This thesis examines the value of wilderness recreation in the context of Michigan's Elk Range. The Michigan Elk Range is a near-wilderness area located in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and it is home to one of the largest free-roaming elk herds east of the Mississippi River. The first essay takes a broad look at the value of wilderness recreation in the area by estimating a single-site travel cost model. After estimating the mean overall consumer surplus value ($86 per trip) for a population of Michigan Elk Range users, we segment the model by each respondent's interest in the elk herd and by their primary activity. These results show that the value for elk viewing is higher than the overall value, and this accords with economic theory about higher values for goods/services with few or no substitutes. The second essay takes a closer look at elk viewing itself by evaluating elk viewing preferences using a discrete choice experiment. The choice experiment asks respondents to choose between two recreation areas that are identical apart from their distance from the respondent and the chances of experiencing some elk-related attributes. The results show that there is significant variation in respondents' preferences. To explain this variation, visitors are segmented by their primary activity in the Michigan Elk Range as well as their elk viewing experience. Unsurprisingly, elk viewers place a higher value on the elk-related attributes than other activity groups, and all activity groups have a significant positive preference for at least one elk attribute suggesting the presence of elk may also incidentally affect activities besides elk viewing. Additionally, respondents with more elk viewing experience place a higher value on the elk-related attributes.
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