The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics today announced 10 public land recreation areas across the country that demonstrate successful “Leave No Trace” ethics and showcase strong organizational commitment to the promotion of outdoor skills, ethics and stewardship that help preserve and protect their natural landscape for generations to come.

The new Gold Standard designation is part of the center’s ‘Leave No Trace in Every Park’ initiative that recognizes outdoor spaces demonstrating the highest standard of practicing and promoting Leave No Trace ethics. The 10 areas named will now ultimately act as models for other public lands across the country to emulate. The following areas will receive the designation in 2017:

1. San Juan Islands National Monument – Lopez Island, Washington

2. Knob Noster State Park – Knob Noster, Missouri

3. New River Gorge National River – Glen Jean, West Virginia

4. Isle Royale National Park – Houghton, Michigan

5. Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area – Sand Springs, Georgia

6. Coconino National Forest – Flagstaff, Arizona

7. Cheaha State Park – Delta, Alabama

8. Olympic National Park – Port Angeles, Washington

9. Shenandoah National Park – Luray, Virginia

10. Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine

The new program was developed thanks to a generous donation by KEEN and their support of the Leave No Trace in Every Park initiative. Each of these areas underwent a rigorous application process to be named a Gold Standard Site.