Colter Bay Visitor Use and Experience Study

OMB Control Number: 1024-0224

Expiration Date:9/30/2021

Colter Bay Visitor Use & Experience Survey

The focus of this study is to better understand visitor flow and use, as well as the activities, services, and opportunities visitors are seeking and doing within the Colter Bay Area, which is this area (please see surveyor’s map if needed) of Grand Teton National Park.

Your participation in the study is voluntary. There are no penalties for not answering some or all questions, however because each participant will represent many others who will not be included in the study, your input is extremely important. The answers you provide will remain anonymous. The results will be summarized so that the answers you provide cannot be associated with you or anyone in your group or household.

Grand Teton National Park thanks you for your assistance.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: The National Park Service is authorized by the NPS Research Mandate (54 USC 100702) to collect this information. This information will be used by park managers to understand existing social conditions, visitor experiences, and visitor perspectives about Colter Bay area of Grand Teton National Park. Response to this request is voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. The permanent data will be anonymous. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

BURDEN ESTIMATE Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 20 minutes per response. Please direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form to: Jennifer N. Newton, Science and Resource Management, Grand Teton National Park, [email protected] (email); or Phadrea Ponds, NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fort Collins, CO; [email protected] (email).

1. When did you make the decision to visit Colter Bay? (Please select only one response)

On the same day of the visit A week before the visit 1 month before the visit 2-6 months before the visit

More than 6 months but less than a year before the visit A year or more before the visit This is an unplanned visit Don’t Know/can’t recall Other:_____________________

2. On this trip, are you a first-time visitor to any National Park? (Please select only one response)

• YES

  

• NO

• If no, are you a first-time visitor to Grand Teton National Park? (Please select only one response)

• YES

• NO

• If no, in which year did you make your first visit to Grand Teton National Park? Year

3. Are you a first-time visitor to Colter Bay? (Please select only one response)

• YES

• NO  If no, in which year did you make your first visit to Colter Bay? Year

• Unsure

4. How does your visit to Grand Teton National Park fit into your travel plans? (Please select only one response)

 Grand Teton National Park is my primary destination

 Grand Teton National Park is one of several destinations, including Yellowstone National Park

 Grand Teton National Park is one of several destinations, excluding Yellowstone National Park

 I am passing through the park to my primary destination

 I did not plan to visit this park

5. On this trip to Grand Teton National Park and the nearby area, did you stay overnight away from your permanent residence either inside Grand Teton or within the nearby area (within the highlighted area of the enclosed map)?

• NO  GO to Question 6

• YES  Please list the number of nights you stayed in Grand Teton and/or in the nearby area (within the highlighted area of the enclosed map).

Accommodation	Number of nights:
Backcountry camping in Grand Teton National Park
Camping in Grand Teton National Park in Colter Bay
Camping in Grand Teton National Park at another campground
Camping outside Grand Teton National Park in the Bridger Teton National Forest
Camping outside Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger Teton National Forest
Lodging in Grand Teton National Park in Colter Bay
Lodging in Grand Teton National Park at a different location
Lodging outside Grand Teton National Park
Other accommodations (e.g., friends/relatives):__________________________

6 If you did not stay in lodges or campgrounds in Colter Bay, why not? (Please select all that apply)

• Costs were too high

• Facilities lacked desired amenities

• Location not convenient

• The campground was full upon arrival

• Not able to make a reservation since the campground only offers first come first serve

• Lacked desired facilities

• Other (Please specify) _____________________

7 If the campgrounds lacked desired camp site types or facilities, what is it that you [and your personal group] needed that was not available? Please be specific.

8. By what means did you use to enter Colter Bay? (Please select one)

 Walking	 Motorcycle
 Hiking	 Personal Vehicle
 Bicycle	 Personal Recreation Vehicle (RV)
 Watercraft	 Other (please specify) _______________________

9. When planning your most recent trip how important was the availability of each of the following amenities in your decision to visit Colter Bay? (Please select one response for each item).

Availability of…	Unimportant	Of little importance	Moderately Important	Important	Very Important
Equipment rentals	1	2	3	4	5
Hiking trails	1	2	3	4	5
Wi-Fi connections	1	2	3	4	5
Lodging/Camping at Colter Bay	1	2	3	4	5
Picnic Areas	1	2	3	4	5
Restaurants	1	2	3	4	5
Grocery shopping opportunities	1	2	3	4	5
Laundry/Shower facilities	1	2	3	4	5
The Colter Bay Visitor Center	1	2	3	4	5
David T. Vernon Indian artifacts collection	1	2	3	4	5
Beach area/Swimming opportunities	1	2	3	4	5
Accessible activities	1	2	3	4	5
Non-motorized boating opportunities	1	2	3	4	5
Motorized boating opportunities	1	2	3	4	5
Other: _______________________	1	2	3	4	5

10. Compared with what you had planned, how much time did you [and your personal group] spend visiting Colter Bay? (Please select only one response)

• Didn’t have a planned amount of time

• Spent longer time than planned

• Spent about the time planned

• Spent less time than planned

11. If you [and your personal group] stayed for a shorter or longer time than planned, what were your reasons for changing your plans? (Please select all that apply)

• Fewer things to do/see than expected

• More things to do/see than expected

• Other (Please specify) ___________________________________

12. Before your most recent visit to Colter Bay, which activities did you plan to do during your visit and which did you actually participate in once you arrived? (Please check ALL that apply)

Planned to do		Actually participated in
	Hiking/Walking	
	Night Hiking/Walking	
	Scenic Driving	
	Camping	
	Ranger Programs	
	Picnicking	
	Photography	
	Wildlife Viewing	
	Bicycle riding	
	Non-grocery shopping	
	Grocery shopping	
	Eating in a restaurant	
	Stargazing	
	Horseback Riding	
	Canoe/kayaking	
	Motorized boating	
	Swimming	
	Fishing	
	Visiting a visitor center	
	Visiting the David T. Vernon Indian artifacts collection	
	Other ______________________	

13. On this visit, how long did you [and your personal group] stay at Colter Bay? (Please list partial hours as hours and minutes, and partial days as days and hours).

If less than 24 hours, Number of hours__________ Number of Hours____________________________

OR

If 24 hours or more, Number of days_____________ Number of Days­­­­_______________

14. When you planned this trip to Colter Bay, did you think that it might be difficult to find parking here? (Please select only one response)

• YES

• NO

• Did not have expectations

15. By what means did you use to travel between different locations within the Bolter Bay area today? (Please select one)

 Walking	 Personal Vehicle	 Watercraft
 Hiking	 Motorcycle	 Other (please specify): __________________
 Bicycle	 All-Terrain Vehicle

16. Did you leave a vehicle at one location to allow you to walk, hike, or bike to other destinations within Colter Bay today?

• YES

Is yes, where did you park your vehicle? ________________________________

• NO

17. How important to you were each of the following reasons for your visit to Colter Bay today? (Please select only one response for each item).

Importance of...	Very unimportant	Somewhat Unimportant	Somewhat important	Important	Very Important
Opportunities to Learn (e.g., learning about history, conservation)	1	2	3	4	5
Experiencing Nature (e.g., scenic beauty, natural quiet)	1	2	3	4	5
Wildlife Viewing (e.g., viewing wildlife in nature)	1	2	3	4	5
Resting and Relaxation (e.g., experiencing solitude and calmness)	1	2	3	4	5
Maintaining Physical Heath (e.g., exercising and improving physical health)	1	2	3	4	5
Spending Time with Family (e.g., spending time with family and friends)	1	2	3	4	5

18. Please rate the quality of services/facilities you received and/or encountered during today’s visit to Colter Bay at the following locations. (Please select one for each)

	Very Poor	Poor	Average	Good	Very Good	Did Not Use
Developed Campgrounds	1	2	3	4	5	6
Visitor Center	1	2	3	4	5	6
Maintained Hiking Trails	1	2	3	4	5	6
Trail Signage	1	2	3	4	5	6
Restroom Facilities	1	2	3	4	5	6
Ranger Presence	1	2	3	4	5	6
Information signs	1	2	3	4	5	6
Information about park natural and cultural resources	1	2	3	4	5	6
General Store	1	2	3	4	5	6
Food service/restaurants	1	2	3	4	5	6
Lodging	1	2	3	4	5	6
Rentals	1	2	3	4	5	6
Boat Launch	1	2	3	4	5	6
Amphitheatre	1	2	3	4	5	6
Beach Area	1	2	3	4	5	6
Picnic Area	1	2	3	4	5	6
Laundry	1	2	3	4	5	6
Showers	1	2	3	4	5	6
Other: ________________________	1	2	3	4	5	6

19. Thinking about your visit to Colter Bay, would you have liked to have seen more of, the same, or less of each of the following facilities or services? (Please select one response for each item).

	Less	Same	More
Information/Trail signage	1	2	3
Multiuse Trails/Pathway for hiking biking, walking and horse use	1	2	3
Accessible-friendly (e.g., for wheelchairs) sites, facilities, and trails	1	2	3
Ranger-led Programs	1	2	3
Boat launches	1	2	3
Picnic areas	1	2	3
Parking areas	1	2	3
Overlooks	1	2	3
Restrooms/Changing rooms	1	2	3
Other (please specify) _________________________	1	2	3

20. Please indicate the extent that the following issues were problems for you while visiting Colter Bay. (Select one response for each issue, or circle “DK” if you don’t know)

	Not a Problem	Small Problem	Big Problem	Not Applicable
Too many other people/large groups recreating				
Adequate facilities/amenities at campsites (e.g., picnic tables restrooms, fire rings, boat ramps, etc.)				
Informal (visitor-created) campsites and fire rings				
Informal (visitor-created) vegetation loss/erosion				
The actions or behaviors of other visitors				
Available information about lake conditions				
Condition or maintenance of boat ramps				
Parking availability (non-trailer)				
Parking availability (trailer)				
Other: ____________________________				

21. If you were to visit Colter Bay in the future, if the following services existed, how likely would it be that you would use such a service? (check only one)

 

Service	Not at all Likely	Slightly likely	Moderately Likely	Very Likely	Extremely Likely	Undecided
Small (maximum of 8 people) free open-air shuttle with service within the Colter Bay area every 30 minutes	£	£	£	£	£	£
Transit (bus) with service to the park’s major destinations for a small fee	£	£	£	£	£	£
Electric bike rentals to use within the Colter Bay area	£	£	£	£	£	£
Bike share rental program to use within the Colter Bay area	£	£	£	£	£	£

 

If you answered “Not at all likely” or “Slightly likely” for any of the services listed above, why might you not be likely to use it?

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

22. Does anyone in your personal group have physical conditions that made it difficult to access or participate in park activities or services?

 NO

 YES

→ If YES, on this visit what activities or services did the person(s) have difficulty accessing or participating in?

(Please describe) _______________________________________________

→Because of the physical condition, which specific difficulties did the person(s) have? Please select all that apply.

• Hearing (difficulty hearing ranger programs, bus drivers, audio-visual exhibits or programs, or information desk staff even with hearing aid)

• Visual (difficulty in seeing exhibits, directional signs, visual aids that are part of programs even with prescribed glasses or due to blindness)

• Mobility (difficult in accessing facilities, services, or programs even with walking aid and/or wheelchairs)

• Other (Please specify)

23. What sources of information did you used during your trip, and which was the most preferred. (Please check all that apply, and One most preferred source)

	Did not use	Before arriving in the park	In the park	Most Preferred Source
Grand Teton National Park website/Park App				
Other websites				
Friends/relatives, Talked to people in local communities				
Previous visits				
Visitor/Tourist Information centers				
Park newspaper other Newspaper/magazine articles				
Park map/Trailhead bulletin boards				
Printed materials (books, brochures, other maps etc.)				
Social Media (e.g. Instagram, Twitter)				
Ranger-led tours/ Roving rangers/volunteers				
Self-guided materials (e.g. Junior Ranger activity books)				
Hotel information kiosks/computer terminal				
Phone inquiry to Grand Teton National Park				
Other: __________________________				

24. Which one language do you and members of your personal group primarily use to communicate with each other? (select one)

 English

 Other (please specify) _____________________________.

25. How many people were in your [personal, organized, tour] group, including you?

____ Number of people

26. Please select the choice below that best describes your traveling party. (Please select all that apply)

Individual Traveling alone	Preschoolers (less than 5 years old)
Family only	Teenagers (12-19)
Friends only	Adults (20-64
Family plus friends	Anyone over 65
Tour or other group	With pets

27In what year were you born?

Year born: __________________

28. What is the highest level of formal education you have completed? (select one)

 Some high school

 High school graduate or GED

 Some college, business or trade school

 College, business or trade school graduate

 Some graduate school

 Master’s degree

 Doctoral or professional degree

29. Are you a permanent resident or citizen of the United States?

 Yes (What is your zip code? __________)

 No (What is your country of origin? ______________________________)

30. What could the managers do as they plan for the future of Colter Bay? Please be specific.

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