FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL VISITOR ASSESSMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008 Florida National Scenic Trail Visitor Assessment 2008 Presented to: National Forests in Florida, U.S.D.A. Forest Service Florida Trail Association By: Rachel Albritton Bin Wan Taylor Stein University of Florida, School of Forest Resources and Conservation UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES & CONSERVATION FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL VISITOR ASSESSMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. VI INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Study Purpose and Objectives ................................................................................................................. 1 METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................................................... 2 Survey Sections....................................................................................................................................... 2 Counting Visitors on the FNST ............................................................................................................... 2 When ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 Where .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 How ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Defining Visitor Characteristics .............................................................................................................. 5 Visitor Questionnaires ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Personal Observations ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Mechanical Pedestrian Counters ....................................................................................................................... 8 Visitor Questionnaires ...................................................................................................................................... 9 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Visitor Use Estimates .............................................................................................................................. 9 Estimate of Summer Visits ............................................................................................................................... 9 Estimation of Fall/Spring Visits ..................................................................................................................... 12 Estimation of Annual Visits ........................................................................................................................... 14 Comparison of Site Visitation ........................................................................................................................ 15 On-Site Survey ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Visitor Demographics .................................................................................................................................... 16 CONCLUSION AND TRAIL MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS ..................................................................... 25 Visitor Counts ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Visitor Surveys ..................................................................................................................................... 25 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................ 27 APPENDIX I: 5 YEAR STUDY SCHEDULE .............................................................................................. 28 APPENDIX II : PROTOCOL FOR CLASSIFYING ACCESS POINTS .......................................................... 30 APPENDIX III: MONITORED ACCESS POINTS 2007-2008 .................................................................... 32 APPENDIX IV: OBSERVATION LOG...................................................................................................... 34 APPENDIX V: 2007-2008 COUNTER LOCATIONS ................................................................................. 36 APPENDIX VI : 2007-2008 SEASONAL CALIBRATION FACTORS ......................................................... 66 APPENDIX VII: ON-SITE SURVEY ........................................................................................................ 65 APPENDIX IX: INDIVIDUAL SITE INFORMATION ................................................................................. 66 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES & CONSERVATION ii FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL VISITOR ASSESSMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008 Cross Florida Greenway........................................................................................................................ 46 Survey Data Results ....................................................................................................................................... 46 Counter Data Results ...................................................................................................................................... 47 Ocala National Forest ........................................................................................................................... 49 Visitor Survey Data ........................................................................................................................................ 49 Counter Data .................................................................................................................................................. 50 Goldhead Branch State Park ................................................................................................................. 52 Visitor Survey Data ........................................................................................................................................ 52 Counter Data .................................................................................................................................................. 53 Little Big Econ State Forest .................................................................................................................. 54 Visitor Survey Data ........................................................................................................................................ 54 Visitor Counter Data ...................................................................................................................................... 55 Big Cypress National Preserve .............................................................................................................. 56 Visitor Counter Data ...................................................................................................................................... 56 Etoniah State Forest .............................................................................................................................. 58 Visitor Counter Data ...................................................................................................................................... 58 Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park ..................................................................................... 60 Visitor Counter Data ...................................................................................................................................... 60 Osceola National Forest ........................................................................................................................ 62 Visitor Counter Data ...................................................................................................................................... 62 Apalachicola National Forest ................................................................................................................ 64 Visitor Counter Data ...................................................................................................................................... 64 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES & CONSERVATION iii FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL VISITOR ASSESSMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008 List of Tables Table Page Table 1. Site use classification .................................................................................................................... 2 Table 2. Access point classification ...........................................................................................................