Camping impact management at Isle Royale National Park: an evaluation of visitor activity containment policies from the perspective of social conditions

A survey of backcountry and wilderness campsites at Isle Royale National Park reveals that the park's policies for managing visitor impacts have been remarkably effective in limit- ing the areal extent of camping-related disturbance. However, the dense spatial arrangement of designated campsites within back- country campgrounds has also contributed to problems with visitor crowding and conflict. Only 9% of the sites had no other sites visible, while 22% had three or more other sites visible. Mean intersite distance was only 76 feet, and 34% of the sites are within 50 feet of another site. Visitor education programs and selected relocation of sites could reduce these social problems. National Park Service legal mandates and administrative policies prescribe a management paradox for administering recreational use in backcountry and wilderness areas. Park staff are charged with managing naturally functioning eco- systems and processes substantially free from human influ- ence, yet these protected areas must also be managed for recreational visitation. Even low levels of hiking or camping