Value of Roaded, Multiple-Use Areas as Recreation Sites in Three National Forests of the Pacific Northwest

摘要

Dispersed recreation along forest roads in generally undeveloped areas is increasing rapidly in the West. To effectively manage this use and integrate it with other forest activities requires information about the preferences, expectations, and opinions of forest visitors and their patterns of recreation use. Results of a 3-year study of campers and day users in three roaded forest areas of Washington and Oregon suggest this type of area provides opportunities that are very different from those in developed campgrounds and primitive backcountry. Visitors to roaded, forested areas like the generally unpaved road access, the low level of use, and the freedom to alter campsites to suit their objectives. Although this type of recreation is found in conjunction with resource management activities, such as logging and livestock grazing, recreationists do have favorite sites they return to year after year. Such sites may, therefore, warrant some protection. Future management programs must consider the value recreationists place on these sites and area attractions and the noneconomic as well as economic costs associated with altering these settings.