River Runner�s Etiquette and Responsibilities

Know before you go�

• Read the river guidebooks, agency publications and topographical maps before running an unfamiliar section of river.� Ask experienced friends, outfitter employees, agency rangers and local law enforcement agencies about unfamiliar runs before you go.
• Know the boundaries of the public lands, managed by federal, state and local agencies, and understand that not all publicly owned lands have unlimited access � check with the managing agency for any restrictions.
• Understand that private land is accessible with permission only and all landowner restrictions must be respected.� It is the RESPONSIBILITY of the river runner to know where private land is.
• Commercial river guides must understand that criminal trespass subjects the responsible outfitter to the loss of their Colorado River Outfitting License.

Respect Others

• Respect other river runners� and private owners� space, privacy and solitude while on the river, in camp, on hikes and at boat ramps.
• Group your boats and equipment, leaving room for others at put-ins, take-outs and attraction sites.� Expect another party to arrive.
• Avoid lunches at attraction sites or at least move off to the side of the trailhead or boat ramp.
• Yield on the river where appropriate.� If other parties are going faster, allow their boats to pass.� If you are going faster than the party in front of you, be sure your boats are grouped together before passing.� Avoid extensive, unnecessary contacts with other parties while floating.�
• Abstain from water fights with other parties.
• Radios, tapes and CD�s should be turned off within earshot of other river parties and landowners.� Using headsets is appropriate in sections of river that have extensive contact with others.
• Noise and loud partying is inconsiderate within earshot of another group.
• Explosives and fireworks ruin the solitude of a river trip and present a fire hazard. Firearms are not needed or appreciated outside hunting seasons.
• When encountering other parties on the same schedule communicate regarding planned lunch, attraction and camp stops.
• If your party is small consider smaller camps, leaving larger, more impacted camps for large groups when the canyon is busy.

Resource Protection

• River runners agree that Colorado River corridors contain extraordinary archaeological, scenic and biological values.� River runners tread lightly when traveling Colorado rivers and endeavor to �leave no trace� of their river journey.
• All garbage is hauled out.� All food scraps are removed to avoid skunks, flies, ants, mice and other pests from congregating.� Cigarette butts, twist ties, strings off fabrics, dental floss, candy wrappers and other small traces are to be meticulously disposed of.�
• Liquid waste such as leftover beer, pop, juices, coffee and so on should be deposited in the river current.
• Solids from dishwater, soups, coffee and so on should be strained and hauled out.� Grease from cooking should be hauled out.
• All fires should be contained in a firepan.� When practical, fires should be built near the river, away from vegetation.� The use of driftwood, charcoal and wood brought from home is appropriate; the use of standing timber is unacceptable.� When breaking camp there should be no trace of the fire, all charcoal is hauled out, excess firewood is scattered and unnatural wood (milled, sawed, etc.) is removed.� In very arid time frames fires may be restricted or banned altogether, check with local land agencies or the county Sheriff�s Department before planning a campfire on a river journey.��
• River runners carry and use toilet systems.� All solid human waste is removed from river corridors.� There are only two places to urinate in the river canyons.� One is in the river; the other is far away from any camp or tent site.� Urinating in gravels and sands are best, then organic soils.� Urinating on hot rocks, compacted soils and in concentrated places cause odors.� Urinating in wet sand, silt or shallow water with no current, after the river has peaked and receded, causes algae to flourish.
• Tread lightly on land by using low impact hiking; stay on main trails and avoid fragile soils.�� Be sensitive to trampling native plants and grasses and refrain from picking wildflowers.� Pets should be restrained around other groups.
• Respect for wildlife includes no feeding, harassing, killing or displacing of animals.� When encountering wildlife, maintain your distance and remain quiet.� Pets should be restrained around wildlife.
• Treat archeological sites with respect.� They are sacred places to Native Americans.� Petroglyphs and pictographs are not to be touched.� Ruins should not be entered, sat on or touched.� Potsherds and arrowheads are to remain in place.� Report violations to authorities.��� Historic structures, such as cabins and other buildings should be entered with care and all tools and artifacts are to remain in place.
• Leave natural objects where they are found.� Leaving fossils and petrified wood for future generations is the right thing to do.
• In some areas river runners must follow specific rules designed to protect natural and cultural resource values.� Ask agency offices and visitor centers if any special rules apply to the river you plan to run.

Equipment

Every trip:

• Must have a solid human waste carryout system for overnight trips.� This system must be adequate for the size of the party and length of trip.
• Must have a fire pan for overnight trips and a charcoal carry out system.
• Must have adequate storage for carrying out garbage and trash.
• Must have first-aid supplies adequate for the size of the party.
• Must have repair materials to repair the types of boats on the trip.
• Must comply with all federal, state and local boating regulations that apply to the river segment.

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UNDERSTAND YOUR RESPONSIBLITIES AND MAINTAIN RIVER ETIQUETTE, IT PROTECTS YOUR RIGHT TO RUN A RIVER!