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The Visitors Are Coming. Here's What Wyoming's Outdoor Economy Actually Means for Your Business.


Every spring, something shifts in Wyoming. The trails open. The hikers arrive. The gear gets dusted off.


What most people don't see is the economic current that moves with it.


A report released this month by the University of Wyoming's WORTH Institute and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation draws on the latest available federal economic data to show that outdoor recreation contributed $2.3 billion to Wyoming's economy in 2024 — and the findings arrive just as peak visitor season gets underway.


Outdoor recreation jobs account for 4.5% of the state's Gross Domestic Product — the fifth-highest share of any state in the country. That number has been growing for nearly a decade.


It's Bigger Than You Think


When people hear "outdoor recreation economy," they picture gear shops, guiding companies, and ski resorts. Those are part of it — but they're not the whole story.

Visitors who come to Wyoming to hike, hunt, climb, or ski also sleep somewhere. They eat somewhere. They stop for gas, pick up groceries, and grab supplies. The outdoor economy drives foot traffic that reaches hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and service businesses across the state.


In Fremont County alone, direct visitor spending hit $144 million in 2024. That money doesn't stay in outdoor recreation — it moves through the entire local economy, touching nearly every sector.


Wyoming's leading outdoor sector isn't climbing or skiing. It's hunting, shooting, and trapping, bringing in $109 million statewide. That's licensing fees, outfitters, lodging, food, fuel, and gear — spread across communities from Lander to Laramie.


The Workforce Side of the Story

The growth picture isn't without nuance. While Wyoming ranks fifth in the nation for outdoor recreation's share of GDP, it ranks 46th in outdoor recreation worker compensation. The average outdoor recreation salary in Wyoming was around $54,400 in 2024 — well below the state's average wage of $78,800.


That gap matters. A growing industry with below-average wages creates a workforce recruitment and retention challenge that affects businesses up and down the supply chain. As the sector expands, addressing compensation will be part of sustaining that growth long term.


State Investment Is Already Moving


Wyoming lawmakers have been putting money behind this sector. Legislation passed in 2023 and 2024 created the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund, which provides competitive grant funding for facilities and infrastructure supporting outdoor recreation. The fund has $12 million committed, with $2 million plus interest set to distribute beginning July 1, 2026. A new round of grant applications is expected to open this summer and is available to government agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations.


The WORTH Institute's director framed the bigger picture clearly: sustained expansion of this sector strengthens economic resilience, broadens revenue streams, and supports the vitality of communities throughout Wyoming.


That's not just good news for outfitters. It's good news for every business in the state.


WY It Matters

Wyoming's outdoor economy contributes $2.3 billion annually and supports 4.5% of the state's GDP — fifth-highest in the nation. As peak visitor season arrives, that economic activity flows through every sector, not just outdoor recreation. Understanding the scale of this industry — and the workforce challenges that come with it — helps Wyoming businesses and policymakers make smarter decisions about where the state's economy is headed.

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