Do Colorado Right

Introduction: Care for Colorado was established by the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) and Leave No Trace in 2017. It’s grown into an alliance of more than 170 organizations, agencies and businesses dedicated to educating both locals and visitors on protecting Colorado’s natural and cultural resources.

Care for Colorado and Do Colorado Right are visitor-education programs aimed at promoting responsible tourism and preserving Colorado’s natural beauty.

The Care for Colorado program emphasizes seven Leave No Trace Principles: Know Before You Go, Stick to Trails, Leave It As You Find It, Trash the Trash, Be Careful With Fire, Keep Wildlife Wild and Share Our Parks & Trails.

The program was initially focused on visitors, but in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic (when there was more in-state and local travel), it grew to include educating local residents.

Do Colorado Right also emerged during the pandemic and was initially focused on health-advisory information for visitors. As the pandemic faded, it grew into a broader, award-winning campaign that encourages low-impact travel and responsible-tourism practices. It provides insights on traveling during off-peak times, exploring lesser-known sites and adopting local travel habits. This campaign aligns with the original Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principles and focuses on reducing environmental impact through low-emissions travel options and supporting local food systems.

Both programs are supported by the Colorado Tourism Office’s broader commitment to destination management and stewardship across the state. The principles of this responsible-traveler education are also part of the CTO’s work in communities, with businesses and in their stewardship-related grant programs, as well as integrated across their marketing and communications.