Leave No Trace Announces Five New Gold Standard Designations

Leave No Trace recently announced five new Gold Standard Sites, the highest recognition a site, organization, or program can achieve. 

This year, Leave No Trace has expanded its designation to include the long-standing Site designation for parks and protected areas and Programs, Outfitters and Guides, Youth Programs, and Hospitality sites. This broader scope aims to inspire and promote Leave No Trace principles across a wider range of activities and organizations involved in outdoor recreation and education.

The five new designations are a result of these newly expanded program guidelines and include;

Signal Mountain Lodge, Jackson, WY:  Leave No Trace’s first-ever Gold Standard Hospitality designation.

Arches National Park, Moab, UT: Utah’s first designated Gold Standard Site.

RMI Expeditions, Ashford, WA: Leave No Trace’s first Gold Standard Outfitter and Guide designation.

Golden Gate Canyon, Golden, CO: Leave No Trace Gold Standard Site.

American Alpine Institue, Bellingham, WA: Leave No Trace Gold Standard Outfitter and Guide designation. 

Earning a Gold Standard designation means a site is recognized as a premier example of Leave No Trace principles in action, ensuring the preservation and protection of our natural landscapes for generations to come. This prestigious designation lasts for five years, during which time the site continues to receive the designation by submitting annual reports showcasing its ongoing commitment to Leave No Trace practices. 

This new expansion of Gold Standard designations will allow more areas to focus on sustainability and education, reduce visitor-related impacts and search-and-rescue needs and create more resilient parks and protected areas. 

If you’re interested in reviewing the criteria of what it takes to become a Gold Standard Site, you can preview the assessment here: https://lnt.org/our-work/protecting-parks/gold-standard-sites/.

Do you have a site or area that could qualify for a Gold Standard designation? You can review the assessment here: https://lnt.org/our-work/protecting-parks/gold-standard-sites/leave-no-trace-assessment/.