The Stanislaus National Forest, in Region 5 of the US Forest Service, provides primarily
land-based recreation opportunities, such as Wilderness use, for a wide variety of activities and
user groups. Public land managers, including the Forest Service, are challenged to sustain high
quality recreational opportunities despite increasing visitor demand. Assessing current conditions
and visitor perceptions will help managers understand the effects of use levels and patterns on
the quality of the recreation experience. This thesis strove to identify visitor use perceptions of
crowding, satisfaction, conflict in two Wilderness areas. The information in this thesis can help
managers proactively manage recreational use on the Emigrant Wilderness and the CarsonIceberg
Wilderness areas to avoid conflict among visitors, and continue to provide high-quality
recreation opportunities. The data collected for this study can inform decisions related to site
selection and permitting issues for infrastructure, and to establish a firmer basis for policy and
regulatory decisions.