Trails That Build Jobs: How Rural Communities Are Finding New Life Through Trail-Based Economies
In the foothills of the Rockies, a small town once known for its sawmills is humming again, not from chainsaws but from trail crews, mountain bikers, and visiting families grabbing coffee before heading out to ride. Further away, former coal towns in West Virginia are experiencing a similar revival, their new “black gold” being the dirt under mountain bike tires.
Across the U.S., trails are emerging as one of the most reliable economic development tools for small, rural communities. They bring visitors, create jobs, and support local businesses in ways that reach far beyond tourism. When built and managed well, trails become infrastructure that fuels entrepreneurship, attracts new residents, and diversifies economies once dependent on extraction industries.
Direct and Indirect Jobs: The Two Engines of Trail Economies
The job impacts of trails fall into two categories: direct and indirect.
Direct jobs are the easiest to see. They include the trail builders, guides, shuttle drivers, bike mechanics, restaurant servers, and hotel staff who directly benefit from trail users. These jobs exist because people come to ride, hike, or explore.
Indirect jobs are less visible but just as powerful. When trails make a place more livable, they attract entrepreneurs, remote workers, and new residents. Local contractors find steady work maintaining properties or expanding lodging options. Grocery stores, breweries, and service businesses grow as the local population diversifies. Trails create the conditions where people want to live and invest, and that is where rural economic resilience begins.
In economics, this is known as the multiplier effect. Every new job tied to outdoor recreation creates additional jobs in supporting industries. Trails do not just generate income; they circulate it through the local economy.
Real-World Examples: Trails Creating Jobs Across America
1. Northwest Arkansas – From Vision to Vibrant Economy
Few places illustrate the power of trails better than Bentonville and Fayetteville, Arkansas. Once known primarily as a corporate hub, the region now boasts hundreds of miles of purpose-built trails. According to a 2024 study by the Walton Family Foundation and IMBA, the cycling industry contributes $159 million annually to the local economy and supports roughly 1,330 jobs. Of those, about 740 are directly tied to trail building, guiding, and retail, while the rest ripple through hospitality, transportation, and local services.
2. Gunnison–Montrose–Uncompahgre (GMUG) National Forests, Colorado – Trails as a Workforce Driver
In Colorado’s GMUG region, mountain biking contributes nearly $30 million per year and supports over 300 jobs, with nearly $10 million in annual labor income. That is significant for a region better known for ranching and mining. Trails here have helped establish a year-round economy and keep local businesses busy beyond the traditional tourist season.
3. Cañon City, Colorado – Small Town, Big Returns
The trails around Cañon City tell a similar story. Once a quiet prison town, Cañon City has reinvented itself as an outdoor destination. Local studies show trail-related visitation has grown substantially, spurring new cafes, lodging options, and outfitter shops. Even modest trail networks can have measurable economic impact when paired with strong local partnerships.
4. Clearwater County, Idaho – The Power of Rails-to-Trails
Clearwater County provides one of the best long-term examples of a rural trail transition. After a major timber mill closed, the area converted an old rail corridor into a multi-use trail. Between 1998 and 2008, travel and tourism jobs grew by 36 positions, a modest but remarkable shift given that total employment in the county was declining elsewhere. The trail did not just replace lost jobs; it shifted the local economy toward recreation and hospitality.
5. Hatfield–McCoy Trails, West Virginia – From Coal to Recreation
Perhaps no story captures this transformation better than the Hatfield–McCoy Trail system. Spanning seven southern West Virginia counties, it now attracts over 85,000 visitors each year and generates more than $68 million annually in economic activity. Once dominated by coal jobs, these communities now depend on guides, mechanics, innkeepers, and restaurateurs. Entire main streets have been revitalized, proving that recreation can become a long-term jobs strategy when supported by local leadership and infrastructure.
What These Examples Teach Us
The numbers vary, but the trend is clear: trails create jobs when communities plan beyond the trailhead. The most successful examples, such as Northwest Arkansas and the Hatfield–McCoy system, combine trail development with marketing, hospitality, business support, and a culture of collaboration.
For smaller towns, the lesson is that trails alone are not enough. They work best when paired with local businesses that can capture visitor spending, such as coffee shops, breweries, gear rentals, and lodging. Towns that invest in signage, wayfinding, and online visibility amplify these effects.
Because many of these jobs are seasonal, communities that focus on multi-season recreation such as hiking, snowshoeing, gravel riding, and birding can stabilize income year-round.
A Playbook for Trail-Based Job Creation
If your town is exploring how trails can drive local employment, start here:
Build with purpose. Design trails that serve both residents and visitors.
Invest in support infrastructure. Parking, bathrooms, trail signage, and nearby amenities increase spending and extend visitor stays.
Engage local businesses early. Encourage entrepreneurs to build services around trail use.
Track impact. Collect visitor data, business revenue, and job creation metrics to strengthen future grant proposals.
Tell your story. Visibility matters. Communities that promote their trails see higher visitor spending and more investment.
Trails as the Next Rural Workforce Strategy
When people think of infrastructure, they often picture roads and bridges. For many rural towns, trails are becoming the new connective tissue that links economies, residents, and opportunities.
They may start as dirt paths through the woods, but when paired with vision and leadership, trails become something far more valuable: a local jobs strategy that builds both livelihoods and community pride.
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag and the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon.
