Socioeconomic Patterns of Outdoor Recreation Use Near Urban Areas

The urban population of Weber County, Utah, was sampled to determine its outdoor recreation use of an adjacent National Forest Recreation Area and to relate this use to socioeconomic characteristics. Contrary to many previous studies, results showed income did not vary between users and nonusers and in general, users had less not more education than nonusers. The absence of income variation may be explained by the opportunity theory of outdoor recreation demand. It may be that national differentials in participation associated with income and education are due to the lack of available opportunities for individuals in low income and education categories.