Outdoor recreation growing Wyoming’s economy

LANDER — Echoing through Sinks Canyon and amid the Wind River Range, the guidance of experienced climbers, backpackers and cyclists is driving economic growth and development in Lander.

Despite experiencing slower growth in Wyoming than most U.S. states, outdoor recreation jobs contribute to 4.5% of Wyoming’s Gross Domestic Product – the fifth-highest percentage of any U.S. state.

A new report by The University of Wyoming’s Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality Institute and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation highlights the nearly 4% growth in revenue from outdoor industries in the state over the last 10 years and compiles economic impact and job availability within outdoor industries in 2024.

Outdoor recreation including climbing, hiking, skiing and hunting contributed $2.3 billion to the state’s economy in 2024, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data.

“The 2024 BEA data further validates outdoor recreation as a long-term economic development strategy for Wyoming,” Dan McCoy, director of the WORTH Institute, said in a statement. “Sustained expansion of this sector strengthens economic resilience, broadens revenue streams and supports the vitality of communities throughout the state.”

Across Wyoming, the leading economic sector within the industry is hunting, shooting, and trapping, bringing in $109 million.

Fremont County holds the third-highest number of outdoor recreation employers of all Wyoming counties, trailing just behind Laramie and Teton counties. Despite this, Fremont ranks seventh highest in the state for the number of outdoor recreation employees, with 219 documented employees within outdoor recreation jobs in 2024.

The region offers large industries in climbing, guiding and hunting and subsequently is home to large outdoor recreation companies such as NOLS, which generated $16 million in economic output across the county and 142 local jobs in 2024, according to an impact report by the University of Wyoming’s Center for Business and Economic Analysis.

Climbing alone drives 37,000 visits to Lander each year, with about 80% of these visits from individuals living outside of Fremont County, according to a 2022 report by the Wyoming Climbers’ Alliance. The study highlights how visiting climbers drive $4.5 million into the local Lander economy and the industry directly supports 51 jobs in the area.

Direct travel spending by visitors in Fremont County reached just over $144 million in 2024, according to an economic impact report from Dean Runyan and Associates.

While industry growth continues, compensation for workers falls beneath the national average.

According to the BEA, Wyoming ranked 46th in the U.S. in outdoor recreation compensation and 24th among all states in outdoor recreation compensation growth. The same report documents the average outdoor recreation salary in Wyoming is about $54,400 in 2024, in comparison to $78,800 for the average job in the state at that time.

The recent WORTH report highlighted the impact of Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund legislation passed by Wyoming lawmakers in 2023 and 2024, which provided grant funding programs for physical facilities and structures that support outdoor recreational activities and experiences.

“Not long ago, investing in outdoor recreation infrastructure in Wyoming mostly meant doing what we could with the tools at hand – stretching limited dollars, leaning on volunteers, and building projects one determined shovelfull at a time,” Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund Board Chairman Jerimiah Rieman said in the report. “It’s remarkable how much can change in just a few short years.”

The grant funds are available to government agencies, tribal governments and non-profit organizations. A new round of grant funding for these projects will open applications this summer.

“Together, we’ve rolled up our sleeves, engaged stakeholders statewide and crafted rules that do more than distribute dollars,” Rieman wrote. “They chart a path for strengthening Wyoming’s outdoor recreation and tourism infrastructure while expanding economic opportunity, respecting landscapes and wildlife, and enhancing experiences for residents and visitors alike.”

As data surrounding the outdoor recreation and tourism industries continues to be analyzed and published for 2025, the extent of these new grant funds may continue to drive further growth for the industries across the state.

“I am proud to continue advocating, alongside my team, for the advancement of funding mechanisms and sustainable growth of recreational opportunities, so others may enjoy our state’s landscapes as much as I have,” Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation Manager Mark Tesoro wrote in the report.