Managing the “Commons” on Cadillac Mountain: A Stated Choice Analysis of Acadia National Park Visitors' Preferences

Abstract

Stated choice analysis was used to assess visitors' preferences for alternative combinations of public access, resource protection, visitor regulation, and site hardening to manage the Cadillac Mountain summit. Results provide insight into visitor preferences concerning the management of national park icon sites like the summit of Cadillac Mountain. These areas have received limited research attention. Results suggest that visitors consider resource protection to be a priority and are willing to accept regulation of visitors' behavior onsite reinforced with the use of moderately to highly intensive management structures, but generally don't support limiting the freedom to visit.