SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., June 17, 2026—The Outdoor Industry Association’s 2026 Outdoor Participation Trends Report found outdoor participation reached a historic peak in 2025 of 183.2 million Americans, part of a continuing trend that has seen the addition of nearly 30 million participants since 2019. 

While the overall picture is positive, data also show that participants are going outside less often and overall annual growth has slowed.

Total participants rose from 181.1 million in 2024 to 183.2 million 2025, meaning 59 percent of Americans ages 6 and older got outside last year. The figure represents 1.1 percent in annual growth; a slight softening compared to the 3 percent annual growth experienced in 2024.

The largest surge in the participation base was among seniors, with the 65+ age demographic adding 800,000 participants in 2025 and 12.1 million since 2016.

There was also strong momentum among kids ages 6 to 12, up 5 percent year-over-year to 22.6 million, with two-thirds of households with kids now participating in outdoor activities.

The summary reported diversity gains as well, with a 6.5 percent increase in Hispanic participation and a record 53.4 percent participation rate among women. 

While the participant base grew in 2025, the report also found that frequency declined. The average participant now takes five fewer outings per year than in 2019, a signal, said the report, of a shift toward more casual engagement.

In an executive summary, OIA called the frequency gap “the defining challenge and opportunity for the outdoor industry today.”