SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., June 19, 2024—The Outdoor Foundation (OF) and Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) report that the outdoor recreation participation base grew 4.1 percent in 2023 to a record 175.8 million participants. 

According to the 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report, 57.3 percent of Americans aged 6 and older are participating in outdoor recreation, but the frequency with which they participate, on average, is down 11.4 percent compared to 2022. The top five outdoor recreation activities by participation rate included bicycling (17.2 percent of the total population aged 6 and older), camping (17.7 percent), running/jogging (17.9 percent), fishing (18.2 percent), and hiking (20 percent). Comparatively high participation in these activities was attributed to their accessibility to casual participants. 

The report also signaled movement for key demographics. For the first time, more than half of American women participated in outdoor recreation, and the number of senior participants, aged 65 and older, also grew 11.5 percent year-over-year. Findings note marginal growth in ethnic and racial diversity from 28.8 percent in 2022 to 30.4 percent in 2023, including increases for Black and Hispanic participants. Members of the LGBTQ+ community continued to be the most active adult cohort.

“The findings of this report [are] a clear call for our outdoor ecosystem, including outdoor industry and public sector efforts, to work together to increase participation by prioritizing representation and inclusion in design, marketing, programming, outreach, and advocacy,” said Lesford Duncan, executive director of OF. 

The 2024 Annual Outdoor Participation Trends Report reflects data gathered during the 2023 calendar year and garnered a total of 18,000 online survey respondents ages 6 and older.