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Recreational Benefits of Wilderness

A collage of wilderness images showing common recreational activities including hiking, camping, skiing, horseback riding and disabled use of wilderness.
In contrast to the popular perception that wildland recreation is on the decline, demand for outdoor recreation and places to recreate continues to grow and diversify. For example, between 2000 and 2007, participation in one or more outdoor activities grew by 4.4%[4].
Throughout history, writers and wilderness proponents have "extolled the closeness to nature, education, freedom, solitude, and simplicity, as well as spiritual, aesthetic, and mystical dimensions of the wilderness experience"[1 p. 7]. "Every time I go [to wilderness], it's like walking into heaven," said famed Everest climber, John Roskelly[2 p. 3]. Even today, for some there is no substitute for actually experiencing wilderness, underscoring the importance of the "outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation" called for in the Wilderness Act.

Although not one the top five benefits of wilderness in public opinion surveys, almost 30% of Americans value the recreational opportunities provided by wilderness[3]. In fact, Americans take between 16 and 35 million trips to wilderness each year on their own or with a guide to hike, backpack, camp, climb mountains, ride horses, ski, raft, canoe, take pictures, view wildlife, or stargaze[5]. Of the many people who visit wilderness each year, 6 million visit Forest Service-managed wilderness areas[6].

Allowed Recreational Activities

Although prohibited uses include mechanical transport or motorized equipment, such as motorboats, cars, trucks, off-road vehicles, bicycles and snowmobiles (exceptions include wheelchairs, subsistence activities, and some activities in Alaska wildernesses), most types of recreational uses are allowed in wilderness. Since 2000, activities like wildlife viewing, photography, nature study in all its forms, and primitive camping and backpacking have grown strongly in popularity[7]. The advent of computer, Internet, and satellite technology has also spawned new forms of wilderness recreation, such as geocaching. Surprisingly, however, almost 40% of people surveyed believed hunting was prohibited in wilderness[4]--a profound misconception--since both hunting and fishing are important recreational activities that can be enjoyed in most wilderness areas. In 2006, 12.5 million America's hunted and 30 million fished nationwide, many in wilderness[8]. Recent spatial studies of wildlife habitat, hunting, and fishing found that wilderness protects critical habitat for fish and game species, provides many of the nation's best quality hunting and fishing areas and longest seasons, and perpetuates the rich traditions of hunting and angling.

In short, wilderness areas provide excellent recreational opportunities of all kinds for all American citizens, however, recreation in wilderness can be a double-edged sword. The Wilderness Act recognized that we live in an age of "increasing population...and growing mechanization" and, although recreating in wilderness can provide solace from this world, overuse and technology pose important threats to wilderness character, making Leave No Trace techniques increasingly important for ensuring that people recreate in the spirit of wilderness.

References

  1. Dawson, C. P. & Hendee, J. C. (2009). Wilderness Management: Stewardship and Protection of Resources and Values (4th ed.). Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.
  2. Scott, D. (2009). Our Wilderness: America's Common Ground. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.
  3. National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (NSRE). (2000-2002). The Interagency National Survey Consortium, Coordinated by the USDA Forest Service, Recreation, Wilderness, and Demographics Trends Research Group, Athens, GA and the Human Dimensions Research Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. Retrieved on July 14, 2009.
  4. Cordell, H. K. (2008). The Latest on Trends in Nature-Based Outdoor Recreation. Forest History Today, Spring, pp. 4-10. Retrieved on July 16, 2009, from http://www.foresthistory.org/Publications/FHT/FHTSpring2008/Cordell.pdf
  5. Cordell, H. K., Bergstrom, J. C. & Bowker, J. M. (2005). The Multiple Values of Wilderness. State College, PA: Venture Publishing, Inc.
  6. USDA Forest Service. (2008). National Visitor Use Monitoring Results: National Summary Report. Washington, D.C.: USDA Forest Service. Retrieved on July 14, 2009.
  7. Cordell, H. K., Beltz, C. J., & Green, G. T. (2008). Nature-based Outdoor Recreation Trends and Wilderness. International Journal of Wilderness, 14(2), 7-9, 13.
  8. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service & U.S. Census Bureau. (2007). 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved on July 15, 2009.