Its visitor use survey results will be included in the 2021 report, Godson said. The San Juan National Forest did not contribute data to the 2020 report.

The Rocky Mountain region, which includes Southwest Colorado, reported 32.4 million visits between 20, a 12.5% spike in use compared with 2015-19, according to the National Visitor Use Monitoring Program report. “Reminders like, ‘pack it in, pack it out’ and ‘leave no trace’ are building blocks in maintaining our shared national forest values.” “With the significant increase in public land use – there is more of a need for all visitors to take great care in being stewards of the land,” said Esther Godson, Forest Service spokeswoman. While visitors found opportunities for mental and physical self-care in the outdoors, the increase also caused more wear and tear on landscapes. The Forest Service released new survey data in May, which showed 168 million visits to national forests between 20, compared with 150 million from 2015 to 2019.

Forest Service recorded 18 million additional visits in national forests and grasslands last year. The public escaped to the outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, so much so that the U.S. (Courtesy of San Juan Mountains Association) Forest Service to focus on responsible outdoor recreation. Nationals forests saw a surge in visitation last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, motivating recreation groups and the U.S.

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