recreating outdoors. Their goal is to balance the off-road and off-highway vehicle (OHV) users’ need for adventure with the need to conserve the places where they ride and explore.

To support this, they offer a wide range of projects, programs, trainings, and educational materials to promote a responsible outdoor recreation message. Their work includes educating off-road and OHV users on responsible riding practices, reducing the impact on the environment and protecting natural and cultural resources.

Header image credit: An Pham