Recreation Research

The McDonald and Dunn Forests located directly north and west of Corvallis host more than 155,000 recreation visits each year. These visitors hike, bike, run, walk dogs, ride horses, observe nature, birdwatch, and hunt on a system of nearly 30 miles of trails and 110 miles of roads. Managers rely heavily on recreation research to make informed decisions about recreation use and forest management.

Recreation Study Results from McDonald and Dunn Forests (2018)

Kooistra, C. & Munanura, I. (2018). OSU Forest Recreation Survey Report. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Final project report for Oregon State University College Forests and College of Forestry.

Acting on its mission to provide quality recreation and learning opportunities, the OSU Research Forests funded researchers Chad Kooistra and Ian Munanura in a research study to survey recreation users of the McDonald and Dunn Forests in 2017. These data, and the recommendations made by the authors, are incredibly valuable to Forest Managers in making decisions for the Forests’ Recreation and Engagement Program.