Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the association of environmental, managerial, and sociodemographic variables with hiker volume on the Florida National Scenic Trail.
Design: Monthly hiker count data from 43 count stations along the Florida National Scenic Trail were used. For each station the characteristics of the built and natural environment as well as sociodemographic variables were computed within a Geographic Information System based on census, land use, and land cover data, together with managerial data.
Setting: Counts were performed on access points of the Florida National Scenic Trail located between the panhandle area in the northwest and the Everglades in the south.
Subjects: A total of 34,734 hikers were counted across the 43 stations over 12-month periods for years 2003-2004 and 2008-2009.
Measures: Hiker volume was measured through infrared counters and registration cards at trail access points.
Analysis: A negative binomial regression with monthly hiker counts as response variable.
Results: Positive associations with hiker volume were observed for (population density per hectare) 2 (β = .207, p < .02), residential areas (β = .041, p < .0003), household income between $25,000 and $49,999 (β = .266, p < .0001), household income between $50,000 and $99,999 (β = .135, p < .0001), open water (β = .135, p < .0001), and station kilometers north (β = .003, p < .0001). Negative associations with hiker volume were observed for age <18 (β = -.305, p < .0001) and presence of trail fees (β = -.583, p < .0001). Positive and negative associations were observed for different categories in categorical variables including prominent vegetation type (p < .0001), trail management agency (p < .0001), and month (p < .0001).
Conclusions: The correlates should be considered for the design, planning, and promotion of hiking trails in publicly managed areas to increase hiker volume.