2025 Outdoor Trends Show Strong Growth, Greater Diversity, and Rising Opportunity for Michigan

A joint message from mParks, Heart of the Lakes, and Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance

As champions for outdoor access, open spaces, and community wellness, mParks, Heart of the Lakes, and Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance are excited to highlight key findings from the newly released 2025 Outdoor Participation Trends Report and Outdoor Consumer Trends 2025. These reports reinforce what we see daily in Michigan: outdoor recreation is growing, diversifying, and becoming even more vital to public life and local economies.

From urban trails to backcountry preserves to neighborhood parks, Michigan’s open spaces are seeing the benefits—and bearing the weight—of this growing interest in the outdoors. These national findings directly inform how we plan, invest, and advocate for the future of our parks, recreation systems, trails, and conservation lands.
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Record Outdoor Participation in 2024
​The U.S. outdoor recreation participant base grew by 3% in 2024, reaching a record 181.1 million Americans, or 58.6% of the U.S. population age six and up. This growth included a surge of 5.3 million new participants, driven by youth, seniors, people of color, and high-income households.

Outdoor Growth is Driven by Diversity and Access
​The reports highlight a more inclusive outdoor community. Participation among Black Americans increased to 11.2%, and Hispanic Americans reached 14.5% of the outdoor participant base, the highest level on record. At the same time, White participation fell by 1.1%, indicating that people of color are driving outdoor growth.
This aligns with our shared mission in Michigan: ensuring that public lands and programs serve all people, not just some. 

• Youth (ages 6–12): up 5.6%
• Seniors (65+): up 7.4%
• Black participants: up 12.8%
• Hispanic participants: up 11.8%
• High school grads (no college): up 11.2%

These trends are significant in Michigan and across the Midwest. Our region is home to some of the nation’s most accessible and diverse landscapes, from Great Lakes shorelines to dense forests to urban trails, and we’re seeing more people from all walks of life enjoy them.
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​Hiking, Fishing, Camping, and Biking Lead the Way
The top five "gateway" outdoor activities in 2024 were:

Hiking
​63 million participants

Bicycling
58 million participants

Running/jogging/trail running
56 million participants

Fishing (all types)
54 million participants

Camping (car, RV, or backyard)
53 million participants

​These entry-level activities added an average of 2.1 million new participants each. And critically, participants in these activities were highly likely to branch out into other types of outdoor recreation—91% of campers and 85% of hikers also engaged in at least one other outdoor activity.

Families, Youth, and Seniors Are Leading the Way

• 66% of U.S. households with children participated in outdoor recreation in 2024—a record high.
• More than 23 million older adults (65+) got outdoors last year, surpassing younger adult age groups for the first time.

This reinforces the importance of multigenerational and family-friendly programming, something Michigan's parks and recreation agencies and conservation groups excel at. Whether it’s a summer camp, fishing day, or a walk in the woods, these experiences build lasting connections to nature.

​Outdoor Spending is Shifting

Core Participants (5% of the market)

• Participate frequently (e.g., hike 13+ times/year, fish 8+ times, run 51+ times)
• Pursue technical or “epic” outdoor experiences
• Spend the most: $2,188/year on average
• Often seek challenge, adrenaline, and performance

Active Participants (50% of the market)

• Participate regularly but less intensely
• Engage for fitness, health, or family/community time
• Spend $1,600/year on average
• Represent the backbone of Michigan’s local park programming and trail use

Casual Participants (42% of the market)

• Participate occasionally and with less technical knowledge
• Prioritize emotional benefits like calm, balance, and happiness
• Spend $1,400/year on average

In Michigan, this means outdoor stores, programs, and messaging should focus on inclusive, low-barrier experiences and access to nature and recreation, and that sustainability and wellness are the top values for today's outdoor public.
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What This Means for Michigan
These trends aren’t just national talking points; they reflect a fundamental shift in who uses Michigan’s parks, trails, and open spaces, how they engage, and what they need.

• Local parks are essential for casual and active users, especially families, youth, and older adults.
• Municipal investments in greenways, community trails, and year-round programming meet people where they are.
• Public lands are increasingly welcoming broader audiences with interpretive signage, ADA-accessible trails, and inclusive stewardship programming.
• First-time visitors often come for peace, solitude, and wildlife viewing, not just adventure.
• Paddling, fishing, and swimming remain popular and are often a gateway for residents and tourists alike.

Opportunities for Michigan:

• Prioritize accessible and inclusive programming, especially for families and underrepresented groups.
• Highlight sustainable recreation and environmental stewardship, as eco-conscious values increasingly influence consumer behavior.
• Design retail and outreach strategies that resonate with casual participants looking for balance, connection, and community, not just performance.

mParks + Heart of the Lakes + Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance = Committed to Action
At mParks, Heart of the Lakes, and Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance, we are using this data to:

• Advocate for smart, inclusive outdoor policy and funding.
• Support community-driven programming, especially in underserved areas.
• Build strong coalitions to expand access to the outdoors for all Michigan residents.

Together, we’re shaping an outdoor future that reflects our state’s values, diversity, and natural abundance.