Visitor use and the wilderness experience in the Stephen Mather Wilderness, North Cascades National Park: Final report

Abstract

The North Cascades National Park Complex (NOCA Complex) encompasses some of the most rugged and wild alpine terrain in the lower 48. It spans 684,000 acres across three units: North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, and Ross Lake National Recreation Area. In 1988, congress designated approximately 94% of the NOCA Complex (642,340 acres) as the Stephen Mather Wilderness (SMW), making it one of the largest wilderness areas in the continental United States.<br><br>Visitor use in the NOCA Complex has increased in the last few years, driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, thus creating management challenges in balancing the protection of high-quality resources and social conditions. This study was conducted to support North Cascades managers and planners in their recently initiated Wilderness Stewardship Planning effort. Specifically, the study evaluates current visitor motivations, values, and desired experiences, including knowledge about federally designated wilderness, behaviors, and perspectives on management actions within wilderness boundaries.

Citation

Johnson, Hayley A.; Rice, William L.; Thomsen, Jennifer M.; Armatas, Christopher A. 2025. Visitor use and the wilderness experience in the Stephen Mather Wilderness, North Cascades National Park: Final report. Fort Collins, CO: U.S Department of the Interior, Natural Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. 77 p.