Tourism & Recreation

» River Ridge Ranch

Tourism & Recreation are strong economic and social drivers in the Sierra year-round. Here we focus on natural resource-based and natural resource-dependent tourism and recreation, sometimes called amenity tourism. Although many of these activities can be enjoyed in places other than Sierra forests, many people who choose to play here do so because of the Sierra’s grandeur, and close proximity to urban areas.

Non-motorized natural resource-based tourism in Sierra forests includes skiing, snowboarding, snowshoe hiking, biking, hiking, horseback and mule riding, hunting, fishing, camping, rock and mountain climbing, swimming, kayaking, sailing, rafting, gold panning, and birding.

Motorized natural resource-based recreation includes boating, off-highway vehicles (including snowmobiles and motorcycles).

Ecotourism, eco-travel, sustainable travel, and eco-recreation describe an emerging responsible travel ethic that does more than lower negative impact of humans on natural landscapes. It is creating combined environmental restoration, education and recreation event centers and trips, inspiring “green” tours, and driving innovations to sports equipment and changes to forest use and access.

Hunting and fishing are more than resource-based recreation; these tradtional activities, especially for indigenous peoples, provide food and clothing. Hunting and fishing clubs are partnering with government and environmental organizations to improve, preserve and restore habitats to ensure sustainable harvest levels. For agro-tourism in the forest such as choose and cut Christmas tree farms, see Forest Products: Christmas Trees.

Full case studies coming soon; meanwhile, visit:

• National Wild Turkey Federation Energy for Wildlife and NWTF Land Management Programs
• 2002: The International Year of Ecotourism
  
• Western States Endurance Run