Post-Experience Survey of Backcountry Anglers and Hikers in Rocky Mountain National Park

In Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO), visitation has increased by over 1 million visitors per year over the last 5 years (NPS Stats, 2021). Park managers are especially concerned about the impacts of crowded conditions in the Bear Lake region of the park where hiking and fishing are common activities and those participants may perceive crowding differently (Kainzinger et al., 2015). Therefore, this study focuses on describing the perceptions of crowding and potential displacement of hikers and anglers. Additionally, to aid in park-visitor communication, specifically for hikers and anglers, this study also addresses how visitors are getting information about the park. During July 2017, researchers from Utah State University administered a post-experience survey to hikers and anglers at the Fern Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake trailheads (Figure 2). Survey participants were asked about: Demographics Experience use history at the park, group size and activities Sources of information and associated usefulness Expectations of visitation levels, desirability of alternate locations, and what circumstances would make them change their activity, location or both Importance of select experiences, and where they would go in the park to have select experiences One-hundred and sixty-two hikers were asked to complete the hiker survey and 141 surveys were completed, resulting in a response rate for hikers was 87%. Thirty-five anglers were asked to the complete the angler survey, and 31 surveys were completed. The response rate for anglers was 89%. A summary of the report findings is provided below. Neither the hikers nor anglers surveyed resemble the general population in Colorado or the U.S., both groups were younger, less racially and ethnically diverse, more educated, and wealthier on average. Anglers were predominantly male. Both hikers and anglers tended to be repeat visitors, travel in groups of two, and engage in multiple activities such as hiking, photography, and wildlife observation. Hikers also reported ...