Understanding vehicle noise as an indicator of soundscape quality in Denali National Park and Preserve

United States National Parks aim to conserve resources, including natural soundscapes for both wildlife and visitor experiences. This study identified visitors’ indicators and informed thresholds for soundscape quality at three different locations within a more accessible part of Denali National Park and Preserve (DENA), known as the frontcounty. Visitors were intercepted at either the visitor center or one of two hiking trails and asked to participate in an attended listening survey. They rated their acceptability and interpretation of each sound they heard during the 3-min listening session. Vehicle noise was heard by most visitors and rated to various degrees as unacceptable and annoying. To understand the conditions that predict visitor ratings, cumulative link models were fit for both the acceptability and interpretation of vehicle noise. The maximum sound level recorded during their listening survey, along with the location of the survey, motivation for quiet, and interference from noise, were important predictors of response to vehicle noise. The survey location had the largest effect size, suggesting that the setting of the soundscape is important in predicting visitor response. These findings are valuable for park managers and researchers who aim to understand visitor responses to soundscape indicators like vehicles and other motorized sources.