Dr. Christopher Monz
Environment & Society
Emeritus Professor

Contact Information
Office Hours: Tues 9:30-10:30; Wed 11:00-12:00Phone: (435) 890-0106
Email: chris.monz@usu.edu
Additional Information:
Awards
Researcher of the Year, 2015
Quinney College of Natural Resources
Fulbright Scholar Award, 2013
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
Publications | Books
- Manning, R., Lawson, S., Newman, P., Hallo, J., Monz, C., (2014). Sustainable Transportation in the National Parks: From Acadia to Zion.
- Hammitt, W., Cole, D., Monz, C., Wildland Recreation: Ecology and Management, 3rd Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Publications | Book Chapters
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Journal Articles
Academic Journal
- Wheeler, I., Freimund, W., Miller, A., Monz, C., (2025). Impact of a Responsible Recreation Trail Ambassador Program on Visitor Experiences and Pro-Environmental Behavioral Intentions. Journal of Interpretation Research
- Smith, J., Miller, A., Lamborn, C., Spernbauer, B., Creany, N., Richards, J.C, Meyer, C., Nesbitt, J., Rempel, W., Wilkins, E.J, Miller, Z., Freimund, W., Monz, C., (2021). Motivations and spatial behavior of OHV recreationists: A case-study from central Utah (USA). Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 36, 100426. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2021.100426
- Wesstrom, S., Creany, N., Monz, C., Miller, A.B, D'Antonio, A., (2021). The effect of a vehicle diversion traffic management strategy on spatio-temporal park use: A study in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA. Journal of Parks and Recreation Administration, 39:2, doi: https://doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2021-10746
- Gutzwiller, K., D'Antonio, A., Monz, C., (2017). Recreation ecology meets landscape ecology: Assessing broad-scale spatial patterns of wildland recreation disturbance. . Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15:9, 517-524.
- Newton, J., Newman, P., Taff, D., Monz, C., D'Antonio, A., (2017). Spatial temporal dynamics of vehicle stopping behavior along a rustic park road. Applied Geography, 88, 94-103.
- Francis, C., Taff, D., Newman, P., White, C., Monz, C., Levenhagen, M., (2017). Acoustic Environments Matter: Synergistic benefits to humans and wildlife. Journal of Environmental Management, 203, 245-254.
- Monz, C., D’Antonio, A., Lawson, S., Barber, J., Newman, P., (2016). The ecological implications of visitor transportation in parks and protected areas: Examples from research in US National Parks. Journal of Transport Geography, 51, 27–35.
- Monz, C., Kulmatiski, A., (2016). The emergence of "fat bikes' in the USA: Trends, potential consequences and management. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 15, 20–25.
- D'Antonio, A., Monz, C., (2016). The influence of visitor use levels on visitor spatial behavior in off-trail areas of dispersed recreation use. Journal of Environmental Management, 170, 79-87.
- Lawson, S., Newman, P., Monz, C., (2016). A Systems-based Approach to Address Unintended Consequences of Demand-driven Transportation Planning in National Parks and Public Lands. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation-In review
- D’Antonio, A., Monz, C., Larson, D., Rohman, A., (2016). An application of recreation resource assessment techniques to inform management action in an urban-proximate natural area. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-In review, 14, 12-21.
- Manning, R., Monz, C., Hallo, J., andPeter Newman, S.L, (2015). From conventional to sustainable transportation management in national parks. Sustainable Transportation in Natural and Protected Areas, 215.
- Barros, A., Monz, C., Pickering, C., (2014). Is tourism damaging ecosystems in the Andes? Current knowledge and an agenda for future research. Ambio, 1-17.
- D'Antonio, A., Monz, C., Newman, P., Lawson, S., Taff, D., (2013). Enhancing the utility of visitor impact assessment in parks and protected areas: A combined social-ecological approach. Journal of Environmental Management, 124, 72-81.
- Lawhon, B., Newman, P., Taff, D., Vaske, J., Steve, L., Monz, C., (2013). Factors Influencing Behavioral Intentions for Leave No Trace Behavior in National Parks. Journal of Interpretation Research , 18:1, 23-38.
- Monz, C., Pickering, C.M, Hadwen, W., (2013). Recent advances in recreation ecology and the implications of different relationships between recreation use and ecological impacts. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment , 11:8, 441-446.
- Taff, D., Newman, P., Pettebone, D., White, D., Lawson, S., Monz, C., Vagias, W., (2013). Dimensions of Alternative Transportation Experience in Yosemite and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Journal of Transport Geography, 30, 37-46.
- D'Antonio, A., Monz, C., Newman, P., Lawson, S., Taff, D., (2012). The Effects of Local Ecological Knowledge, Minimum-Impact Knowledge, and Prior Experience on Visitor Perceptions of the Ecological Impacts of Backcountry Recreation. Environmental Management, 50:Issue 4, 542-554.
- Goonan, K.A, Monz, C., Manning, R.E, Anderson, L., (2012). An analysis of current resource conditions and visitor standards of primitive campsites along Lake Champlain. Journal or Great Lakes Research, 38:Supplement 1, 157-166.
- Anderson, L., Manning, R.E, Monz, C., Goonan, K.A, Valliere, W., (2012). Indicators and standards of quality for paddling on Lake Champlain.. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 38:Supplement 1, 150-156.
- Pettebone, D., Newman, P., Lawson, S., Hunt, L., Monz, C., Zweifka, J., (2011). Estimating visitor’s travel mode choices in Rocky Mountain National Park.. Journal of Transport Geography, 19, 1210-1221.
- Lawson, S., Newman, P., Monz, C., Chamberlain, R., Choi, J., Swanson, B., Pettebone, D., Gamble, L., (2011). Modeling the Effects of Shuttle Service on Transportation System Performance and Quality of Visitor Experience in Rocky Mountain National Park. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board2244, 97-107.
- Van Riper, C., Manning, R., Monz, C., Goonan, K., (2011). Tradeoffs among resource, social, and managerial conditions on mountain summits of the Northern Forest. Leisure Sciences, 33:3, 228-249.
- Monz, C., (2010). Long-Term Changes in Resource Conditions on Backcountry Campsites in Prince William Sound, Alaska USA. Northwest Science, 84:3, 223-232.
- D'Antonio, A., Monz, C., Steve, L., Pater, N., (2010). GPS-based measurements of backcountry visitors in parks and protected areas: Examples of methods and applications from three case studies.. Journal of Park and recreation Administration, 28:3, 42-60.
- Monz, C., (2010). A simplified image analysis method for monitoring wilderness campsites. International Journal of Wilderness, 16:1, 26-31.
- Monz, C., (2010). Sustaining Visitor Use in Protected Areas: Future Opportunities in Recreation Ecology Research Based on the USA Experience. Environmental Management, 45, 551-562.
- Monz, C., (2010). A Classification of Backcountry Campsites in Prince William Sound, Alaska USA. Journal of Environmental Management, 91:7, 1566-1572.
- Monz, C., Marion, J.L, Goonan, K.A, Manning, R.E, Wimpey, J., Carr, C., (2010). Assessment and Monitoring of Recreation Impacts and Resource Conditions on Mountain Summits: Examples from the Northern Forest, USA.. Mountain Research and Development, 30:4, 332-343.
- Monz, C., (2008). Climbers� Attitudes Toward Recreation Resource Impacts in The Adirondack Park�s Giant Mountain Wilderness. International Journal of Wilderness, 15(1), 26-33.
- Monz, C., The Consequences of backcountry surface disposal of human waste in an alpine, temperate forest and arid environment. Journal of Environmental Management, 92, 1334-1337.
Professional Journal
- Manning, R., Lawson, S., Newman, P., Halo, J., Monz, C., (2014). Principles of Sustainable Transportation in the National Parks. The George Wright Forum, 31:3, 345-358.
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Technical Reports
AES Reports
Research Reports
- Smith, J., Monz, C., (2024). Supply, demand, and fiscal sustainability of outdoor recreation in Utah. Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Utah State University *
- Smith, J., Miller, A.B, Lamborn, C., Monz, C., Rumore, D., (2021). Outdoor recreation use and indicators of the ecological, physical, and social characteristics of recreation settings in the Central Wasatch: Phase 1 interim report. Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Utah State University *
- Graham, R., Miller, A.B, Monz, C., (2021). Post-Experience Survey of Backcountry Anglers and Hikers in Rocky Mountain National Park. *
- Monz, C., (2009). Indicators and Standards of Quality for Sustainable Recreation/Tourism: Research to Support Management of the Northern Forest. *
Other Reports
- Monz, C., D'Antonio, A., Heaslip, K., (2014). An Assessment of Winter Use in the Moose Wilson Road Corridor of Grand Teton National Park.
- Monz, C., D'Antonio, A., Heaslip, K., Moose-Wilson Road use levels, types, patterns and impacts in Grand Teton National Park.
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Other
Other
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Teaching
Creative Works | Performances
Graduate Students Mentored
Courses
ENVS 4500/6500 - Wildland Recreation Behavior
ENVS 4600/6600 - Natural Resource Interpretation
ENVS 6400 - Ecological Aspects of Wildland Recreation
Graduate Students
Jessica Bruck- M.S. Ecology
Jake Van Deursen- M.S. Ecology
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Monz please use the Advising Scheduler.
Research Links
Recreation Ecology Lab
Ecology Center
Selected Publications
Google Scholar Citations