Could Oregonians be falling out of love with the outdoors? The Forest Service reports a surprising 27 percent drop in visitors to national forests in the Pacific Northwest from 2004 to 2007.
Some of the change may be attributed to a new counting system used by the Forest Service. But there's more going on here than a new counting method. The agency logged nearly 8 million fewer visitors to national forests in Oregon and Washington in 2007 compared to three years earlier.
Is it high gas prices? Well, maybe, but there aren't many cheaper, more affordable destinations than Oregon's stunning Mount Hood and Deschutes national forests for most Oregonians. Trailhead and parking fees? Yes, the fees must deter some casual visitors to the forests, but the fees have been around considerably longer than three years. And a $30 yearly trail pass remains a pretty good deal compared with the costs of other ways to spend your spare time.
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