Objective The Three Parallel Rivers World Natural Heritage Site, as a critical area for biodiversity conservation and a significant representative of natural and cultural landscapes in China, has river corridors that not only serve as core links maintaining regional ecological integrity but also act as vital carriers for providing diverse recreational services. Owing to their unique hydrological dynamics, landscape stratification, spatial accessibility, and cultural profundity, river corridors constitute an irreplaceable component of human recreational systems. However, despite their notable recreational value, systematic research and scientific assessment of the recreational service functions of these river corridors remain relatively limited, with a lack of in-depth analysis regarding the spatial matching and coordination mechanisms between “resource potential” and “actual human use.” Therefore, establishing a scientific and rational evaluation system to comprehensively assess the recreational service functions of the river corridors in this region holds significant theoretical and practical importance for promoting sustainable management of recreational resources, enhancing the overall recreational quality of the heritage site, and fostering regional coordinated development.

Methods To scientifically identify the spatial characteristics and coordination relationships of recreational service functions, this study constructs a dual-dimensional evaluation framework based on “Potential Capacity−Usage Level”. The potential capacity evaluation system encompasses two dimensions: recreational suitability (e.g., landscape richness, waterfront accessibility, cultural resource density) and ecological sensitivity (including vegetation coverage, slope stability, habitat fragility, etc.), aiming to objectively reflect the resource and environmental endowments supporting recreational activities in different segments. For usage level, user-generated trajectory data from the “Two Step” platform and population distribution data indicating usage intensity by local residents are integrated to quantify the actual utilization level of recreational functions from both tourist and resident perspectives. Analytically, the coupling coordination degree model is employed to evaluate the coordination level between the two dimensions; cluster and outlier analysis (Anselin Local Moran’s I) is applied to examine the spatial clustering patterns of the coupling coordination degree, while the relative development degree model is used to identify lagging and advanced types of regional development status.

Results 1) Both recreational service potential and actual usage levels are significantly higher in riparian zones than in distant areas, demonstrating a distinct “near-river aggregation” pattern. Concurrently, significant longitudinal disparities exist between the upper and lower reaches of all three river corridors. Recreational usage is highly concentrated in the middle and lower reaches, which benefit from superior natural conditions and more developed infrastructure, whereas usage levels in the upstream regions remain consistently low due to terrain accessibility challenges and a lack of service facilities. 2) Tourist recreational usage for the Jinsha, Lancang, and Nujiang rivers peaks in autumn (September−November) and troughs in winter (January−March). The Jinsha River exhibits the smallest monthly fluctuations and the highest stability, attributable to the sustained appeal of core scenic spots such as Tiger Leaping Gorge. The usage patterns of the Lancang and Jinsha Rivers are highly synchronized, suggesting homogeneity in tourist source structures or influences from regional policies. In contrast, the Nujiang River displays an independent fluctuation rhythm, reflecting its more localized tourist sources or constraints imposed by local factors. 3) Approximately 90% of the study area is in a low coupling coordination state. Well-coordinated units are primarily distributed in riparian areas with gentle terrain and complete facilities, while low-coordination areas are mostly located away from the river channels. 4) Usage levels significantly lag behind the potential capacity in over half of the areas, and about one-third of the regions exhibit almost no recreational use—these “blank zones” are predominantly distributed along the steep canyon belts flanking the rivers. Spatially, the usage lag intensifies with increasing distance from the river channels. Longitudinally, all corridors exhibit a gradient differentiation pattern: “severe lag in the upper reaches−mild lag or basic synchronization in the middle and lower reaches.”

Conclusion This study demonstrates that the dual-dimensional evaluation framework of “Capacity−Usage” can effectively reveal the spatial matching relationship and coordination status between recreational resource endowments and actual utilization, addressing the limitations of traditional unilateral assessments and providing a reliable pathway for refined evaluation and differentiated planning of recreational service functions. The research not only offers a scientific basis for recreational layout, ecological protection, and sustainable development of river corridors in the Three Parallel Rivers National Park and World Heritage site but also extends its methodological framework to functional assessments of other protected areas, green infrastructure, and ecological corridors, thereby supporting optimized allocation of recreational resources and high-quality regional coordinated development on a broader scale.