Skiers come down the Lower Cricket trail at the Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston on January 11, 2023. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDiggerMany Vermont residents value the outdoors. What they may not know is just how much the Green Mountain State’s outdoor recreation economy is worth. Outdoor recreation contributed $2.1 billion in value added, or 4.8% of the state’s gross domestic product in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. That means it made up the second-highest percentage of state GDP, after Hawaii. Since the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis started tracking this data a few years ago, Vermont has maintained its position near the top, said Rebecca Washburn, director of the lands administration and recreation division of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation in Vermont.For Washburn, the data underscores that the state is a great place for people to live and visit. And it helps departments such as hers think about how and where to invest strategically in outdoor recreation, she said.Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy depends on businesses and organizations across the state — from bike repair shops and guide services to high end ski resorts and retail. The data found that snow activities — such as skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, dog mushing and snowshoeing — contribute the most, adding a whopping $220 million to Vermont’s GDP in 2023, up from $170 million in 2022, according to a release from the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing. RVing, areas providing tennis, golf and water recreation follow.Jeff Alexander, a former NFL mascot who is now director of strategic partnerships and business development at Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, said his organization has seen “tremendous growth” over the last decade and last year provided 5,300 outings for residents and visitors in Vermont.READ MORE Outdoor recreation grants get big bump in funding from state by Emma Cotton July 14, 2021, 3:23 pmJuly 14, 2021, 3:23 pm “It’s pretty awesome we’re up there with Hawaii — and we don’t have an ocean,” he said.A member of the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative, Alexander said he works on making trails accessible to all — including those who have physical challenges, children and seniors — and often fields questions from other states at national conferences on how Vermont does it.“Everyone knows that Vermont is leading the charge in the outdoor sector so it is pretty cool,” he said.He is particularly passionate about promoting outdoor access and has this year helped assess 10 different trail systems for biking and 21 water access spots across the state.“Everybody deserves the opportunity to recreate and play in Vermont and enjoy the Green Mountains and what we have here,” he said.According to the federal data published last month, outdoor goods manufacturing increased by 15% reaching $135 million in 2023, accommodation and food services grew 9% to $733.5 million, retail sales climbed 4.5% to $412.8 million and employment in the outdoor recreation sector rose 4% from 2022.To support the sustained growth of the state’s outdoor recreation economy, VOREC is spearheading a Move Forward Together Vermont initiative to create a shared vision and an action plan for the next five years, according to the release.“Outdoor recreation is not just an integral element of our visitor economy, but it is baked into the Vermont experience enjoyed by residents and visitors alike,” Commissioner Heather Pelham from the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing said in the release.It’s heartening to see the numbers soar despite devastating flooding in the past two years, said Washburn.“People are still looking to recreation for all the things that it provides to them, and the more we think about how we can support the resilience of outdoor recreation and the businesses that are focused on it, the more we as a state will be able to weather those changes in climate and the intensity of some of those weather events,” she said.As the snow fell on Tuesday before Christmas Day, Washburn encouraged people to “go outside, enjoy the snow and be grateful.”Read the story on VTDigger here: Vermont’s outdoor recreation valued at $2.1B in 2023 .