Social conditions, conflict, and preference data for users in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area in 1994

The data available here highlight visitor preferences for naturalness and social conditions for their visitor experience in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area (RNRA) and Wilderness in Montana. Mountain bikers and hikers in the RNRA were surveyed in 1994 to measure conflict between various user groups visiting the RNRA. Random onsite interviews were conducted to gather basic on-site information regarding length of visit, travel destinations, and group characteristics. If willing to participate, interviewees were sent mailback questionnaires which contained more details on classification of visitors by activities participated in, preference for conditions, encounters with others, factors influencing the quality of their experience, and overall feelings of the RNRA. This study is, in part, a replication of a similar study done in the same area in 1989.The study was partly a replication of the study done in 1989 in the RNRA, in an effort to document changes in conflict levels and serve as a baseline for evaluation of management actions in the future. The primary interest was monitoring conflict between two user groups, hikers and mountain bikers, but there was also interest in gauging preference for interaction with other user groups such as stock users. Educating mountain bike riders about behavior that others consider unacceptable and educating hikers about the similarities between hikers and mountain bike riders may reduce feelings of conflict. More direct management approaches can also be developed and considered. The data also reflects visitor preferences for social conditions in the recreation area.Original metadata date was 01/14/2015. Minor metadata updates on 12/14/2016.