Comparing resident and visitor trail use in Jasper National Park: Implications for future management of the day-use network

High quality outdoor recreation opportunities attract both residents and visitors to Alberta's Jasper National Park. An extensive day-use trail network surrounds the Town of Jasper and is widely used by hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. But because this landscape is also of high value to wildlife, Parks Canada must manage the network for both ecological and social values. This study is intended to complement recent ecological work and augment current understanding of human use in this area. Study results suggest residents and visitors use the network differently. Residents use the trails primarily for fitness, whereas visitors are mainly interested in experiencing the outdoors. While both groups value the current network, residents appear more protective of their recreational opportunities and are less supportive of management actions infringing upon their own use. These differences accentuate the importance of ensuring future management of the trail network reflects the needs of diverse users.