步道系統的規劃設置，提供遊客欣賞自然與遊憩的空間，為各生態旅遊地極為重要的遊憩設施之一，唯步道沿線之環境每因遊憩使用而造成各種不同型態與程度的衝擊，導致步道惡化的現象，不但破壞了遊憩環境品質，也造成遊客之視覺衝擊而影響其遊憩體驗。步道沿線環境狀況的長期調查監測，可以反應出步道規劃設計的良窳、人為干擾的程度，使經營者能瞭解該步道的使用遊客人數是否超過其承載量，且能掌握何處、何時需要施行哪些經營措施，或據以評估經營策略之有效與否，為生態旅遊地經營管理上重要的課題。本文除探討步道衝擊之調查方法與監測技術外，並以玉山國家公園塔塔加步道之植群與土壤衝擊效應之調查監測結果為例，檢討該步道之本體及附屬設施在規劃設計上之缺失，提出改善與防治衝擊的建議事項，作為生態旅遊地步道衝擊相關研究與經營管理實務上之參考。
A long-term investigation and monitoring of the trail condition on recreation areas will reflect the relevancy of trail design and the extent of trampling impacts. Such measure implies whether the trails have been overused, when and where some techniques should be applied, or whether the managing strategies work or not. This is one of the major themes of impact management in outdoor recreation areas. This paper not only reviewed the techniques used for investigating and monitoring trail impacts, but also examined the defects of trail design based on the results of impact monitoring along the trail. The Tataka Trail of Yushan National park in central Taiwan was selected as an example Some suggestions were made for the related studies on and the management of trail impacts.