Outdoor Recreation Economy Continues to be a Significant Driver in the U.S. Economy
On November 20th, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released data that revealed that outdoor recreation continues to be a significant driver of the U.S. economy, jobs, and local communities. According to the latest data from the BEA Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, outdoor recreation generated $1.2 trillion in economic output (2.3% of GDP), comprising 3.1% of U.S. employees and 5 million jobs in 2023. In terms of national gross output (value of the goods and services produced by the nation’s economy), here is how other recreation activities fared:
- Boating/fishing, $70B
- RVing, $56.7B
- Motorcycling/ATVing, $19B
- Climbing, hiking, and tent camping, $13B
- Other snow activities (including snowmobiling), $7.5B
- Bicycling, $5.3B
“The BEA’s latest report underscores the significant economic support that motorized recreation — ATVs, motorcycles, and side-by-sides — continues to provide to the U.S. economy,” said Christy LaCurelle, President and CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America. “From providing jobs in major cities to rural townships to boosting revenue in gateway communities, the new data shows how outdoor recreation and the powersports industry contribute to the vitality of our nation. This data is important to help legislators understand why investing in access and infrastructure on public lands and waters is key to our country’s growth. It also shows how federal funding for programs like the Recreational Trails Program, which benefits motorized and non-motorized recreational interests, can help local communities stay healthy and competitive.”
“The latest Bureau of Economic Analysis data reinforces the significant impact outdoor recreation has in America.” said Jaret Smith, President, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA). “Snowmobilers are the winter lifeline for many businesses across the snowbelt, creating jobs and driving dollars to hotels, restaurants, gas stations and dealerships. The latest BEA’s data emphasizes the importance of access to public lands to connect riders to communities and drive economic growth.”
“The new BEA data confirm that recreational boating remains a strong contributor to the American economy,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, President and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and current Board Chair of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR). “With 93 percent of boat builders being small businesses, and 95 percent of boats sold in the U.S. made in the U.S., it is crucial to prioritize policies that protect access to public waters, keep marine manufacturers globally competitive, and drive industry innovation. Americans’ passion for being on the water continues to fuel both our economy and our commitment to preserving outdoor recreation opportunities.”
“The latest BEA data underscores the undeniable impact of outdoor recreation on our economy, and RVing plays a crucial role in that success story,” said Craig Kirby, President and CEO of RV Industry Association. “More than ever, younger and increasingly diverse adventurers are choosing RVs to experience the outdoors and pursue a wide range of activities, from classic pursuits like fishing and hiking to the rising popularity of watersports and off-road adventures. These trends demonstrate that RVing not only enhances personal well-being but also fuels economic growth across the nation.”
This year’s BEA release marks a significant milestone in the growth of the outdoor recreation economy. The economy has expanded by an impressive 36% in real terms since 2012, making it a more significant contributor to the U.S. economy than farming, mining, and utilities. This growth trajectory is a promising sign for the future of outdoor recreation.
Forest Service to Prioritize Protection and Recovery of Recreation Facilities
On November 20th, the USDA Forest Service hosted an informational webinar to discuss its release of the Northwest Forest Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). This draft plan proposes solutions to address critical challenges such as wildfire resilience, economic sustainability, and climate change across 19.4 million acres of federally managed forests in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
During the scoping period earlier this year, ARRA members and partners filed public comments urging the agency to include recreation and the designated road/trail system as significant issues to be analyzed and incorporated into the planning process.
Outdoor enthusiasts also strongly expressed concern that not addressing the recreation infrastructure as a key element in forest and wildfire management efforts would repeat the same mistake made in the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan.
While the agency did not officially include the topic of recreation as a significant issue in the DEIS, the planning team responded to your pro-recreation comments and testimony at the public Resource Advisory Council meetings. The DEIS did acknowledge the value of the recreation infrastructure when designing permanent fuel breaks so that the Forest Service can reduce wildland fire risks to outdoor recreation assets and their associated community benefits while still maintaining the scenery management objectives of a given area.
In addition, the planning team needs to promote rehabilitation of the recreation infrastructure, where desirable and feasible, during post-disturbance management. And to prioritize forest health, hazard tree, and vegetation removal near trails, slope stabilization around trails, and restore affected outdoor recreation facilities.
Don Amador, Western Representative for the MIC, states, “I commend the agency for listening to the RAC, MIC, and other outdoor recreation groups that urged them to address our concerns about recreation and the transportation system being ignored once again by the Forest Service planning team.”
“Trail enthusiasts and volunteers have on-the-ground experience in how these associated resources can help the Forest Service become more resilient and able to respond to climate change and prepare for and respond to wildfires. We will continue to champion the belief that any final decision should carefully consider how recreation and recreationists can continue to be assets for managing our public forests,” Amador concludes.
The Forest Service continues to seek public input on the DEIS to help shape the final plan anticipated in 2025. Comments on the DEIS can be submitted until March 17, 2025.
$30M Trail Ballot Initiative Approved by Maine Voters
In a resounding victory for outdoor enthusiasts and the state’s economy, Maine voters overwhelmingly approved (55% – 45%) the groundbreaking $30 million Maine Trails Bond. This historic decision, supported by a formidable coalition of 520 organizations, businesses, and municipalities, marks a significant step towards meeting the long-standing need for increased trail funding. The successful passage of the bond cements Maine’s status as a national leader in outdoor recreation, promising local economic growth and enhanced access for all users. The $30 million bond will fund various trail projects, including constructing new trails, maintaining existing ones, and enhancing trail facilities, thereby boosting the state’s outdoor recreation sector and local economies. According to the recent data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Maine’s value added for outdoor recreation as a share of state GDP was 3.7 percent, and the $30 million bond fund will generate growth for its outdoor recreation economy.
Starting in January 2025, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands will initiate a new competitive grant program to provide $7.5 million per year over four years to towns, organizations, and clubs. The funding will support the design, maintenance, and construction of trails of all types, including motorized, non-motorized, and multi-use trails.
Recent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Activity
- Fairbanks, Alaska – Due to snow conditions, the BLM will begin winter season motor vehicle limitations for the White Mountains National Recreation Area (NRA)and Steese National Conservation Area (NCA) earlier than announced. These limitations went into effect on October 25th, replacing the previously announced summer-to-winter transition date of November 1st and lasting through April 30th. Under winter season limitations, the entire area is open to snowmobiles, except for a few non-motorized trails with adequate snow depth. Wheeled motor vehicles are generally prohibited because they churn up rocks and create ruts through the snowpack. This degrades trails for other users and makes trail grooming operations more challenging. Although there is no winter maintenance, roads in the area remain open to wheeled OHVs and highway vehicles as conditions allow. These areas are open throughout the year for non-motorized use, including hiking, biking, and equestrian use.
- Redding, California — The BLM has rescinded its fire restrictions order for public lands managed by the Arcata and Redding field offices in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity, Shasta, Butte, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties. Hourly limits on using internal combustion engines off roads and trails and on recreational target shooting have also been lifted.
- Anchorage, Alaska – The BLM opened a new multi-use trail on the Campbell Tract Special Recreation Management Area in Anchorage, Alaska. The latest, approximately 1.5-mile Fox Run Trail expands the network of trails in the 730-acre Campbell Tract to better serve the approximately 500,000 visitors who enjoy these public lands annually. The BLM began work on the Fox Run Trail in 2020 based on community input during the development of the Campbell Tract Recreation Area Management Plan (CT RAMP). During that process, a public member suggested building a new route to reduce congestion on other trails, provide a unique winter loop option by tying into the winter single-track trails, and reduce user conflicts on the adjacent sled dog-only trails in the winter months.
- Casper, Wyoming – The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper will temporarily close to the public beginning December 16, 2024. The facility is expected to re-open in March 2025. The closure will not affect Holiday on the Homestead, the Trails Center’s annual holiday event, scheduled for December 14th. The facility will receive some required fire suppression and lighting system updates during the closure. The lighting system at the Center will be upgraded to improve energy efficiency and enhance the experience for our visitors. The fire suppression system will be replaced to increase the safety of visitors and staff and protect the exhibits and other resources within the building.
- Shoshone, Idaho–The BLM Shoshone Field Office awarded the Wood River Trail Infrastructure Agreement to the Wood River Trails Coalition (WRTC). This Agreement names the Wood River Trails Coalition as the primary partner to develop and construct trails over the next 5 years in the Wood River Valley. The partnership agreement between the BLM and the WRTC is holistic, including construction, maintenance, layout, design, trail user data collection, and the organization of volunteer work parties. The planned trail construction fulfills tenets of the BLM’s Recreation Strategy, Connecting with Communities. Funds for construction were generated from the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act recreation permit fees, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Grant, and the Wood River Trails Coalition. In 2025, the BLM and the WRTC plan to build 6.5 miles of trail in Lee’s Gulch outside Bellevue. Adding these trails to the area will more than double the number of official trail miles that the residents of Bellevue can access on foot or bike from their own homes or a short drive right outside of town. Currently, the 5-mile loop consisting of the Belle and Vue trails in Slaughterhouse Canyon is the only single-track trail that launches directly out of Bellevue.
- Arcata, California — The BLM is advising Lost Coast Trail hikers in the King Range National Conservation Areato be vigilant near three active landslide areas north of the Black Sands Beach Trailhead in Shelter Cove and to consider postponing their hike. Mud, rock, and woody debris have been falling onto the trail in areas between Sea Lion Gulch and Randall Creek and between Shipman Creek and Gitchell Creek. The slides are most active during and after rainstorms, and beach stretches can be impassable. The largest of these slides spans the entire beach about a half-mile north of the Black Sands Beach trailhead in an area popular for day hikes.
- Marina, California — The BLM Central Coast Field Office eased seasonal fire restrictions on November 19 for approximately 300,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands in Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Stanislaus counties, due to reduced wildland fire potential. Recreational target shooting and campfires will again be allowed on public lands unless otherwise posted. The rescinded fire order can be viewed online. Motorized access is still restricted at the Panoche Hills Special Recreation Management Area in Fresno and San Benito counties. While allowing recreational activities through non-motorized access, continued road restriction is required to protect the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizardpopulation that lives on the Panoche Hills Plateau as part of a captive breeding program. Please review the closure order restricting vehicle access at the Panoche Hills Special Recreation Management Area.