Projecting the Economic Impact of Future Trails
WEBINAR: November 6, 2025, 10:00AM - 11:00AM PT
American Trails is hosting "Projecting the Economic Impact of Future Trails: DIY Forecasting Tools for Communities", a webinar on practical ways to project the future economic significance and impact of new, expanded, or enhanced trail systems—even when little to no trail user data exists.
Participants will learn how to combine information from studies done elsewhere with local conditions, market context, and informed assumptions to build credible projections of visitor use, spending, jobs, and tax effects. The webinar will demystify common methods used by consultants and show how communities can adapt those approaches using accessible tools and publicly available data.
Drawing from real-world examples, the session will provide step-by-step guidance on how to translate other regions’ data into local projections. While the focus is on trails of all kinds— gravel, rail, road, mountain biking, and paddling— participants will also see how to apply these methods to other outdoor recreation facilities and events.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify credible data from other trail & outdoor recreation studies
- Apply DIY methods to estimate economic effects of proposed trail systems
- Communicate projections effectively to all project stakeholders
Presenter:
- Michele Archie, Principal, The Harbinger Consultancy
About American Trails
American Trails is a national nonprofit that works to promote and improve trails and greenways across the U.S. by providing resources, education, and advocacy for trail builders, planners, volunteers, and other related groups.
The organization serves as the nation's collective voice for trails to increase funding and ensure trails are accessible for all people.
