Quick assessment of recreation use and experience in the immediate aftermath of wildfire in a desert river canyon

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Our findings are consistent with other studies in showing that visitation losses do happen after wildfire but are short-lived and may differ between day and overnight users.· Although visitors were often saddened to see the burned landscape, their recreation experiences and satisfaction appeared largely unchanged.· Distributing up-to-date information about conditions at recreation destinations may be useful for potential visitors concerned about smoke and wildfire.· Recreationists substitute between recreation destinations or seasons to avid wildfire or smoke. Managers may do well to prepare for receiving visitors displaced by wildfire or smoke and having more visitors outside primary recreation seasons.

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