Outdoor Recreation

Dirt trail with wood railings through grove of tall California coastal redwood trees.

California Updating Outdoor Recreation Plan

State Parks is working on the 2026-2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) which serves as a vision for public outdoor recreation grant priorities in urban and rural neighborhoods, cities, and regions.

April 1, 2024 - California Department of Parks and Recreation

Aerial view of snowy town of Stateline, Nevada on shore of Lake tahoe with mountains in background.

Nevada to Host National Outdoor Recreation Conference

In May 2024, the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals will hold its national conference in Stateline, Nevada, offering opportunities to learn and network in the beautiful setting of Lake Tahoe.

January 22, 2024 - Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals

Heritage Rail Trail County Park, York, Pennsylvania with railroad next to unpaved walking/biking trail and sun filtering through green trees

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Issues 2022 Grants

The organization awarded 25 grants for projects that promote outdoor recreation and access to trail facilities for underserved communities.

November 22, 2022 - Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Rock Creek Park Washington D.C.

Road in D.C.’s Rock Creek Park to Stay Car-Free

The National Park Service has decided to make permanent a road closure that went into effect in April 2020.

November 17, 2022 - National Park Service

A fly fisher casts on a fog-covered river.

Lawsuit Could Open Public Access to Colorado Rivers

Colorado is one of few U.S. states that has decided that private property owners supersede the public when it comes to access to rivers and streams.

June 30, 2022 - High Country News

A campfire in the wilderness, surrounded by a group of people, burns with the stars overhead.

The Great Outdoors—Sans Campfires

Regulators are increasingly requiring outdoor adventurers to enjoy wilderness excursions without the solace and warmth of a campfire, as the drought and heat of climate change leaves natural areas ready to spark and burn year-round.

May 12, 2022 - The Denver Post

Parking area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

America's Most Popular National Park Could Start Charging for Parking

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation's most visited and one of only a handful with no admission fee, could institute a parking fee to pay for much-needed maintenance.

April 7, 2022 - WBIR

Strong Public Support for Parks and Recreation Nationwide

The latest report by the National Recreational and Park Association (NRPA) offers insights into public perception and use of parks, revealing a high level of affinity.

September 23, 2021 - National Recreation and Park Association

National Parks

Exploring the Outdoors in a Socially and Environmentally Responsible Manner

To travel ethically, visitors to national parks need to be more mindful and better understand the history of the parks and their impacts on these spaces and surrounding communities.

September 22, 2021 - The Guardian

Traffic on road at Midway Geyser Basin

Parks Overwhelmed by Record Numbers of Visitors

Already understaffed and underfunded, the agencies that manage state and national parks are struggling to keep up with the spike in demand for outdoor recreation over the past year.

July 4, 2021 - High Country News

Angeles National Forest

National Forests Were Highly Popular in 2020

New data shows more people than ever visited national forests and grasslands last year, according to a Forest Service report

June 1, 2021 - U.S. Forest Service

Outdoor Exercise

How COVID-19 Has Impacted Outdoor Recreation

A new report commissioned by the Outdoor Industry Association offers valuable insights about Americans’ engagement in outdoor activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 5, 2021 - Outdoor Industry Association

Los Angeles Sunset

Hiking For All: Making the Great Outdoors More Welcoming

Not everyone feels comfortable going for a hike. Various groups are working to break down barriers so that more people can experience the joys and benefits of being in nature.

April 1, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor Recreation Boosted by the Pandemic

The pandemic brought droves of people to Wisconsin’s outdoors, resulting in crowds on trails and at camp sites as well as a growth in the outdoor recreation and manufacturing economy.

November 2, 2020 - Wisconsin State Journal

kayak

Water Recreation Brings $18 Billion Annually to Colorado

Water recreation is an important contributor to the state's economy. A recent report found that water-related activities contribute an annual $18 billion to the state's economy.

June 30, 2020 - The Denver Post

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Advocacy to Protect Borderlands Areas Lagging

Construction of a border wall would have grave social and environmental consequences, but retailers with clout are not stepping up as they have when other places have been threatened.

November 5, 2019 - High Country News

Outdoor Recreation

Increased Outdoor Recreation Comes at a Cost

The rapidly declining number of elk around Vail, Colorado reveals the impacts of the increasing population of outdoor recreation.

September 12, 2019 - The Guardian

Open Space Trails

E-Bikes and Open Space Trails

Jefferson County, Colorado, an outdoor recreation paradise located between Denver and the Front Range, will begin allowing electric-assist bikes (e-bikes) on its trails.

March 2, 2018 - The Denver Post

Arch Rock Beach

The Vast Economic Footprint of the Outdoor Recreation Industry

The outdoor recreation industry grew faster in 2016 than the rest of the U.S. economy.

February 18, 2018 - Earther

Los Angeles River Kayak

High Bacteria Levels Require a New Approach to Los Angeles River Recreation

The city of Los Angeles created a new plan to notify the public about high levels of E.coli in the Los Angeles River after kayakers were exposed to E.coli earlier this fall.

October 29, 2017 - KPCC

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