Outdoor Recreation

The outdoor recreation economy is strong, diverse, and growing, helping communities thrive.

New data sources can change the way we count outdoor recreation, allowing trail managers to better advocate for improvements and plan for growing demand.

The outdoor recreation economy contributes $7.8 billion, or 2.4% to Wisconsin’s GDP and generates more than 93,000 jobs across diverse sectors.

Slide show: Ray Rasker’s keynote to the 2020 Outdoor Economy Conference highlights ways to build an outdoor community.

The Merced River Trail in Mariposa County, California will create benefits for the economy and businesses, quality of life, and public health.

Recreation dependence, population growth from new residents, and income inequality are strongly associated with less affordable housing in non-metro counties.

Where rural recreation counties rely on public funding for health care, fiscal solutions should diversify the ways local governments can save and spend.

Outdoor recreation is a way of life and economic powerhouse for New Mexico. New Mexico residents enjoy outdoor recreation on more than 35 million acres of public lands and the outdoor recreation economy directly supports $1.2 billion in income and 33,500 jobs.

The outdoor recreation economy is large, growing faster than the overall economy, and consists of jobs in many industries. Explore data by state.

Montana’s outdoors attracts people and talent, creating jobs and a high quality of life. The outdoors is essential to the state’s future economic growth.