Resources for Projecting the Economic Impact of Future Trails: DIY Forecasting Tools for Communities

This page is a collection of resources supporting the 06 November 2025 American Trails webinar.

Here, you’ll find:

  • Slides from Michele Archie’s presentation

  • Discounts on Harbinger’s online courses

  • Trail studies and impact projections for ideas and inspiration

  • Where to look for studies from peer trail systems and communities

  • Other helpful resources

  • Free webinars on related topics

Two of Harbinger’s online courses cover a lot of this terrain in more depth

Available live via Zoom or on-demand

Do-It-Yourself Visitor Research for Parks, Trails, Heritage Sites and the Towns that Serve Them Thursdays, Feb. 19-March 5, 2026. Three 90-minute sessions.

Tell Your Economic Story Without Hiring an Economist: Trails, Parks, Heritage Areas & Conserved Lands Thursdays, April 9 - May 7, 2026. Five 1-hour sessions.

Want to pay less?

For current American Trails members

  • Register for the DIY Visitor Research course for just $99

  • Take advantage of special pricing when you register for both the DIY Visitor Research course and Tell Your Economic Story — just $325 for both

  • Register for both from the American Trails registration link at the bottom of the DIY Visitor Research landing page

For nonmembers

  • Early registration discounts are active through November 10

  • Use the code AmericanTrails for a 15% discount on live or on-demand courses

Learn more about Harbinger's courses

Core resources from the webinar

Conducting and Using Visitor and Recreational User Research: A Do-It-Yourself Guide & Toolkit Also, see the two-webinar overview of the guide we did with the Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia, one of Harbinger’s partners in developing it: DIY Trail and Visitor Research and Using the Findings from DIY Trail and Visitor Research.

A Healthy Advantage: Expected Economic Benefits from Implementing the Lower Rio Grande Valley Active Transportation and Tourism Plan (the study used as an example in the webinar)

Caracara Trails project

Libraries of studies — great starting point for finding studies from areas & trails similar to yours

American Trails Resource Library (start with the “Economics of Trails” category)

Headwaters Economics Library of Trail Benefits

Investing in Trails: Exploring the Economic Impact of Mountain Biking, International Mountain Bicycling Association

Rails to Trails Conservancy Resource Library (search under “Benefits of Trails”)

 

Other helpful resources

The Economic Contribution of Active Outdoor Recreation—Technical Report on Methods and Findings, produced by Southwick Associates for the Outdoor Industry Foundation, 2006.