Nationaf Forests Popular Pubfic Playgrounds

"Outdoor recreation in the national forests of California is in greater demand today than ever before,,, according to statement of Federal Forester S. B. Show, chief of the California Region, U. S. Forest Service. Travel figures to the eighteen national forests of the State for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1937, showed a total of.4,217,@O individual visits to these great mountain playgrounds, an increase of more than 400,000 over the previous record during l93Z-33, Mr. Show said. He added that this year's figure includes repeated counts of many visitors who returned to the mountains on several occasions.

The four national forests in southern California accounted for more than 2,500,000 visitors; the Angeles leading with a total of one million, followed by the San Bernardino with 773,m, visitors, Cleveland 2O7,W, and Los Padres 121,000.

The most popular recreation area in northern California was the Tahoe National Forest with 359,000 visitors, followed by the Sierra with 178,@0, Eldorado t72,W, Sequoia 153,000, and Shasta 145,000.

Classification of all visitors to the national forests of the California region showed nearly 2,000,000 picnickers, a million campers, 675,000 hotel and resort guests and 450,000 summer home permittees and their friends.

Try N0Y0

Fishing was the most popular outdoor sport and accounted for 610,000 visitors. Winter sports was a close second with 545,000 enthusiasts, and hunters numbered 330,000.

The above figures are for actual users of the national forests only, and do not include the large number of people who travel through these mountain reservations on business or to enjoy the scenery.

The record travel for the year was on the Labor Day week-end in the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests, where a total of 267,ffi visitors were checked into these great mountain playgrounds.

The Forest Service is now making a comprehensive survey of the recreation resources of the National forests in Region 5, which includes the State of California and southwestern Nevada. The data being collected in the field includes the classification of all lands within national forest boundaries from the standpoints of recreational use and possibilities, and an inventory of recreational developments, including estimated costs for construction and maintenance. Estimates also will be made in the carrying capacity of all existing and proposed developments for human use, and the whole incorporated into a comprehensive report on forest recreation.