Outdoor Recreation

Vermont’s multi-faceted outdoor recreation sector reflects our mountainous landscape dotted with hills and valleys: big companies work shoulder to shoulder with scores of smaller businesses, while well-established companies mentor start up entrepreneurs, each providing economic opportunity and fostering high quality of life in downtowns and rural villages across the state.

According to the BEA data that measures spending generated by activities from snow sports to fishing, camping, hiking, boating, and bicycling, the contribution of Vermont’s outdoor recreation to state gross domestic product (GDP) was ranked the 3rd highest in the nation in 2021, contributing $1.54 billion to the state economy. Nationally, BEA found outdoor recreation accounted for $862 billion in consumer spending.

Vermont is home to some of the most recognizable businesses in sports and recreation: The Orvis Company, Killington Ski Resort, Kingdom Trail Association, Burton Snowboards, Skida Headwear and Accessories, Outdoor Gear Exchange, Darn Tough Vermont, and Vermont Sports Magazine and VT Ski+Ride as premier outdoor magazines showcasing Vermont places, people and entrepreneurs. These companies value their close proximity to some of the best terrain in the world—Vermont’s Long Trail, Lake Champlain, Mount Mansfield, Mad River—thousands of miles of trails and rivers and millions of acres of open land where they can prototype, test, and perfect their products in the field and find plenty of customers nearby. In fact, the average Vermont household spends up to $3,500 annually on recreation admission fees, supplies, equipment, and services.

Snow activities were the 6th highest contributor in the nation in 2021 and combined with bicycling, fishing, boating, hiking, camping, equestrian and hunting grew to $414 million. Outdoor retailers are dominant players in the sector statewide, generating $310 million. Manufacturing grew to $159 million, representing small emerging brands, like Kaden Apparel to larger favorites like Turtle Fur. 

Manufacturers of equipment and other products, like Renoun Skis, Terry Bicycles, and Vermont Sailing Partners, operate small-scale businesses with national and global customer bases. The Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance serves as an organizational resource for these businesses and as a network that can facilitate outdoor sector connections.