The Minnesota State Trail User Count is an ongoing project of the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC), a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring, protecting and enhancing critical land for the public's use and benefit.

The data in this report was collected during 2017 on five state trails: the Gateway State Trail and Brown's Creek State Trail in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, the Paul Bunyan State Trail between Brainerd and Walker, and the Root River State Trail and Harmony-Preston State Trail in southeast Minnesota.

​Read the full report here.

Do you have a trail in need of data on how it’s used?
 
If so, the Parks & Trails Council (P&TC) is interested in partnering with you. P&TC has been conducting trail counts since 2015 and is looking to help cities and counties in Greater Minnesota better understand how their trails are used. P&TC will provide a trail counting plan, counting equipment, and a trail usage report summarizing the season's data. This is a great opportunity for cities and counties that want data on their trails but don't have the resources or expertise to collect it themselves.

Anyone interested in partnering with P&TC during 2019 should start by filling out this online survey. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, May 14. Applicants will be notified by May 17.

Please know that P&TC will likely be able to select only one or two projects for 2019, but hopes to expand their services in future years to partner with additional cities and counties across Minnesota. 
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For more information, please visit www.parksandtrails.org and search "Research & Reports" or contact P&TC Research and Policy Manager Andrew Oftedal at 651-726-2457.

​This report summarizes the results of a study conducted by MN DNR - Division of Parks & Trails in 2011 to assess defined impacts on natural resources caused by geocaching in MN state parks.

​This report summarizes the results, overall themes and implications for community needs based on a series of outreach and research efforts conducted by the Minneapolis Park and
Recreation Board with assistance from and analysis by Brauer & Associates and Schoenbauer
Consulting. The report summarizes the findings from the following community outreach tools:
• City-wide questionnaire
• Community leader workshops
• Focus groups
• Town meetings
• Pilot town meetings (staff)

​The primary objective of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the law enforcement and public safety issues associated with non-motorized trails. The survey was conducted in an effort to provide trail planners, law enforcement officers, community leaders, and citizens a more complete understanding of the extent to which unlawful activity occurs and the conflicts most common to trails. Results of the survey are intended to be used to inform the public process associated with trail planning and design.

​In this document are the results of the non-economic component of the 2012 MN DNR research. Topics include visitor demographic characteristics, trip characteristics, in-park experience, and preferences for potential park management changes.

​The Outdoor Foundation® has produced the Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report to provide a snapshot of American participation in outdoor activities with a focus on youth and young adults. The report is based on an online survey of nearly 11,000 Americans ages six and older.

​Based on research conducted in 2007, MN DNR created a series of programs designed to attract new users, specifically families with children. A study was conducted to assess the satisfaction of visitors who participate in a variety of programs and special events as well as the success of these programs and special events at attracting new users above and beyond the typical level that visit parks and trails without programs and special events. 

​In this Special Report on Youth, The Outdoor Foundation examines youth participation in outdoor recreation — profiling the extent and quality of participation among ages 6 to 24. With the vital new information detailed within, it seeks to provide youth organizations, public agencies, businesses and non-profits with insights needed to get youth outside.

​Nearly 143 million Americans, or 49.2 percent of the US population, participated in an outdoor activity at least once in 2013. Although the actual number of outdoor participants increased since 2012, the participation rate fell slightly, due to population growth. This report takes a close look at trends in outdoor participation – including populations where participation has increased as well as decreased.