How does Winter Wildlands Alliance collect winter recreation data?

Over the past three winters, Winter Wildlands Alliance has partnered with trained volunteers and nonprofit organizations to collect winter recreation data. This data helps inform Forest Service planning and implementation for winter recreation. In the 2023-2024 season, our focus was primarily on the Stanislaus, Lassen, and Inyo National Forests in California, while our key partners in Colorado focused on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunnison, and San Juan National Forests.

What tools are used for data collection?

To ensure consistent data collection, we encourage our partners and volunteers to use the Colorado Mountain Club’s Recreation Impact Monitoring System (RIMS) mobile app. This tool aligns with the data collection methods used by the Forest Service, providing a standard format for gathering information. Some organizations with longstanding data collection efforts utilize different methods, but the type of data collected remains the same or similar. For more information on the CMC RIMS app, please click here.

What kind of data is collected?

Data collected includes:

• Parking lot surveys (how many cars and trailers present)
• Visitor use assessments (people observed at a trailhead or on a trail, and the activities they’re engaged in)
• Condition of signs and facilities
• Number of dogs (and whether they’re on a leash)
• Violations of management rules
• Use conflicts

While the data is not based on a predetermined random sample and therefore should not be used for statistical purposes, it provides a general overview of recreation use patterns. As with any data collection effort, the more information gathered from a specific location over time, the more useful that dataset becomes.

Therefore, as we plan for our 2024-2025 season of data collection, we will continue to focus on collecting meaningful datasets from forests that have either completed winter travel planning, are in the process of drafting winter travel plans, or plan to begin this process in the near future. 

What were the findings in California?

In California, 95.4% of winter visitors recorded through RIMS visitor use assessments were human-powered, with 79.9% engaging in some form of snow play. Although violations and conflicts are always a minor element of the data collected, they highlight common issues across public lands.

• Lack of signage or inadequate signage at non-motorized and parking areas
• Parking areas without guidance (e.g. absence of white lines)
• Ability for motorized vehicles to breach snow berms onto non-motorized groomed trails
• No etiquette signage where multiple uses occur, or signs indicating safe places to pull over (e.g., sledding or snow play into dangerous roadway areas)
• Insufficient trash cans, dog poop bag receptacles, and etiquette information in areas with frequent dog visits
• Lack of recognition and signage related to snow depth requirements for motorized vehicles

These issues have relatively straightforward solutions, provided that resources are available.

What were the findings in Colorado?

Over twelve percent of Colorado’s population participates in skiing or snowboarding, and the state is a national draw for winter recreation. Despite the importance of winter recreation for Coloradans, and for Colorado’s economy, limited data exists concerning backcountry winter recreation use on National Forests in the state. A better understanding of where and how winter recreation occurs on National Forest lands is crucial to better recreation planning, including informing winter travel planning.

In Colorado, most RIMS data was collected was by Colorado Club Snow Rangers and Grand Mesa Nordic Council volunteers on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests. The San Juan Mountains Association Snow Ambassador program also collected visitor data using similar methodology on the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests. In these areas, over 80% of winter visitors recorded by either RIMS visitor use assessments or Snow Ambassador observations were human-powered, with nearly one-third engaging in family-friendly snowshoeing or hiking.