Outdoor Recreation

Through 12 states and the District of Columbia, the Great American Rail-Trail® will attract 25.6 million trips and generate more than $229.4 million in spending.

Detailed estimates of summer trail use help show the impacts of growing recreational use and highlight infrastructure needs in southwest Montana.

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

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.