Nationally, the outdoor recreation economy contributes hundreds of billions of dollars annually, supporting millions of jobs in industries ranging from retail and tourism to manufacturing. Boulder accounts for $28 billion of the annual consumer spending related to outdoor recreation, which is about 3.2%—an impressive share considering the region’s relatively small population compared to larger metro areas. Trail sports and camping contribute the most to this total expenditure, with popular stores in Boulder such as REI, Neptune Mountaineering, and La Sportiva playing a key role. Supporting this, the state of Colorado accounts for 7.25% of the total 7.6 million jobs provided by outdoor recreation nationwide.
For many Americans, living in an active, healthy, and growing environment is a priority. Boulder County has 155 miles of hiking and biking trails and 35,000 acres of open space that is open to the public. Mountain enthusiasts are just a short drive away from some of the top resort towns in the world, including Vail, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Keystone and more. Boulder truly has everything that most outdoor recreation participants could ask for.