States in such pursuits as water skiing, driving for 

 pleasure, hunting, and fishing. 



The National Outdoor Recreation Survey also 

 revealed that most participants come from metropoli- 

 tan areas and high- or middle-income groups. Also, a 

 larger share of the participants was in the 18-44 age 

 group than in any other group. 



Trends in Participation 

 in Outdoor Recreation 



Participation in most types of outdoor recreation 

 has been growing rapidly based on national participa- 

 tion surveys, industry reports, and managing agency 

 records. For example, participation in outdoor recrea- 

 tion on National Forests has increased by 37 percent 

 over the last decade. Many factors are responsible, 

 but they all relate to increased growth in population, 

 higher incomes, increased mobility, more leisure 

 time, improved technology, better access to recrea- 

 tional areas, and better information for recreationists 

 about where to go and what to do in the out-of-doors. 



The most rapid increases in outdoor recreational 

 participation have been in snow and ice activities. 



New and improved facilities, equipment, and light- 

 weight winter clothing, and a rediscovery of the 

 enjoyment that cold weather activities can provide 

 have resulted in year-round participation in regions 

 where outdoor recreation was once largely limited to 

 the summer season. 



One significant indicator of the expanding interest 

 in snow and ice activities is increasing participation in 

 cross-country skiing. Public land managers and 

 industry spokesmen agree that the number of these 

 skiers has at least tripled over the last few years. Sales 

 of cross-country skis also confirm these estimates. In 

 contrast to a decade ago, when only 12,000 cross- 

 country skis were imported annually and none were 

 manufactured in the United States, imports now 

 amount to 50,000 skis each year, and one United 

 States company alone produces 250,000 skis annually. 



Participation in water activities has likewise in- 

 creased substantially in all regions of the country in 

 recent years. ^ Indicators of the growing use of water- 

 ways for recreation include the Boating Industry 



'U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard. 

 Recreational Boating in the Continental United States in 1973 and 

 1976; The nationwide boating survey. Washington, D.C. 1978. 



Table 3.1 —Percent of households participating in outdoor recreation in the United States by type 



of activity, 1977 



(Percent) 



Activity group and 



Participating 



Participating more 



Having just 



Wanting to 



participate 



in future 



type of activity 



at least once 



more than four times 



started 



Land: 











Camping (developed) 



30 



12 



1 



2 



Camping (dispersed) 



21 



9 



— 



3 



Driving off-road vehicles 



26 



20 



1 



1 



Hiking 



28 



16 



1 



2 



Horseback riding 



15 



8 



1 



4 



Nature study/photography 



50 



36 



1 



1 



Picnicking 



72 



49 



— 



— 



Pleasure driving 



69 



57 



2 



— 



Sightseeing 



62 



36 



1 



1 



Water: 











Canoeing 



16 



5 



1 



2 



Sailing 



11 



5 



1 



3 



Other boating 



34 



20 



1 



2 



Sw/imming outdoors 



61 



47 



1 



1 



Water skiing 



16 



8 



2 



5 



Snow and ice: 











Cross-country skiing 



2 



1 



1 



4 



Downhill skiing 



7 



4 



1 



6 



Ice skating 



16 



9 



— 



2 



Sledding 



21 



12 



— 



1 



Snowmobiling 



8 



5 



1 



3 



Source: U.S. Department of Interior, Heritage, Conservation, and Recreation Service. 1977 National outdoor recreation plan. {In process). 



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