Estimation of Median Willingness to Pay for a System of Recreation Areas

This study provides information about people’s valuation of recreational user days on public lands. The contingent valuation method is used with a random paired dichotomous choice question format. A bivariate probit model is utilized to estimate parameters of a willingness to pay function, which is used to calculate welfare measures associated with trips to three different sites and eight diverse recreational activities. The results indicate that recreational values vary by site and by activity. Per day user values range from $ 12.15 CAN per day for trips for general rest and relaxation at a lake area popular for weekend visits to $ 35.65 CAN per day for white water canoeing on a wilderness river. Values on a per trip basis range from $ 258.11 CAN for hunting to $ 97.87 CAN for weekend lake canoeing.