Case study of
#00094 Mandatory carry-out rules and tools at high-impact sites
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
#00087
SuccessRegion
Implementer
US National Park Service (Grand Canyon National Park)
Location
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA36.3079, -112.2929
Description
In the Grand Canyon river corridor, the National Park Service mandates that all river trip permit holders pack out all trash and solid human waste using portable toilet systems. Compliance is enforced as a condition of the permit, replacing a previously voluntary Leave No Trace ethic.
Lessons learned
- Mandatory pack-out became necessary because voluntary ethics proved insufficient to protect a fragile, high-use corridor — the switch from voluntary to enforced was the key policy decision.
- Enforcement is made feasible by tying requirements to a permit system that already controls access, and by providing portable toilet systems so compliance is logistically possible.
- The approach is scoped to the permitted river corridor rather than the entire park, making it administratively manageable.
Documented Jun 26, 2026