Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
forests and other conservation areas are among the most ubiquitous venues
for nature trails, although they also exist in areas that have not been set aside
for conservation.
Nature trails can be understood in a variety of ways. Some trails are
described, sought after and managed depending on the type of transportation
used on them. For instance, bridleways (horseback trails), footpaths, bicycle
trails and off-road vehicle tracks provide satisfying and unique outdoor experi-
ences. Nature trails might also be understood by the type of environment they
traverse, their geographical location or the main type of attraction they fea-
ture. National park trails, desert tracks, wilderness trails and rain forest walks
are examples of ways of classifying them. In addition, many trails include both
natural and cultural elements as equal parts of the pathway product and expe-
rience. A single bicycle track may take in relatively undisturbed natural areas,
as well as urban environments and heritage areas, thus making it a mixed
natural and cultural trail. True nature paths without human environment
incursion are few and far between. Only in the remotest wilderness areas can
tracks truly be seen with the least of human influences. Even then, however,
trodden pathways are still signs of human existence or cultural values being
placed upon the natural environment. Some nature trails are enhanced with
interpretive signs and visitor centers to help users understand the environment
they are passing through (Ormsby, 1996). Regardless of the essential insepara-
bility of culture and nature in the trails context, this section of the chapter
aims to examine linear corridors that are considered overall to be nature trails.
Different types of trails offer different natural and social encounters, and
different hikers may choose to have different experiences, even on the same
paths. Hadrian's Wall Path in England, for instance, is both a cultural route
and nature trail. For some hikers, it is more about nature and the panoramic
vistas they encounter. For others on the same trail, the experience is most
gratifying as a heritage hike that causes them to appreciate better the Roman
patrimony of England.
Researchers have identified physical characteristics of nature trails that
influence users' experiences and their level of enjoyment. For people who
seek a genuine ecological experience, natural vegetation without signs of
human intervention are the most influential. Wiberg-Carlson and Schroeder's
(1992: 4) study found that leafy vegetation and forest canopy correlated posi-
tively with trail preferences, while signs of human activity, such as roads,
signs, fences, buildings and manicured lawns influenced participants' out-
door experiences negatively. Similarly, other research shows that nature
enthusiasts prefer restricted access to nature trails. In Costa Rica, foreign
tourists strongly preferred restricted access to rain forest trails, while domes-
tic visitors showed no preferences either way (Hearne & Salinas, 2002;
Timothy & Martens, 2012). The influences of human encounters and other
social elements are examined in more detail later on in the topic when
demand and impacts are addressed.
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