Managing recreation on mountain summits in the northern forest region of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont

Abstract

Land managers in the Northern Forest region of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont face the challenge of providing high-quality recreation opportunities and experiences while also protecting fragile summit resources. The goals of this study were to identify indicators and standards of quality for visitor experiences and summit resources for three mountains with a range of recreation opportunities. Crowding, trail condition, damage to summit soils and vegetation, and type and level of management were found to be important indicators of quality. A visitor survey identified the social, resource, and management conditions that visitors find minimally acceptable. An assessment of summit resources quantified relative cover of vegetation, exposed soil, lichens, and bedrock. Overall, visitors to the three summits reported having high-quality recreation experiences. However, resource conditions on two summits were below what visitors find minimally acceptable. The management implications related to using a monitoring system are discussed.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Goonan, Kelly; Manning, Robert; van Riper, Carena J.; Monz, Christopher. 2010. Managing recreation on mountain summits in the northern forest region of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. In: Watts, Clifton E., Jr.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-66. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 1-8.