National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Visitor Study Summer 2010 Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/SSD/NRR—2011/144/106894 ON THE COVER Photograph courtesy of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Visitor Study Summer 2010 Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/SSD/NRR—2011/144/106894 Nancy C. Holmes, Ariel Blotkamp, Steven J. Hollenhorst Visitor Services Project Park Studies Unit University of Idaho Moscow, ID 83844-1139 March 2011 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. Data in this report were collected and analyzed using methods based on established, peer-reviewed protocols and were analyzed and interpreted within the guidelines of the protocols. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from the Social Science Division (http://www.nature.nps.gov/ socialscience/index.cfm) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM). Please cite this publication as: Holmes, N. C, A. Blotkamp, S. J. Hollenhorst. 2011. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: Summer 2010. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/SSD/NRR—2011/144/106894. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 144/106894 March 2011 ii Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - VSP Visitor Study 231 June 26 - July 2, 2010 Contents Page CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................................... III! EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. V! Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................... vi! About the Authors ...................................................................................................................................... vi! INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................. 1! Organization of the Report ......................................................................................................................... 1! Presentation of the Results ........................................................................................................................ 2! METHODS ........................................................................................................................................................ 3! Survey Design .............................................................................................................................................. 3! Sample size and sampling plan .............................................................................................................. 3! Questionnaire design .............................................................................................................................. 3! Survey procedure ................................................................................................................................... 4! Data analysis .......................................................................................................................................... 4! Limitations .............................................................................................................................................. 5! Special conditions ................................................................................................................................... 5! Checking non-response bias .................................................................................................................. 6! RESULTS ......................................................................................................................................................... 7! Group and Visitor Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 7! Visitor group size .................................................................................................................................... 7! Visitor group type .................................................................................................................................... 7! Visitors with organized groups ................................................................................................................ 8! United States visitors by state of residence .......................................................................................... 10! Visitors from Colorado and adjacent states .......................................................................................... 11! International visitors by country of residence ....................................................................................... 12! Frequency of visit ................................................................................................................................. 13! Visitor age ............................................................................................................................................. 14! Visitor ethnicity ..................................................................................................................................... 15! Visitor race ............................................................................................................................................ 15! Language used for speaking and reading ............................................................................................ 16! Respondent level of education ............................................................................................................. 17! Visitors with physical conditions ........................................................................................................... 18! Trip/Visit Characteristics and Preferences ............................................................................................. 19! Information sources prior to visit ........................................................................................................... 19! Information sources for future visit ....................................................................................................... 21! Park as destination ............................................................................................................................... 22! Primary reason for visiting park area .................................................................................................... 23! Adequacy of directional signs ............................................................................................................... 24! Number of vehicles ............................................................................................................................... 27! Use of park campground ...................................................................................................................... 28! Length of stay in park ........................................................................................................................... 31! Length of stay in park area ................................................................................................................... 32! Sites visited in the park ......................................................................................................................... 33! Sites visited in the area ........................................................................................................................ 34! Activities on this visit ............................................................................................................................. 37! Most important activity .......................................................................................................................... 38! Services/facilities that would enhance participation ............................................................................. 39! Activities on future