Browse Common Topics

Section 508 Navigation

Search our Website

On this page:

Benefits | Studies | Business | Tourism | Valuing Trails

More Impact Resources

Resources and Library:

Economic Impact of Trails

Hosted by AmericanTrails.org

Archived webinar from American Trails: “Making the Case for Trails in Tight Economic Times”

See more Resources for Economic Benefits referenced during the webinar...

Summer 2011 issue of American Trails
Magazine: articles and opinions on the
econimic benefits of trails.

Economic Benefits of the Coldwater Mountain Bike Trail System
Guidelines for Analysis of Investments in Bicycle Facilities: evaluating the cost, demand, and potential benefits for bicycle facilities (pdf 4.6 mb)
Evidence of many varieties of economic benefits linked to trails
Economic Benefits of Open Space, Recreation Facilities and Walkable Community Design
Economic and Social Benefit of Trails in Minnesota
Economic and Social Benefits of Off-Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities, 1992 (pdf 377kb)
Economic Impact of Bicycling in Wisconsin
Economic Benefits of Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation to Arizona
The Economic Benefits of Trails from Go for Green, Canada (pdf 372kb)
Economic Benefits of Parks and Open Space, 1999
How land conservation helps communities grow smart
Economic Benefits of Greenways: Summary of Findings
Economic Benefits of Trails (pdf 20kb), from the American Hiking Society
Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Home Values in U.S. Cities
Economic Value of Walkability (pdf 148kb), Victoria Transport Policy Institute
How Cities Use Parks for Economic Development (pdf 392 kb)
How cities use parks for community revitalization (pdf 382 kb)

New Zealand Cycle Trail launches Product Directory to showcase businesses along trail system
Implementing Trail-Based Economic Development Programs: A Handbook for Iowa Communities
Trails and Revitalization: A Study of the Economics Associated with Public Trails
Impacts of the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail on the Economy and Business Community (pdf 2.0 mb)
The Business of Trails: a compilation of economic benefits, by Terry Eastin
Lanark County Recreational Trails Business Plan; Ontario, Canada (pdf 692 kb)
Economic benefits of the Hatfield-McCoy trail system
O. L. "Leff" Moore and the development of the innovative Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Area
Economic and other benefits of the Heritage Rail Trail
Many photos and examples of business along the Longleaf Trace in Mississippi
How's business on the Katy Trail? Entrepreneurs see opportunities
Host Towns Agree: Cyclists are a Bonanza
How Methow Valley grew an economy

Valuing Bicycling’s Economic and Health Impacts in Wisconsin
Economic impacts of river recreation along 73 Iowa rivers studied
A Contingent Trip Model for Estimating Rail-trail Demand, USFS, Southern Research Station
What's a Trail Really Worth? looking at the range of economic impacts
Trails add value to new homes and give the developer the highest investment return
Northern Forest Canoe Trail: Economic Impacts and Implications for Sustainable Community Development
Recreational Trails Business Plan; Lanark County, Ontario, Canada (pdf 692 kb)
Trails expenditures shown to reduce health-care costs
Park Trail Usage Patterns and Public Sentiment Toward Maintenance and Operation Cost of the East Bay Regional Park District Trail System
Railtrails and special events: community and economic benefits
Documenting economic and community benefits of trails
Two approaches to valuing some bicycle facilities’ presumed benefits (pdf 1.1 mb)

Outdoor Recreation: An Overlooked Economic Giant; from Outdoor Industry Association, 2012
Economic Impacts of Trails Webinar (Windows Media File 44 mb) from Florida Office of Greenways & Trails
Archived webinar from American Trails: “Making the Case for Trails in Tight Economic Times”
Is one road to local prosperity a bike path? Alabama community sees the evidence

Study looks at economic aspects of redevelopment in Miami Ludlam Trail corridor
Every Mile Counts: Economic analysis of 2008 New York Trail User Surveys
Analysis of Economic Impacts of the Northern Central Rail Trail, Maryland Greenways Commission
Does the Prairie Spirit Rail-Trail have economic benefits? An analysis by a trail opponent
Forest Recreation's Growing Impact
Heritage Rail Trail County Park User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis (pdf 192 kb)
FL: Economic Impacts and motivations of Off- highway Vehicle Recreationists (pdf 6.4 mb)
MN: Economic Impact of Recreational Trail Use in Different Regions of Minnesota (pdf 2.1 mb)
Little Miami Scenic Trail Economic Study (Word 540 kb)
Impact of the Little Miami Scenic Trail on Single Family Residential Property Values
Omaha Recreational Trails: Their Effect on Property Values and Public Safety
Maximizing Economic Benefits from a Rails-to-Trails Project, case study of the Greenbrier River Trail, WV
Economic Impact Analysis: Trans Canada Trail in Ontario (pdf 1.6 mb)
Nordic Ski Trail Easements and Property Values
The Value of Open Space: Evidence from Studies of Nonmarket Benefits (pdf 553 kb)
Economic Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation and Payroll (pdf 1.7 mb)
National Park Service Resource Book on Economic Values of Greenways, Trails, and River Protection
Off-Highway Vehicle economic impacts in New Hampshire
Economic impacts of bike tourism in Colorado
Virginia Creeper Trail Economic Impact Analysis
Washington & Old Dominion Trail Economic Impact Analysis
New River State Park trails Economic Impact Analysis
Report Measures Wildlife Watching’s Contribution to Nation’s Economy
Bibliography of economic impact studies related to trails and greenways

"Trail Towns" on the Great Allegheny Passage benefit from visitor spending
Trail Towns: creating memorable destinations for trail users
Economic Benefits of Trail Tourism from American Trails (pdf 225 kb)
Attracting bike tourists to your trail: lessons from the Canalway Trail in New York
Mississippi River Trail Bikeway Marketing Toolbox
Cedar Valley Trails named 2012 Outstanding Tourist Attraction
Cycle tourism in Australia: an investigation into its size and scope
Trails Website Will Green Florida Tourism, Florida Economy, by Herb Hiller
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation and Alberta TrailNet partner on province-wide trail mapping
Going long: nurturing the long-distance trails movement
Tourism benefits encourage linking trails in Florida along East Coast Greenway
Good publications help visitors find your trail
The Mississippi River Trail: It's all about connections
Market that trail: advertise your product!
European Cycle Route Network Eurovelo: Challenges and opportunities for sustainable tourism (pdf 7.2 mb)
Irish Trails Strategy: promoting and developing activity in the Irish outdoors (pdf 3.2 mb)
Increasing marketing for Shannon Region Trails Programme in Ireland
Richmond, CA Convention & Visitors Bureau features birding tourism along Bay Trail (pdf 44 kb)
Florida Discovery Bicycling Center program combines adult bicycle safety training and touring vacations
President Bush rides mountain bike trails at Tamarack Resort
Underground Railroad Bicycle Route opens for touring
Implementing Trail-Based Economic Development Programs: a handbook for Iowa communities (pdf 1.6mb)
Economic impact of investments in bicycle facilities: A Case Study of the North Carolina Northern Outer Banks
Navigating the Erie Canal: a "mega-trail" journey
Trail Tourism: promotion of the Katy Trail in Missouri
Trails and Tourism: Long distance hiking as a cultural experience
Trails and Tourism: Issues in partnering with the tourism industry: a European perspective

o you find the resources on our website valuable? Then please join American Trails today to support the work we do to keep you on the cutting-edge!

Join online now!

Some of our documents are in PDF format and require free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.
Download Acrobat Reader

American Trails and NTTP support accessibility with Section 508: read more.