Hiking trailheads, but not trailsides, associated with higher cover of non‐native plants’ trail impact on non‐native plant cover

Abstract

Question: Natural areas are commonly managed for multiple purposes, including both conservation and recreational use. Hiking trails are an extremely common feature in natural areas that enable recreational use, but trail construction and use can also facilitate the spread of non-native species by altering trailside conditions, creating disturbances, and acting as a conduit for non-native propagules to be carried into the backcountry.