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CORTEZ — The U.S. Forest Service says visitor numbers have declined 13 percent nationwide since 2004. Forest Service officials say they’re analyzing the numbers and plan to discuss at a later date the reasons for the decline.
Dave Baker, a recreational wilderness program leader for the San Juan National Forest in southwest Colorado, said weather is a big factor in visitor numbers. He said San Juan visits plummeted in 2002, when wildfires were plentiful.
The Oregon-Washington region had the biggest decline since 2004, at 27 percent, followed by the northeastern U.S., at 24 percent.
The Rocky Mountain Region, which includes Colorado, saw a 5 percent decrease. The Associated Press
