Developing a theoretical framework for assessing user experience on hiking trails in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This paper presents the process of developing a theoretical framework to assess user experience on nature-based hiking trails, with a focus on Sri Lanka’s third peneplain landscapes. The study adopts a literature review approach to structure and refining parameters that influence hiking experiences, considering both physical and visual dimensions of the landscape. Research on nature trails and user experience was systematically reviewed and synthesized to identify assessment variables related to the physical satisfaction and visual satisfaction of hikers through a manual review of the literature. Models such as the Trail Problem Assessment Method (TPAM), Nature-Based Recreation Experience Model, Kaplan and Kaplan’s Environmental Preference Theory, and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs informed the selection of parameters. The framework integrates physical conditions (e.g., mud, erosion, unofficial trails, litter) with visual and experiential qualities (e.g., scenic values, nature-oriented details, ephemeral qualities, presence of other people). The resulting framework provides a structured basis for evaluating hiking trails and addressing research gaps in tropical contexts like Sri Lanka, where empirical studies on trail-based user experience remain limited. The article highlights how the literature review process led to the development of a theoretically grounded and contextually adaptable assessment model.