Title:

Visitor perceptions of wilderness recreation carrying capacity: Survey data from 1969

Author(s):

Stankey, George H.; Armatas, Christopher A.

Publication Year:

2025

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Stankey, George H.; Armatas, Christopher A. 2025. Visitor perceptions of wilderness recreation carrying capacity: Survey data from 1969. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2025-0002

Abstract:

These survey data describe perspectives of visitors, collected via on-site and mail-back questionnaires, from four wildland recreation areas in the summer of 1969. The four areas studied were the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana, the Bridger Wilderness in Wyoming, the High Uintas Primitive Area in Utah, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness in Minnesota. The survey of visitors focused on five dimensions: (1) a description of the visitor’s party/group; (2) the past experience of the respondent in terms of general outdoor recreation and wilderness; (3) respondent attitudes and perceptions of the various parameters of use; (4) respondent attitudes about potential management; and (5) a standard socioeconomic description of the respondent.

Keywords:

boundaries; location; society; planningCadastre; Environment and People; Recreation; Quality of life; Social values, ethics; carrying capacity; nature-based recreation; limits of acceptable change; visitor use management; visitor experience; recreation rationing; Montana; Wyoming; Minnesota; Utah; National Wilderness Preservation System; Bob Marshall Wilderness; Bridger Wilderness; Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness; High Uintas Primitive Area

Related publications:

• Stankey, George H. 1973. Visitor perception of wilderness carrying capacity. Research Paper. INT-142. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. (available as \Supplements\Stankey_1973_Visitor_Perceptions_INT-142.pdf).
• Stankey, George H. 1971. The perception of wilderness recreation carrying capacity: A geographic study in natural resources management. Dissertation. Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, Department of Geography. https://doi.org/10.25335/99vx-d740

Metrics:

Visit count : 59 0
Download count: 9
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