The purpose of the Jackson Hole Pathways and Trails Survey is to gather public feedback on Jackson Hole’s pathways and trails systems. The results of this first-of-its‐kind survey effort are intended to provide a documentation of pathways and trails usage, satisfaction, strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for improvement. The information in this report provides solid information to help community decision-makers, stakeholder groups, and interested citizens plan for the future of Jackson Hole’s pathways and trails systems.
The survey was conducted using three primary methods: 1) a mail-back survey, 2) an online, invitation‐only web survey to further encourage response from those residents already within the defined invitation sample, and 3) an open‐link online survey for members of the public who were not part of the invitation sample. The analysis herein focuses on responses from all of these methods combined, properly weighted to be representative of the known characteristics of residents of Teton County (discussed in more detail below).
The primary list source used for the invitation mailing was a third party list purchased from Melissa Data Corp., a leading provider of data with emphasis on U.S., Canadian, and international address and phone records. Use of the Melissa Data list also includes renters in the sample who are frequently missed in other list sources such as utility billing lists. The open‐link online survey was promoted in the local paper and on Facebook pages of various community organizations.
A total of 2,500 surveys were mailed to a random sample of Teton County residents in November 2014. The final sample size for this survey was a total of 1,179 (389 from the invitation survey and 790 from the open link survey), resulting in a margin of error of approximately +/‐ 2.9 percentage points calculated for questions at 50% response.
Given the robust response to the invitation sample (mail‐back and online survey), with demographics that closely matched the underlying demographics of the community with regards to age, gender, and income, invitation results were not weighted. However, open link responses were weighted by age and gender, using Teton County 2010 Census demographic profile data. Open link responses were additionally weighted by use of the pathways, using the response patterns from the invitation sample, in order to not skew the results.
Responses to the invitation and open link samples were carefully compared and found to be very similar and ultimately were combined in order to create a more robust sample, in which more meaningful segmentation of the data, by variables such as location of residence, could be performed.
Headwaters Economics is an independent, nonprofit research group that works to improve community development and land management decisions. We inform community decision-making and identify practical solutions by making complex data understandable, beautiful, and interactive, helping develop solutions to some of the most urgent and important issues that communities face.
TRAILS SAFE PASSING PLAN: STOP, SPEAK, and STAND BACK
posted Feb 14, 2023
Horses are prey animals and naturally can be afraid of unfamiliar people and objects. Horses have natural "flight“ survival instincts and prefer to move their feet towards an exit route. Therefore, people with horses should pass at a walk while other trail users remain STOPPED until passed.
ORV – Social & Management Issues
posted Jul 15, 2022
Off-road vehicles can have a substantial impact on the experience of other non-motorized visitors on trails that are shared or even on adjacent forest or park settings.
Informal and Formal Trail Monitoring Protocols and Baseline Conditions
posted Jul 15, 2022
This research developed and applied state-of-the-art trail condition assessment and monitoring procedures and applied them to the park’s formal and informal (visitor-created) trails.
posted Jul 15, 2022
This research investigates horse trail impacts to gain an improved understanding of the relationship between various levels of horse use, horse trail management alternatives, and subsequent horse trail degradation.
