Boulder Tourism Bureau Earns Top Environmental Award

Visit Boulder has become the first tourism-destination organization to receive a gold standard designation from the national nonprofit Leave No Trace. The award recognizes the city's new visitor guidelines, which aim to reduce the environmental impact of the approximately 50,000 people expected to arrive for the Sundance Film Festival from Jan. 21 to Jan. 31.

The initiative stems from a collaboration between Leave No Trace and the local visitors bureau. The result is a set of seven principles, branded as BoulderWise, now distributed on posters and pamphlets throughout the city and inside hotel and Airbnb properties. These rules instruct visitors on specific behaviors, such as carrying reusable water bottles, yielding to hikers moving uphill, and taking at least 70 steps off the trail to relieve themselves while packing out all toilet paper.

Julie McHale, Visit Boulder’s marketing manager for visitor and community impact, noted that the designation formalizes work the bureau has been performing for some time. McHale, an avid trail runner, cited the issue of loud music from portable speakers as a key motivation for one principle, stating that a heavy drum beat is the last thing she wants to hear while running. This concern falls under the sixth principle, which urges visitors to cultivate kindness.

To qualify for the gold standard, Boulder had to demonstrate strong alignment with the city, the state, the University of Colorado, and Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. This included developing a transportation plan featuring hiker shuttles to locations such as Colorado Chautauqua, Hessie Trailhead, and Eldorado Canyon State Park. The bureau also coordinated with local hotels and businesses to create a joint marketing plan for sustainable travel.

Dana Watts, executive director of Leave No Trace, explained that the organization was founded in Boulder 32 years ago. The phrase itself dates back to the 1980s, when the federal government began using it in response to increased recreation on public lands. Watts said the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service adopted the slogan, which later inspired the formation of the nonprofit to manage its principles globally. The organization is funded largely by corporate giving from entities like REI Co-op and Airbnb.

The gold standard designation has been awarded to 70 organizations across the country, including seven national parks. Among the national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park is not yet on the list. In Colorado, several state parks hold the designation, including Roxborough, Cheyenne Mountain, and Barr Lake. Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks also earned its designation this fall. McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area near Fruita is additionally included on the list.

The timing of the award aligns with the Sundance Film Festival, though McHale called the overlap a happy coincidence. Boulder is accustomed to hosting large events like BOLDERBoulder and the Boulderthon races, but Sundance introduces variable factors regarding visitor behavior. Watts noted that it is difficult to predict how the event will play out due to winter weather patterns and the number of visitors who will access trails at Chautauqua or Eldorado Canyon. She emphasized that visitors can use trails any time of year but must be prepared for changing conditions.