2023 Socioeconomic Research of Great Smoky Mountains National Park—Winter Season: Report on 2023 Data Collection (Revised)
Otak Inc., RRC Associates Inc., University of Montana. 2026. 2023 Socioeconomic Research of Great Smoky Mountains National Park—Winter Season: Report on 2023 Data Collection (Revised). Science Report. NPS/SR—2026/503. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2319311
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most visited national park. To better understand visitors, two key visitor surveys were conducted in summer 2022 and winter 2023. This study documents the results of data collection from winter of 2023. The study uses a two-phased survey methodology to capture a representative sample of visitor information, characteristics, and behavior: (1) an on-site intercept survey conducted via tablet, and (2) a follow-up survey (with online option) for full trip details. Visitors were intercepted at sites across the park both by roadway intercept and approached at the primary visitor centers. The results are organized by these two phases and are intended to assist park managers in understanding current utilization and perception of park resources, operations and potential issues, as well as to facilitate communication and decision-making processes within the park and between the park and its local partners and stakeholders. The revised version of this report corrects previous errors identified in Figures 9 and 18 and includes minor editorial, formatting, and accessibility updates. No substantive changes have been made to the findings or conclusions presented in the original 2023 report.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Otak Inc.; RRC Associates Inc.; University of Montana
- Date of Issue
- 2026-08
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2319311
- Units
- GRSM , NRSS