2012-2013 Visitor Assessment
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Florida National Scenic Trail Visitor Assessment Florida National Scenic Trail at Red Rock in Blackwater River SF 2013 2013 Presented to: National Forests in Florida, U.S.D.A. Forest Service Florida Trail Association Bin Wan, Ramesh Paudyal, Rose Godfrey, Angela Colonna, Carolyn Huntley, Taylor Stein University of Florida, School of Forest Resources and Conservation FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL VISITOR ASSESSMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2012-2013 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................. II LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................................... IV LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................................... V EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ 1 Study Methods .......................................................................................................................................... 1 2012-2013 Results..................................................................................................................................... 1 Estimation of Trail Visits ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Visitor Characteristics ........................................................................................................................................... 2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Study Purpose and Objectives ................................................................................................................... 4 METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Visitor Assessment .................................................................................................................................... 5 Counting Visitors on the FNST ................................................................................................................ 5 When ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Where .................................................................................................................................................................... 6 How ....................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Personal Observations ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Mechanical Pedestrian Counters ......................................................................................................................... 10 Visitor Segments and Characteristics...................................................................................................... 11 Visitor Survey ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 Visitor Data Analysis .......................................................................................................................................... 12 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 Visitor Use Estimates .............................................................................................................................. 13 Estimate of Summer Visits.................................................................................................................................. 13 Estimation of Fall/Spring Visits .......................................................................................................................... 15 Estimation of Annual Visits ................................................................................................................................ 16 Comparison of Site Visitation ............................................................................................................................. 18 On-Site Survey ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Major attributes and components of site attractions ............................................................................................ 19 Visitor segments .................................................................................................................................................. 21 Demographic Characteristics .............................................................................................................................. 22 Trip Characteristics and Experience ................................................................................................................... 24 Recreation Experience Preferences ..................................................................................................................... 27 CONCLUSION AND TRAIL MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS ...................................................................... 29 Visitor Counts ......................................................................................................................................... 29 Visitor Surveys ........................................................................................................................................ 29 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................................. 31 APPENDIX I: 10 YEAR STUDY SCHEDULE ............................................................................................. 32 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES & CONSERVATION ii FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL VISITOR ASSESSMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2012-2013 APPENDIX II: PROTOCOL FOR CLASSIFYING ACCESS POINTS ............................................................ 35 APPENDIX III: MONITORED ACCESS POINTS 2012-2013 ..................................................................... 37 APPENDIX IV: OBSERVATION LOG ....................................................................................................... 39 APPENDIX V: 2012-2013 COUNTER LOCATIONS .................................................................................. 41 2012-2013 COUNTER LOCATIONS ............................................................................................................. 42 APPENDIX VI: 2012-2013 SEASONAL CALIBRATION FACTORS ........................................................... 43 APPENDIX VII: ON-SITE SURVEY .......................................................................................................... 47 APPENDIX VIII: INDIVIDUAL SITE INFORMATION ............................................................................... 52 Apalachicola National Forest .................................................................................................................. 53 Visitor Counter Data ........................................................................................................................................... 53 Big Cypress National Preserve ............................................................................................................... 55 Visitor Counter Data ........................................................................................................................................... 55 Blackwater River State Forest ................................................................................................................. 57 Visitor Counter Data ........................................................................................................................................... 57 Highlands ................................................................................................................................................ 59 Visitor Counter Data ........................................................................................................................................... 59 Ocala National Forest .............................................................................................................................. 61 Visitor Counter Data ........................................................................................................................................... 61 Osceola National Forest .......................................................................................................................... 64 Visitor Counter Data ........................................................................................................................................... 64 Suwannee Segment