Outdoor recreation continues to grow as new forms of recreation emerge and more people take to our public lands for outdoor pursuits. Mountain bikers require trails, kayakers require river access, and wildlife viewers require wildlife habitat. In order to provide these recreational opportunities and manage our public landscapes, federal agencies like the National Park Service and Forest Service have to clamor for more money in front of Congress—often unsuccessfully—rather than rely directly on public land users for funding. It’s time for recreationists to step up and help provide the funding for the well-maintained trails, well-managed forests and rivers, and search and rescue services that they have come to expect.
Read more on how it’s time for outdoor recreationists to put their money where their footprints are in “Leave No Trace?”