Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Alcock, Frank

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies, Biology

Abstract

Long-distance hiking trails provide important recreational and ecological benefits but are increasingly affected by recreation-derived waste. This study assessed the distribution and composition of litter along the 96-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) in the Sam Houston National Forest in the state of Texas. Using a complete trail census approach inspired by prior research on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), all encountered waste items were recorded, categorized, and assigned to one-mile transects to evaluate spatial patterns. A total of 327 items were documented, averaging 3.4 items per mile. Waste patterns demonstrated clear clustering near access points like that of trailheads and roadcrossings, while interior trail segments conversely demonstrated relatively low litter densities. Plastics represented the dominant material type across the trail. GIS mapping and spatial analysis demonstrated a strong relationship between litter accumulation and human access infrastructure. Comparison with Pacific Crest Trail findings suggests that accessibility and visitor behavior consistently drive litter patterns across trail systems of different scales.

Rights

The author has granted New College of Florida the nonexclusive right to archive, make accessible, and distribute for educational purposes this work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The copyright of this work remains with the author.

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