Wyoming’s outdoor recreation sector contributed $2.3 billion to the state’s economy in 2024, accounting for 4.5 percent of the state’s gross domestic product, according to data released in March 2026 by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. The figures position Wyoming fifth nationally for outdoor recreation as a share of GDP, trailing only Hawaii, Alaska, Montana and Vermont, yet the state’s growth rate lagged significantly behind national trends despite its strong economic foundation.
“Outdoor recreation continues to be a strong economic driver in Wyoming,” said Mark Tesoro, manager of the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, responding to the federal economic data release.
Wyoming’s economic impact and employment in outdoor recreation each grew by only 0.5 percent since 2023, a stark contrast to national growth rates of 4.0 percent for economic impact and 1.1 percent for employment. Nationally, outdoor recreation generated $1.3 trillion in 2024 and fueled 5.2 million jobs, with inflation-adjusted GDP for the sector increasing 2.7 percent, itself a deceleration from the previous year. Jessica Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, addressed the slowdown during an online press call. “We know that in 2024 the demand to get outside remained high with positive participation,” Turner said. “But affordability and uncertainty weighed on purchases and trips.” Turner attributed the broader slowdown to inflation, high interest rates and business uncertainty.
The sector employed more than 16,500 people in Wyoming in 2024, an increase from the previous year. This represents 5.5 percent of the state’s total workforce, substantially higher than the national average of 3.2 percent. Wyoming tied with Florida for fourth place nationally in share of total statewide compensation attributed to outdoor recreation at 3.8 percent, compared to the national average of 2.2 percent. Compensation within Wyoming’s outdoor recreation sector grew by 5.2 percent since 2023, matching the national growth rate and demonstrating the sector’s continued importance to worker earnings despite the broader slowdown.
Hunting, shooting and trapping generated the largest economic contribution in Wyoming at $108 million. Other top contributing sectors include RVing, boating and fishing, equestrian activities, snow sports including snowmobiling, and climbing, hiking and tent camping, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis data.
Wyoming is one of 24 states with an office of outdoor recreation management. Lawmakers created the Outdoor Rec and Tourism Trust Account in 2023 to support planning, development and maintenance of outdoor recreation infrastructure. The fund opened submissions for its first round of grants in February 2026, with applications closing April 11, 2026. Wyoming will award the first $4 million installment in spring 2026, with the fund aiming to build, improve and design outdoor recreation projects, including those that can disperse users to new areas.
“For years, innovative community ideas have outpaced available resources, and today we’re excited to see that gap closing,” said Brynn Hirschman, the Outdoor Recreation Office grant coordinator, in a press release announcing the 2026 application process. Tesoro added that “the future of outdoor recreation in the state is more promising than ever,” citing new funding avenues and partnership opportunities for infrastructure projects.
The Office of Outdoor Recreation has responded to overcrowding concerns with a strategy of educating, dispersing and reconcentrating user groups to spread both benefits and detriments more evenly across communities. Trails are the most common request for outdoor recreation amenities. Wyoming State Parks’ visitation surpassed 5 million in 2025, the highest since the pandemic-related surge of 2020-21, representing a 4 percent increase over 2024. Dave Glenn, director of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, said in a press release that the milestone is “a testament to the vital role our parks, historic sites, and recreation areas play in Wyoming’s communities,” and that the sites “are essential to our state’s quality of life and economic resilience.”
Wyoming’s high rankings in GDP share, employment percentage and compensation demonstrate outdoor recreation’s structural importance to the state’s economy. New funding mechanisms through the trust account and dispersal strategies designed to spread visitors across more communities may help local economies as conditions improve.