A survey of visitor characteristics, preferences, and attitudes toward management in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area, Colorado

Two hundred seventy-one wilderness users of the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area in north central Colorado were surveyed by mail questionnaires to determine their socioeconomic characteristics, and their attitudes and preferences concerning the wilderness experience, wilderness management problems, and possible management actions to alleviate these problems. Sampling took place at major trailheads and a few access roads leading into the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. Attitudes and preferences of the users were examined in general and in relation to such variables as type of use (day user versus overnight backpacker), present living environment, most important activity engaged in, and so forth. Responses showed a significant relationship between the following variables: (1) type of use and encountering evidence of fire rings in the Wilderness Area; (2) present living environment and attitudes toward allowing domestic livestock grazing in the Eagles Nest; (3) those users who had a dog on their trip and those who did not, and their attitudes toward prohibiting pets in the Wilderness Area; and (4) activities engaged in and user attitudes toward limiting fish stocking in high use lakes to indirectly disperse use within the Wilderness. Responses did not show a significant relationship between variables (type of use, present living environment, most important activity engaged in, and so forth) and encountering other people in the Wilderness, trail maintenance, limiting use, information signing, a permit system, and various other items. For the most part, Eagles Nest Wilderness users favored wilderness management plan philosophies and directions such as trail maintenance, and limitations on use and size of groups. There was opposition to the information signing philosophy and to a permit system in any form. Other areas investigated were user attitudes toward crowding, camping near other parties, encountering large groups versus small groups in the Area, and overall satisfaction of their wilderness trip