IORT News
2023 Year In Review
A look back at all the highlights from 2023!
Finding New Opportunities for Utah's Anglers
New research details the motivations, preferences, and behaviors of anglers in Utah. The work is being used by managers to provide experiences that are well suited to the growing demand for, and changing environment of, Utah’s fisheries.
The Economic Opportunities of Astrotourism
We invite you to join the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative's Quarterly Connections Webinar for presentations and discussion on the economic opportunity of astrotourism.
Basecamp 2024 Save the Date
Plan on joining outdoor recreation managers, gateway community leaders, state and local officials, and others who value outdoor recreation in the West at the Basecamp 2024 Conference and Workshop.
The Social and Ecological Complexity of the Kenai River Fishery
New research from IORT maps out the complexity of America's premier salmon fishery.
Jim and Jeri Spinner Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Lab
Jim and Jeri Spinner, both alumni of Utah State University, made a generous donation to support graduate student research experiences in the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.
State Funding for Outdoor Recreation and Tourism in Utah
We’ve assembled the first comprehensive review of all the state-led programs and funding mechanisms that support outdoor recreation and tourism within Utah.
2022 Graduate Research Assistantships
The Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism is seeking two highly qualified candidates committed to pursuing either an MS or PhD within the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University.
Climate Change and Outdoor Recreation in the Western US
Adaptation is going to be critical for continuing to provide outdoor recreation opportunities across the Western U.S.
A Framework for Integrating Social-ecological Systems Into Recreation Ecology
A new model for conceptualizing recreation ecology through a social-ecological systems framework.
IORT Becomes Home of Western Night Sky Cooperatives
To preserve access for public inspiration, education, and enjoyment of western night skies, the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University is partnering up with the National Park Service and becoming the home of the Colorado Plat...
Computer Vision and Landscape Preferences
Researchers from the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism used a computer vision algorithm to automatically classify the content of social media photographs. Results were compared with landscape preferences reported in on-site visitor surveys. Unde...
Climate Change at Ski Resorts in Utah
In a new study published in Mountain Research and Development, a team of Utah State University researchers working out of the Climate Adaptation Science program, report minimum daily temperatures are rising at faster rates in most Utah ski resorts, and as...
Rising Temperatures and Outdoor Recreation on Public Lands
A new study from the Institute reveals how participation trends in outdoor recreation will change across the continental U.S.
The Wild Highway: Unintended Consequences of Traffic Management in National Parks
In recently published research, IORT scientists examine the effect of this management intervention on visitor behavior at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Some visitors were voluntarily tracked with GPS throughout their visit to the Park. If they w...
Evaluating Bears Ears
New research takes a retrospective look at the influence of the monument designation on outdoor recreation and its related industries in San Juan County, Utah. Using geotagged photos from social media sites, and county-level economic indicators, analysis ...
What Does Social Distancing Look Like In A Busy National Park?
When park visitation increased during the pandemic, did human traffic at these concentrated spots?
Fees Drive Away Low-income Families from Outdoor Places like Bridal Veil Falls, Researchers Say
A developer eyeing Bridal Veil Falls for a new tram and private drug rehab lodge says he wants to make the iconic Utah County site more accessible to the public, with a “reasonable” fee.
'Zoom Town' Trend Finding a Home in Grand Marais
It’s no secret that many choose Grand Marais, the North Shore and the surrounding outdoor playground as their vacation destination each year.
'Zoom Towns' are Exploding in the West
The coronavirus pandemic is leading to a new phenomenon: a migration to “gateway communities,” or small towns near major public lands and ski resorts as people’s jobs increasingly become remote-friendly. This is straining the towns’ resources and putting ...
Gateway Community Assistance at Utah State
Across the country, cities and towns are struggling to survive during the COVID-19 outbreak. It has been particularly stressful for gateway communities-- towns or cities that border publicly owned lands such as national parks.
USU Institute Of Outdoor Recreation And Tourism Helping To Improve Park Services Under NPS Contract
Thanks to funding from the National Park Service, the team at USU’s Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism will be working on a series of projects to improve national parks in the intermountain west.