Integrated Approach to Transportation and Visitor Use Management at Rocky Mountain National Park
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Integrated Approach to Transportation and Visitor Use Management at Rocky Mountain National Park Submitted to: The Department of Interior National Park Service Submitted by: Peter Newman Colorado State University Steve Lawson Resource Systems Group Chris Monz Utah State University Page 1 Contents CHAPTER 1: PROJECT OVERVIEW ...................................................................... 14 1.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................14 CHAPTER 2: VISUAL BASED STANDARDS............................................................. 15 2.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................15 Figure 2.1. Hypothetical Norm Curve ............................................................................................................16 2.2 Methods ...............................................................................................................................................17 2.3 Study Sites ............................................................................................................................................17 Figure 2.2. Glacier Gorge Trail and Alberta Falls Study Site Schematic Diagram ..........................................18 Figure 2.3. Dream Lake Trail and Emerald Lake Study Site Schematic Diagram ...........................................19 2.4 Data Collection .....................................................................................................................................19 2.4.1 Visitor Surveys ...................................................................................................................................19 Table 2.1 Overall Visitor Survey Response Rate .............................................................................................20 2.5 Visitor Demographics and Familiarity Results ......................................................................................20 2.5.1 Visitor Survey Site Specific Demographics ........................................................................................20 Table 2.2 Gender of Respondents by Trail Site ..............................................................................................20 Table 2.3. Ethnicity of Respondents by Trail Site ...........................................................................................21 Table 2.4 Frequency and Percentage of Participants that Identified as Hispanic/Latino by Trail Site ..........21 Table 2.5 Visitor Age by Trail Site ..................................................................................................................21 Table 2.6 Visitor Formal Education Levels by Trail Site ..................................................................................22 Table 2.7 Percentage of Visitor Geographic Origin by Trail Site ....................................................................22 Table 2.8 Frequency of Visitors to the Four Trail Sites Separated by State....................................................23 2.5.2 Respondent Demographic Results Overall ........................................................................................24 Table 2.9 Gender of Respondents ..................................................................................................................24 Table 2.10 Ethnicity of Respondents ..............................................................................................................25 Table 2.11 Frequency and Percentage of Participants that Identified as Hispanic/Latino ............................25 Table 2.12 Visitor Age ....................................................................................................................................25 Table 2.13 Visitor Formal Education Levels ...................................................................................................25 Table 2.14 Percentage of Visitor Geographic Origin......................................................................................26 Table 2.15 Frequency and Percentage of Visitors Separated by State ..........................................................26 2.5.3 Visitor Familiarity and Frequency of Visit by Site ..............................................................................27 Table 2.16 Average Number of Visits to Rocky Mountain National Park ......................................................28 Table 2.17 Average Number of Visits at the Trail Site ...................................................................................28 Table 2.18 Initial Trailheads in which Visitors Began Their Hikes by Trail Site ..............................................28 Table 2.19 Frequency of Destination Visits by Trail Site ................................................................................29 Table 2.20 Beginning Hike Time by Trail Site .................................................................................................30 Table 2.21 Visitor Familiarity by Trail Site .....................................................................................................30 2.5.4 Visitor Familiarity and Frequency of Visit Overall .............................................................................30 Page 2 Table 2.22 Average Number of Visits to Rocky Mountain National Park ...................................................... 31 Table 2.23 Initial Trailheads in which Visitors Began Their Hikes ................................................................. 31 Table 2.24 Frequency of Locations Visited .................................................................................................... 31 Table 2.25 Beginning Hike Time .................................................................................................................... 31 Table 2.26 Visitor Familiarity with Area ........................................................................................................ 32 2.6 Visitor User Capacities.......................................................................................................................... 32 2.6.1 Perceptions of Crowding by Study Site ............................................................................................. 32 Table 2.27 Visitor Encounters and the Relationship to Overall Enjoyment by Trail Site................................ 32 Table 2.28 Visitor Perceived Crowding Based Upon Photos at Alberta Falls ................................................. 33 Table 2.29 Visitor Perceived Crowding Based Upon Photos at Dream Lake ................................................. 34 Table 2.30 Visitor Perceived Crowding Based Upon Photos at Emerald Lake ............................................... 34 Table 2.31 Visitor Perceived Crowding Based Upon Photos at Glacier Gorge ............................................... 35 Table 2.32 Percentage of Photographs that Looked Similar to the Number of People Seen by Trail Site ..... 35 Table 2.33 Percentage of Photographs that Looked Like the Number of People They Would Prefer to See by Trail Site ................................................................................................................................ 36 Table 2.34 Level of Crowding Experienced by Trail Site ................................................................................ 36 2.6.2 Perceptions of Crowding Overall ...................................................................................................... 36 Table 2.35 Visitor Encounters and the Relationship to Overall Enjoyment ................................................... 37 Table 2.36 Visitor Perceived Crowding Based Upon Photos .......................................................................... 37 Table 2.37 Percentage of Photographs that Looked Similar to the Number of People Seen ........................ 37 Table 2.38 Percentage of Photographs that Looked Similar to the Number of People They Would Prefer to See ..................................................................................................................................... 38 Table 2.39 Level of Crowding Experienced .................................................................................................... 38 2.7 Potential Problems Associated with Visitor Experience ....................................................................... 38 2.7.1 Potential Problems Associated with Visitor Experience by Study Site .............................................. 38 Table 2.40 Percentage of Perceived Problems Visitors Experienced at Alberta Falls .................................... 39 Table 2.41 Percentage of Perceived Problems Visitors Experienced at Dream Lake ..................................... 40 Table 2.42 Percentage of Perceived Problems Visitors Experienced at Emerald Lake .................................. 42 Table 2.43 Percentage of Perceived Problems Visitors Experienced at Glacier Gorge .................................. 44 2.7.2 Potential Problems Associated with Visitor Experience Overall ....................................................... 45 Table 2.44 Percentage of Perceived Problems Visitors Experienced ............................................................. 45 2.8 Visitor Opinions Concerning Personal Vehicle or Park Shuttle ............................................................ 46 2.8.1 Perceptions