OHV use, and they are popular spots for backcountry skiing, climbing, hunting, fishing, and paddling. They’re the middle ground between developed recre- ation sites and strictly protected wilderness: Wild without as many regulations. Some advocates even call them “blue-collar wilderness.” According to Outdoor Alli- ance: “The current planned re- scission would ... roll back pro- tections on 25,121 miles of trails, 8,659 climbing routes, 768 miles of whitewater, and 10,794 miles of mountain biking.” “One of my favorite mountain bike rides in the world is in a roadless area,” Cramer says. “The Reddish Knob trail in Virginia’s George Washington National Forest is a stunning ridgeline trail in a rural area, and it perfectly illustrates how these places blend recreation and conservation.” That matters to local econo- mies. Specialty outdoor retailers, particularly Grassroots Out- door Alliance members, rely on customers drawn to authentic outdoor experiences. When access to these landscapes is preserved, so too are the communities that thrive around them.
“Maintaining access to high-quality recreation in road- less areas directly supports local jobs, tourism, and community vi- tality,” Cramer says. “It’s a direct economic connection.” Recreation use is soaring on public lands, while extractive industries like logging and mining have declined. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation accounted for 2.3 percent ($639.5 billion) of current-dollar GDP for the nation in 2023. And participation in outdoor recreation continues to grow. The Outdoor Industry Association’s 2025 Outdoor Par- ticipation Trends Report showed growth in senior (+7.4%) and youth (+5.6%) demographics, a 5 million participant increase in “core” outdoor users, and a rise in Black (+12.8%) and Hispanic (+11.8%) participation. And people want to live near public lands: A report by the National Center for Public Lands Counties finds that 69% of counties with a medium share of public lands (between 25-84%) saw population growth in 2023 versus 58% of non-public lands counties. That increased par- ticipation is good news for retailers looking for new customers, but it
puts a lot of pressure on places to play outdoors. Cramer sees this shift as both an opportunity and a respon- sibility. “It’s a good thing that more people than ever are getting outside,” he says. “But it’s also a design challenge. Having a network of thoughtfully managed roadless lands helps distribute that use more sustainably.” Roadless areas help spread rec- reation across larger landscapes without the need for additional roads or infrastructure—which can fragment habitats and undermine the very experiences that draw people there. For independent outdoor shops, the economic chain is sim- ple: Roadless lands drive adven- ture; adventure drives spending. Customers buy bikes, skis, kayaks, and apparel to explore these plac- es—and when those landscapes are degraded or access is lost, so too is the need for retail. That’s why Cramer urges the outdoor business community not to stay on the sidelines. “Because these are public lands, we all have a voice in how they’re managed,” he says. “Retailers and local outdoor businesses—espe- cially those connected through Grassroots—should speak up. The voices of local businesses, guides, and recreation advocates carry real weight.” When the Forest Service has opened proposals to weaken or rescind the Roadless Rule, the public has responded over- whelmingly. During the comment period that ended on Sep. 19, more than 600,000 comments were submitted—and over 99% opposed rescinding the rule. “The Roadless Rule is one of the few examples where we’ve truly struck the right balance between protecting and enjoying our public lands,” Cramer says. “It’s worked for decades. We should build on that success— not tear it down.”
public comment period that ran through Sep. 19. Opening these millions of acres to extractive industries would be a major blow to the outdoor recre- ation economy and retailers who depend on it according to Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “The Roadless Rule has been an incredibly successful framework for balancing conservation and recreation,” he says. “Protecting these areas is absolutely in the outdoor industry’s best interest— they’re the physical foundation of the recreation economy.” Cramer points out that even without a dedicated economic study of roadless areas alone, the broader pattern is clear. “When we’ve looked at the economic impact of outdoor recreation on specific national forests, the numbers are striking,” he says. “You can extrapolate from that: The role of protected areas like roadless regions in supporting recreation and local economies is substantial.” What truly makes roadless areas unique is their versatility. Unlike federally designated wil- derness areas—where mechanical transport is prohibited—roadless lands allow mountain biking and
GRASSROOTS STORIES 5
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