NPS Bundle - Two VSP Visitor Experience Surveys: Lassen Valcano (LAVO) and Yellowstone (YELL)

U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Social Science Program
Visitor Services Project

Lassen Volcanic National Park
Visitor Study

[Insert image here]

OMB Control Number:1024-0224
Current Expiration Date: 8/31/2014

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Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Lassen Volcanic National Park
P.O. Box 100
Mineral, CA 96063
IN REPLY REFER
TO:
January/June 2012
Dear Visitor:
Thank you for participating in this study. Our goal is to learn about the
expectations, opinions, and interests of visitors to Lassen Volcanic National Park.
This information will assist us in our efforts to better manage this park and to
serve you.
This questionnaire is only being given to a select number of visitors, so your
participation is very important! It should only take about 20 minutes to
complete.
Please complete this questionnaire. Seal it in and return it to us in the postage
paid envelope provided.
If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Littlejohn, NPS VSP
Director, Park Studies Unit, College of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 441139,
University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-1139, phone: 208-885-7863, email:
littlej@uidaho.edu.
We appreciate your help.
Sincerely,

Darlene M. Koontz
Superintendent

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

DIRECTIONS
At the end of your visit:
1. Please have the selected individual (at least 16 years old) complete this questionnaire.
2. Answer the questions carefully since each question is different.
3. For questions that use circles (O), please mark your answer by filling in the circle with
black or blue ink. Please do not use pencil!

4. Seal it in the postage-paid envelope provided.
5. Drop it in a U.S. mailbox.

PRIVACY ACT and PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT statement: The Paperwork Reduction Act requires
us to tell you why we are collecting this information, how we will use it, and whether or not you have
to respond. This information will be used by the National Park Service as authorized by 16 U.S.C. 1a-7.
We will use this information to evaluate visitor services managed at Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Your responses are voluntary. Your name and contact information have been requested for followup mailing purposes only. When analysis of the questionnaire is completed, all name and address
files will be destroyed and will in no way be connected with the results of this survey. A Federal
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. We estimate that it will take
about 20 minutes to complete this questionnaire. You may send comments concerning the burden
estimates or any aspect of this information collection to: Margaret Littlejohn, NPS Visitor Services
Project, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 441139, Moscow, ID, 83844-1139;
littlej@uidaho.edu (email).

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Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

4

Your Visit To Lassen Volcanic National Park
NOTE: In this questionnaire, your personal group is defined as anyone that you are visiting the park
with, such as spouse, family, friends, etc. This does not include the larger group that you
might be traveling with, such as school, church, scouts, or tour group.
The questions below will be used in both the summer and winter versions of the survey unless
otherwise indicated. The text in the shaded boxes above each question is used to annotate the
questions that have been approved in the current Pool of Known Questions for the NPS Programmatic
Review Process (OMB Control Number: 1024-0224).
Topic Area 2 - TPLAN1
1.

Prior to your visit, how did you and your personal group obtain information about Lassen
Volcanic National Park (NP)? Please mark (•) all that apply.
O

Did not obtain information prior to visit  Go to Question 2

O

Chamber of commerce/visitors bureau/state welcome center

O

Friends/relatives/word of mouth

O

Highway signs

O

Inquiry to park via phone, mail or email

O

Lassen Volcanic NP website: www.nps.gov/lavo

O

Other websites — which one(s)?

O

Local businesses (hotels, motels, restaurants, etc.)

O

Maps/brochures

O

Newspaper/magazine articles

O

Previous visits

O

School class/program

O

Social media (such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

O

Television/radio programs/videos

O

Travel guides/tour books (such as AAA, etc.)

O

Other (Please specify)

Topic Area 3 - TRIPC4 and TRIPC5
2. On this trip, where did you and your personal group stay on the night before and the night
after visiting Lassen Volcanic NP? If you stayed at home, please write the name of the town/city
and state where you live.
a) BEFORE visit:

Nearest town/city

State

b) AFTER visit:

Nearest town/city

State

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study
Topic Area 3 – TRIPC3
3.

a) On this trip, did you and your personal group stay overnight away from your permanent
residence either inside Lassen Volcanic NP or within the nearby area (within 75 miles of the
park)?
O
Yes
O
No  Go to Question 4
b) If YES, please list the number of nights you and your personal group stayed in Lassen
Volcanic NP and the area within 75 miles of the park.
Number of nights inside Lassen Volcanic NP
Number of nights in the area outside Lassen Volcanic NP
c & d) In which types of lodging did you and your personal group spend the night(s) in Lassen
Volcanic NP or in the area within 75 miles of the park? Please mark (•) all that apply.

c) Inside
park

d) Outside
park (within
75 miles)
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

n/a
O
O
O
O
O
O
n/a
n/a

Accommodation
Lodge, hotel, motel, vacation rental, B&B, etc.
RV/trailer camping
Snow camping in campground [Winter only]
Backpacking in backcountry
Tent camping in developed campground [Summer only]
Cabin [Summer only]
Guest ranch [Summer only]
Camping in a backcountry roadside campsite [Summer only]
Other (Specify)

Topic Area 1 - RES1
4. a) Were all members of your personal group residents of the Lassen Volcanic NP area (within a
75-mile drive of park)?
O

No

O

Yes -> Go to Question 5

Topic Area 3 – TRIPC1
b) For non-residents of the Lassen Volcanic NP area (within a 75-mile drive of the park), was
visiting the park the primary reason you and your group came to the area?
O

Yes

O

No

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Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

6

Topic Area 3 – TRIPC4 variation
5. On this trip which of the following towns did you and your personal group travel through to
arrive at Lassen Volcanic NP? Please mark (•) all that apply.
O

Burney

O

Chester

O

Chico

O

Susanville

O

Red Bluff

O

Redding

O

Reno

O

Shingletown

Topic Area 2 – TPLAN12 [WINTER SURVEY ONLY]
6.

a) When did you and your group make the decision to visit Lassen Volcanic NP? Please mark
(•) one.
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

On the day of the visit
The day before the visit
3-7 days before the visit
8-30 days before the visit
1-6 months before the visit
More than 6 months but less than a year before the visit
A year or more before the visit

Topic Area 2 – TPLAN14 [WINTER SURVEY ONLY]
b) Which factors affected you and your group’s decision to visit Lassen Volcanic NP on the
day that you visited? Please mark (•) all that apply.
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

Availability of lodging and other amenities in the area
Availability of vacation time
Expecting fewer crowds in the park
Expecting lower travel costs
Information received after arriving in the Lassen Volcanic NP area (within 75 miles of
any entrance point)
Interest in seeing Lassen scenery in wintertime
Interest in winter activities
Snow and favorable weather conditions for winter activities
Sun and mild weather conditions
Other (Please specify)

Topic Area 3 – TRIPC8
7. a) On this visit, how long did you and your personal group stay at Lassen Volcanic NP? Please
list partial hours or days as 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4.
Number of hours, if less than 24 hours
Number of days, if 24 hours or more
Topic Area 3 – TRIPC7
b) On this visit, how many times did you and your personal group enter the park?
Number of times entered

O

Don’t know

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study
Topic Area 3 – ACT1
8. a) On this visit, in which activities did you and your personal group participate within Lassen
Volcanic NP? Please mark (•) all that apply in column (a).
b) If you were to visit the park in the future, in which activities would you and your personal
group prefer to participate at the park? Please mark (•) all that apply in column (b).

a) This
visit
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
n/a

b) Future
visit
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
n/a
O

Activity
Attending ranger-led snowshoe programs [winter survey only]
Camping
Creative arts (photography/drawing/painting/writing)
Cross-country skiing [winter survey only]
Enjoying solitude/quiet
Nature study (birdwatching, wildlife viewing, stargazing)
Snowshoeing [winter survey only]
Snowplay [winter survey only]
Visiting visitor center
Attending living history demonstrations [summer survey only]
Attending ranger-led talks/programs [summer survey only]
Explore the Hydrothermal areas [summer survey only]
Fishing [summer survey only]
Horseback trips [summer survey only]]
Scenic drive/byway [summer survey only]
Picnicking [summer survey only]
Walking/hiking [summer survey only]
Other – this visit (Specify)
Other – future visit (Specify)

Topic Area 3 - ACT2
c) Which one of the above activities was the primary reason you and your personal group
visited Lassen Volcanic NP on this visit? Please list one.

Topic Area 3 -– TRIPC2 variation
9. If for some reason you had been unable to go to Lassen Volcanic NP on this trip:
a. Would you have come back another time? O Yes O No
b. What would you have done with the time you spent on this trip? Please mark (•) one.
O Gone somewhere else for similar activities -> Go to Question 1c
O Gone somewhere else for a different activity -> Go to Question 1c
O Stayed home -> Go to Question xx
O Gone to work at your regular job -> Go to Question xx
O None of these -> Go to Question xx
c. About how far away from your home is the place you would have gone instead of
Lassen?
______ miles OR Location (city & state) ______________________________________

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Topic Area 3 - TBACK11 Winter Survey ONLY
10.

a) On this visit to Lassen Volcanic NP, which park routes did you and your personal group
ski/snowshoe? Please mark (•) all that apply in column (a).

Topic Area 5 – CRWD1 Winter Survey ONLY
b) For the trails that you and your group skied/snowshoed, please rate from 1-4 how
crowded you felt by people.
a) Trails skied/snow shoed? Mark (•)

O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

Brokeoff Mountain
Butte Lake Road
Forest Lake
Lassen Peak
Main Park Road from Southwest Area
Manzanita Creek
Manzanita Lake Snowshoe Loop
Nobles Emigrant Trail
Ridge Lakes

b) If you skied/snowshoed, how crowded?
1=Not at all crowded
2=Slightly crowded
3=Moderately crowded
4=Extremely crowded
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________

Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV8
11. a) For the safety issues below, please indicate how safe you and your personal group felt from
crime and accidents during this visit to Lassen Volcanic NP. Please mark (•) one answer for
each issue.
How safe did you feel in the park?
Very
Neither safe
Very
Safety issue
unsafe
Unsafe nor unsafe
Safe
safe
Personal safety—from crime

O

O

O

O

O

Personal safety—from accidents

O

O

O

O

O

Personal property—from crime

O

O

O

O

O

Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV9
b) If you marked that you felt “very unsafe” or “somewhat unsafe” for any of these issues, please
explain why.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

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Topic Area 3 - ITIN1
12. On this visit to Lassen Volcanic NP, which park sites did you and your personal group visit?
Please mark (•) all that apply.

O Visitor Center
O Loomis Museum [summer survey only]
O Sulphur Works
O Lassen Peak
O Summit Lake
O Manzanita Lake
O Cinder Cone [summer survey only]
O Drakesbad [summer survey only]
Other (Please specify

O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

Brokeoff Mountain
Bumpass Hell [summer survey only]
Kings Creek [summer survey only]
Butte Lake
Juniper Lake [summer survey only]
Warner Valley [summer survey only]
Devastated Area
Loomis Ranger Station [winter survey only]

Topic Area 1 – LANG1
13.
a) When visiting an area such as Lassen Volcanic NP, what one language do you and most
members of your personal group prefer to use for the following?
Speaking:

O

English

O

Other (Specify)

Reading:

O

English

O

Other (Specify)

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

10

b) In your opinion, what services in the park need to be provided in languages other than
English? Please specify or mark (•) none.
O

None

O

Other (Specify)

Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV13
14. a) Please mark (•) all of the information services and facilities that you or your personal group
used at Lassen Volcanic NP during this visit.
b) For only those services and facilities that you or your personal group used, please rate their
importance to your visit from 1-5.
c) For only those services and facilities that you or your personal group used, please rate their
quality from 1-5.
b) If used, how
important?
a) Information services/facilities used? Mark (•)
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

Assistance from park staff
Bookstore sales items (selection, price, etc.)
Bulletin boards
Junior Ranger program
Park brochure/map
Park newspaper: Peak Experiences
Park website: www.nps.gov/lavo/ used before or
during visit
Ranger-led snowshoe programs [winter survey only]
Twitter.com/LassenNPS
Youtube.com/LassenNPS)
Facebook.com/pages/ Lassen-Volcanic-National-Park)
Videos/films
Visitor center exhibits
Living history demonstrations [summer survey only]
Loomis Museum exhibits [summer survey only]
Self-guided trail brochures [summer survey only]
Other

1=Not at all important
2=Slightly important
3=Moderately important
4=Very important
5=Extremely important

c) If used, what
quality?
1=Very poor
2=Poor
3=Average
4=Good
5=Very good

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

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Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV13
15. a) Please mark (•) all of the visitor services and facilities that you or your personal group used
at Lassen Volcanic NP during this visit.
b) For only those services and facilities that you or your personal group used, please rate their
importance to your visit from 1-5.
c) For only those services and facilities that you or your personal group used, please rate their
quality from 1-5.

a) Visitor services/facilities used? Mark (•)

O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

Access for people with disabilities
Kohm Yah-Mah-Nee Visitor Center
Parking areas
Recycling
Restrooms
Road directional signs (inside park)
Road directional signs (outside park)
Roads
Southwest Campground [winter survey only]
Camper store [summer survey only]
Campgrounds [summer survey only]
Guest ranch [summer survey only]
Parking lots [summer survey only]
Picnic areas/shelters [summer survey only]
Pull outs [summer survey only]
Trail signs [summer survey only]
Trails [summer survey only]

b) If used, how
important?
1=Not at all important
2=Slightly important
3=Moderately important
4=Very important
5=Extremely important

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

c) If used, what
quality?
1=Very poor
2=Poor
3=Average
4=Good
5=Very good

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

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Topic Area 1 – GR2
16. On this visit, were you and your personal group part of the following types of organized groups?
a) Commercial guided tour group

O

Yes

O No

b) School/educational group

O

Yes

O No

c) Other group (Please specify below)

O

Yes

O No

O

Yes

O No

___________________________________________

Topic Area 1 – GR3
d) If you were with one of these organized groups, how many people, including yourself, were
in this group?
Number of people in organized group
Topic Area 1 – GR1
17. a) On this visit, with what kind of personal group (not guided tour/school/other organized
group) were you?
O
O
O
O
O

Alone
Family
Friends
Family and friends
Other (Please specify)

Topic Area 1-GR3
b) On this visit, how many people were in your personal group, including yourself?
Number of people in personal group
Topic Area 3-TRANS2
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a) On this visit, how many vehicles did you and your personal group use to arrive at the park?
Number of vehicles

Topic Area 3-TRANS1
b) What was your primary method of transportation for getting from your home to the Lassen
Volcanic NP area?
O

Car

O

Motorcycle

O

Motorhome

O

Airplane

O

SUV/truck/van

O
Other (Please specify) __________________________________
c) What was your primary destination on this trip?
O Lassen Volcanic NP OR Location ____________________(city & state)
______________________________________

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

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Topic Area 1 – AGE1
19. For you and your personal group on this visit, please provide the following. (If you do not know
the answer, leave blank).
b) U.S. ZIP code or name
of country other than
U.S.

a) Current age

Yourself
Member #2
Member #3
Member #4
Member #5
Member #6
Member #7

c) & d) Number of visits to
Lassen Volcanic NP
(including this visit)
Past 5 years
Lifetime

Topic Area 1 – GR4
20. a) Does anyone in your personal group have a physical condition that made it difficult to access
or participate in park activities or services?
O

Yes

O

No  Go to Question 21

b) If YES, what services or activities were difficult to access/participate in?

c) Because of the physical condition, what specific problems did the person(s) have? Please
mark (•) all that apply.
O

Hearing (difficulty hearing ranger programs, bus drivers, audio-visual exhibits or
programs, or information desk staff, even with hearing aid)

O

Mobility (difficulty accessing facilities, services, or programs, even with walking aid
and/or wheelchair)

O

Visual (difficulty seeing exhibits, directional signs, or visual aids that are part of
programs, even with prescribed glasses or due to blindness)

O

Other (Please specify)

Topic Area 1 - RACE/ETH1
21. a) Are you or members of your group Hispanic or Latino? Please mark (•) one for each group
member.

Yourself

Member Member Member Member Member Member
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7

Yes, Hispanic or
Latino

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

No, not Hispanic or
Latino

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

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Topic Area 1 - RACE/ETH3
b) What is your race? What is the race of each member of your personal group? Please mark (•)
one or more for you and each group member.
Yourself
American Indian or
Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African
American
Native Hawaiian or
other Pacific Islander
White

O

Member Member Member Member Member Member
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
O
O
O
O
O
O

O
O

O
O

O
O

O
O

O
O

O
O

O
O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

Topic Area 7 – ECON1
22. a) Which category best represents your annual household income? Please mark (•) only one.
O Less than $24,999
O $25,000-$34,999
O $35,000-$49,999

O
O
O

$50,000-$74,999
$75,000-$99,999
$100,000-$149,999

b) How many people are in your household?

O $150,000-$199,999
O $200,000 or more
O Do not wish to answer
Number of people

Topic Area 7 – ECON2
c) Did your household take any unpaid vacation or take unpaid time off of work to come on this
trip?
O

Yes

O

No  Go on to Question 23

d) How much income did your household forgo to make this trip? $
Topic Area 7– ECON4
23. For you and your personal group, please estimate all expenditures for the items listed below
for this visit to Lassen Volcanic NP and the surrounding area (within 75 miles of the park).
Please write "0" if no money was spent in a particular category.
a) Please list your group's total expenditures inside Lassen Volcanic NP.
b) Please list your group's total expenditures in the surrounding area outside the park (within 75
miles of the park).
NOTE: Surrounding area residents should only include expenditures that were just for this trip to
Lassen Volcanic NP.
EXPENDITURES
a) Inside
b) Outside

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study
Spent no money (•)
Lodges, hotels, motels, cabins, B&B, etc.
Camping fees and charges
Guide fees and charges
Restaurants and bars
Groceries and takeout food
Gas and oil (auto, RV, boat, etc.)
Other transportation expenses rental cars, taxis, auto repairs, but NOT
airfare
Admission, recreation, and entertainment fees
All other purchases (souvenirs, film, books sporting goods, clothing, etc.)
Donations

15
park
O  Go to
(b)

NA
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______

park
O  Go to
(c)

$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______
$______

Topic Area 7 – ECON5
c) How many people do the above expenses cover?
Adults (18 years or over)
Children (under 18 years)
Please write “0” if no children were covered by the expenditures.
Topic Area 3 – FVIS5 [WINTER SURVEY ONLY]
24.
If you were to visit Lassen Volcanic NP in the future, how would you and your personal group
prefer to learn about cultural and natural history/features of Lassen? Please mark (•) all that apply.
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

Not interested in learning about the park  Go to Question 25
Indoor exhibits
Outdoor exhibits
Park website: www.nps.gov/lavo
Self-guided tours
Volunteer opportunities
Special events
Interactive computer programs tours
Living history/costumed interpretive programs
Electronic media/devices available to visitors (downloadable podcasts, MP3, Windows
Media™, etc.)
Audiovisual programs (DVD, video, or movie)
Printed materials (brochures, books, maps, etc.)
Other (Please specify) ______________________________________________________

Topic Area 6 – OPNMGMT3
25. Is there anything else you and your personal group would like to tell us about your visit to
Lassen Volcanic NP?

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

16

Topic Area 6 - EVALSERV1
26. Overall, how would you rate the quality of the facilities, services, and recreational opportunities
provided to you and your personal group at Lassen Volcanic NP during this visit? Please mark (•)
one.
Very poor

Poor

Average

Good

Very good

O

O

O

O

O

NOTE: The questions on the following pages will be used in the Summer Survey ONLY
Topic Area 3 – TBACK 11
1.

a) On this visit to Lassen Volcanic NP, which park trails did you and your personal group
walk/hike? Please mark (•) all that apply in column (a).

Topic Area 5 – CROWD1
b) For the trails that you and your group walked/hiked, please rate from 1-4 how crowded you
felt by people.
a) Trails walked/hiked? Mark (•)

O
O
O
O
O
O
O

Brokeoff Mountain Trail
Bumpass Hell Trail
Cinder Cone Trail
Kings Creek Trail
Lassen Peak Trail
Manzanita Lake Trail
Devils Kitchen Trail

b) If you walked/hiked trails, how crowded?
1=Not at all crowded
2=Slightly crowded
3=Moderately crowded
4=Extremely crowded
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________
__________

Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV24 variation
2.

a) On this visit, what did you and your personal group like most about the roadside
displays/exhibits along the main park road at Lassen Volcanic NP?

b) What did you and your personal group like least about the roadside displays/exhibits along
the main park road at Lassen Volcanic NP?

Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitor Study

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Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV13
3.

a) Please mark (•) all of the concession services and facilities that you or your personal group
used at Lassen Volcanic NP during this visit.
b) For only those services and facilities that you or your personal group used, please rate their
importance to your visit from 1-5.
c) For only those services and facilities that you or your personal group used, please rate their
quality from 1-5.
a) Concession services/facilities used?
Mark (•)

b) If used, how important?
1=Not important
2=Somewhat important
3=Moderately important
4=Very important
5=Extremely important

c) If used, what was
the quality?
1=Very poor
2=Poor
3=Average
4=Good
5=Very good

Drakesbad Guest Ranch
O
O
O
O
O
O

Overnight lodging
Food service/restaurant
Guided horseback trips
Fly fishing lessons
Hot springs-fed swimming pool
Massage

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______

_______
_______
_______
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Manzanita Lake
O
O
O
O
O

Cabin
Food service
Gifts
Gas station
Equipment/kayak rentals

Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV16b
d) How could the concession services and facilities better serve you and your personal group on a
future visit to Lassen Volcanic NP? Please be specific.

Thank you for your help! Please seal the questionnaire in the postage-paid envelope provided and
Printed on recycled paper
drop it in any U.S. mailbox.

Visitor Services Project
Park Studies Unit
College of Natural Resources
University of Idaho
P.O. Box 441139
Moscow, Idaho 83844-1139

OFFICIAL BUSINESS