An analysis on the value of snowmobiling to Utah’s economy, the sociodemographic composition of participants, and more.
by Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University
It has been nearly two decades since the last study examining the economic impact of snowmobiling in Utah. The most recent work was published in An Economic and Social Assessment of Snowmobiling in Utah by McCoy and her colleagues in 2001. Our analysis sheds new light on the value of snowmobiling to both Utah as a whole, and individual counties throughout the state. In addition to exploring the economic impact of snowmobiling in Utah, this report documents the trip taking behaviors of Utah’s snowmobilers, their sociodemographic composition, and some other basic information about participation in the activity (e.g., whether or not they have taken a snowmobile education course).
Published June 30, 2018
The Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University does research, outreach, and teaching focused on outdoor recreation and tourism management — inside Utah and beyond its borders. Our work focuses on the social and economic trade-offs associated with providing outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands. Since our founding in 1998, we’ve been awarded several millions of dollars in grants, maintained an active outreach program, and trained some of the nation’s leading outdoor recreation and resource managers.
Visit Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University
Whether hiking, bicycling, riding on horseback or participating in motorized recreation nearly everyone uses trails for a similar goal – to spend time outdoors. This time outside, whether a short walk down a paved trail to work in an urban setting, or a hike to a point reachable to only a few Americans makes trail users happier people.
The Economic Impact of the South Dakota Snowmobiling Industry
South Dakota’s snowmobile trail system is maintained without any contribution from general fund dollars, but brings substantial economic activity into the state. This study estimates the magnitude of that economic activity and its effect on the overall state economy.
Economic Impact and Importance of Snowmobiling in Idaho
Snowmobiling provides a major recreational opportunity in Idaho given the State’s climatic conditions and mountainous terrain. In addition to the enjoyment provided by snowmobiling, it generates significant impacts in terms of employment and economic activity in many counties and for the State as a whole. In order to estimate the economic importance of snowmobiling in Idaho, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) contracted with the Department of Economics at Boise State University (BSU) to perform this study of snowmobiling on a county by- county basis and statewide.
Montana Recreational Snowmobiles
The Bureau of Business and Economic Research’s most recent surveys suggest that about 8 percent of the state's households include snowmobile recreationists. Nearly always, the whole family participates. With an average household size of about 2.5, perhaps as many as 100,000 Montanans participate in the sport each winter.
