Alpine Lakes Wilderness: Recreation allocation study
| Authors: | Abigail Fuesler, William L. Rice, Chris A. Armatas, Hayley A. Johnson |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Type: | College/University Publication |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| Source: | Technical Report / 2025. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Wildland and Recreation Management Research Laboratory |
Abstract
The Enchantments area within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness has long been a popular recreation area, which has led the Forest Service to adopt an overnight permit system and, more recently, to consider a day-use permit system to balance recreation, resource protection, and visitor safety. The Enchantments area includes high-use trails such as those off of Icicle Rd, including Stuart Lake, Eightmile, and Snow Lakes. Current challenges facing managers include ensuring visitor safety, and mitigating crowding and impacts to nature. Current management strategies involve education, infrastructure modifications, permits, and enforcement. Visitors are required to pay for parking online and complete a self-issue, paper permit at trailheads, which is available in unlimited supply. In 2025, the USFS Washington Office, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, and University of Montana’s Wildland and Recreation Management Lab completed an allocation study to inform management decisions.