Research note: Quick assessment of recreation use and experience in the immediate aftermath of wildfire in a desert river canyon

There is limited research on recreationists’ responses to changes in resource conditions after wildfire. Existing studies often rely on presenting visitors with hypothetical wildfire scenarios or simulated changes in conditions. We completed a quick assessment of recreation visitation and visitor experience in the months immediately following an actual high-severity wildfire within a popular river canyon in Oregon, USA. We also explored the influence of wildfire on the recreation plans of campers. We found that recreation use dropped sharply in the immediate aftermath of the wildfire, but rebounded to long-term averages within months. In addition, visitors reported the burned landscape had little influence on their recreation experience. Forty-five percent of campers reported having changed a planned camping trip within the prior two years because of smoke or wildfire. Nearly half of respondents reported that potential for wildfire would be a factor in where they planned to camp in the future.