Planning and Developing Trails and Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 201

Table 6.6 Acadia recreation setting attributes and encounter levels
Social conditions
Level of encounters
1. Visitors encounter no other groups during a hike
2. Visitors encounter up to 5 other groups during a hike
3. Visitors encounter up to 10 other groups during a hike
4. Visitors encounter up to 20 other groups during a hike
Resource conditions
Ecological condition of offi cial trail
1. Trails show no signs of widening or secondary trails
2. Visitor use on trails with wet soils has caused a slight amount of trail widening
3. Visitor use on trails with wet soils has caused a moderate amount of trail
widening
4. Visitor use on trails with wet soils has caused extensive trail widening and
formation of secondary trails around wet areas
Management conditions
Public access
1. The number of people allowed to hike in this area is not limited
2. The number of people allowed to hike in this area is limited - around 75-80%
of interested visitors are able to gain access
3. The number of people allowed to hike in this area is limited - about half of
interested visitors are able to gain access
4. The number of people allowed to hike in this area is limited - around 25-30%
of interested visitors are able to gain access
Trail development
1. There are no management-constructed features along trails (e.g. stepping
stones, wood planking, gravel)
2. Stepping stones are placed along sections of trails
3. Wood planking is placed on sections of trails
4. Gravel is placed on sections of trails
Source: After Cahill et al. (2008: 236).
development, including wood planking and gravel, to address ecological
impacts on the network.
This example demonstrates the challenge managers face when
considering two competing objectives - to maximize trail development and
minimize the ecological impacts of recreation. In deciding what action to
take, managers need to consider the impact their actions may have on the
overall visitor experience, especially since hardening and other infrastruc-
tural changes have a certain degree of permanence (Cahill et al. , 2008).
( Continued )