Examining the spatial distribution of physically active recreation pursuits on the National Forest System

INTRODUCTION: The United States Forest Service is one of the largest providers of outdoor recreation and connection to nature opportunities on its lands, trails, roads, and facilities. Physically active recreation pursuits such as skiing, hiking, and biking account for over 50% the visits to National Forest System lands. To evaluate the link between proximity to National Forest Service lands and physical activity, this paper examines: (1) whether those who live closer to NFS lands receive greater health benefits from active recreation; (2) the spatial distribution of origins with the greatest levels of physically active pursuits.

METHODS: A retrospective review of the National Visitor Use Monitoring program data was performed on more than 100,000 individuals on recreation visits to National Forests from 2005 – 2009. Data examined included the nature of their primary activity, visit duration, home location, and annual visitation patterns.

RESULTS: People living near to Forest Service lands demonstrate a trend toward higher percentages of visits with physically active pursuits. As well, people from these areas tend to have both a higher proportion of the population who visits, and higher mean number of visits per year for those who visit for physically active pursuits.

CONCLUSION: Our results document the link between proximity to NFS recreation opportunities and usage rates of those opportunities, measured both in proportion of the population visiting and mean visits per year. Moreover, we demonstrate that proximity is closely linked to the likelihood of engaging in physically demanding activities.