94 A NATIONAL PLAN FOB AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Until the large-scale production of low-priced automobiles and the 

 accompanying increase in good roads reached full swing during the 

 past 15 to 20 years, recreation in forest areas was beyond the attain- 

 ment of millions of people. But this situation has now changed 

 radically. Even the less spectacular and beautiful forest areas are 

 heavily used by the rising tide of recreationists. Outdoor recreation 

 in the forests has become an established part of the American standard 

 of living. It is highly desirable as an aid to social, economic, and 

 individual health, and fullness of life. It will certainly continue on at 

 least the present scale. 



Many of the most spectacular and heavily used forest recreation 

 areas have been set aside under public ownership for the exclusive 

 purpose of recreation. The national parks, State parks, and county 

 and municipal parks in many States, have sought to furnish the 

 answer to the mounting demand. But in terms of actual present 

 day use, it is doubtful if these special recreational reservations take 

 care of as many people as do the vast areas outside of parks ^ordi- 

 nary forest country, which possesses no outstanding scenic or 

 inspirational features. 



This phenomenon of widespread use of the ordinary run of forested 

 country arises from several basic facts. One of the most important 

 of these is that for the vast majority of people the enjoyment of forest 

 recreation depends on availability within a relatively short distance, 

 and on cheapness. The individual with ample means and leisure 

 may, depending on his taste, climb in the High Sierra or the Canadian 

 Rockies, hunt the moose in Maine or the bighorn in Idaho, fish for 

 salmon in Alaska or the steelhead in the Klamath, or enjoy the scenic 

 and inspirational values of the national parks. He is able to pick 

 and choose and to enjoy the highest quality of the outdoor sport of 

 his preference. 



Most people, on the contrary, having both limited time and money, 

 must take what is close or nothing. If forest country is within 100 

 miles of home, it will be used, even though the highest mountain is 

 only a low hill, the largest game a rabbit or a squirrel, the biggest fish 

 a fingerling trout, and the finest view one that could be duplicated 

 in any wooded region. The most heavily used recreation areas are 

 those closest and most readily accessible to the largest number of 

 people. 



Another reason for the heavy use of nonpark areas is the variety 

 of outdoor recreation which they offer in contrast to park areas, 

 which are limited by their very nature and purpose to a few forms. 

 It is a cardinal principle of park management that all forms of hunt- 

 ing are prohibited. This is necessarily so because the purpose of 

 parks is to preserve and protect. But many people pick hunting as 

 the highest form of personal enjoyment in outdoor recreation. The 

 outstanding features of parks tend to be concentrated, and the people 

 visiting them are necessarily concentrated also. Crowding is inevi- 

 table, camping loses the quality of freedom and isolation, policing 

 of the crowds cannot be avoided, and restrictions are numerous. 

 The greater freedom and lack of supervision which are possible when 

 crowds can spread out in the large areas of ordinary forest country 

 appeal to many people in a very fundamental way. 



Thus very large areas of American forest lands have acquired a 

 high recreational use and value, simply because they are readily 



