The Explore Act Could Potentially Lead to Local Investment in the Outdoor Economy

After nearly a decade of campaigning from the outdoor community, the EXPLORE Act passed through Congress and is on its way to the President’s desk to become law. As the House struggles to fund the government past Friday, the Senate did pass the Explore Act, sending the outdoor recreation package on for President Joe Biden’s signature.

The EXPLORE Act is a bipartisan recreation policy package, takes important steps to expand and improve outdoor recreation opportunities. The highlights include the Biking on Long Distance Trails Act (BOLT) to identify and create more long-distance bike trails, the Protecting America's Rock Climbing Act (PARC) to safeguard Wilderness climbing, the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act (SOAR) that will improve recreational permitting for outfitters and guides, and permanent direction for the outdoor industry.

Introduced by House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva, the package combines outdoor recreation policy and access with support for public-private partnerships and even broadband access for recreation sites.

The package also reauthorizes the U.S. Forest Service to lease administrative sites for housing. It’s an idea championed by Neguse and Sen. Michael Bennet to help mountain and rural communities address affordable housing needs.

In New Mexico which is heavily dependent upon it's outdoor assets for tourism and to drive the tourism industry, there is applause for its passage and the impact it could have on rural communities such as Alamogordo and Otero county with assets such as White Sands National Park and tbe Lincoln National Forest.

The New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division applauds the historic passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act by the U.S. Senate. This legislation ushers in a new era for the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy, further bolstering New Mexico’s thriving outdoor industry and communities.

The EXPLORE Act, which now awaits President Biden’s signature, represents a watershed moment for outdoor recreation in New Mexico and nationwide. By modernizing policies, expanding access to public lands, and promoting sustainable recreation, the act positions outdoor recreation as a cornerstone of economic growth, public health, and quality of life.

Recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) highlights outdoor recreation's outsized role in New Mexico’s economy. The industry contributed over $3.2 billion to the state’s GDP in 2023, representing 2.4% of the state’s total economic output and supporting over 29,000 jobs. Activities like hiking, fishing, hunting, and skiing draw millions of visitors annually, fueling local businesses and creating opportunities in rural and urban communities.

“The passage of the EXPLORE Act is a monumental achievement for New Mexico,” New Mexico Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary-Designate Rob Black said. “It validates the importance of our outdoor economy, ensures equitable access to our unparalleled public lands, and empowers communities to thrive through sustainable recreation opportunities. This legislation aligns perfectly with our mission to build a healthier, more vibrant, and inclusive New Mexico.”

Supporters of the EXPLORE Act expect the initiative to enhance access to New Mexico’s iconic landscapes, strengthen local economies by supporting small businesses and rural communities, modernize outdoor infrastructure, promote equity through initiatives like the Outdoor Equity Fund, and bolster resilience to climate challenges, ensuring long-term sustainability for outdoor assets and communities.

“As the EXPLORE Act advances to the president’s desk, the Outdoor Recreation Division stands ready to collaborate with federal, state, Tribal, and local partners to fully leverage the opportunities this legislation provides,” Karina Armijo, director of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division, said. “Together, we will champion initiatives that ensure every New Mexican can enjoy and benefit from the outdoors.”

The Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act is designed to ease the burden on companies that rely on outdoor recreation permits to work on public land, like outfitters, educational organizations or community groups. It would:

Shorten the wait time and environmental review in the permit application process.

Allow for a sharing program for unused permits, create more short-term permits to expand recreation opportunities, and allow outfitters and guides to engage in recreation that is similar to yet slightly outside the scope of their permit.

Allow a joint permit for trips and operations that cross into public lands managed by different agencies—for instance, a guided skiing trip that spans both Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service land.

The Protecting America’s Rock Climbing provision would recognize rock climbing as an accepted use within the National Wilderness Preservation System, a network of roughly 112 million acres of wilderness land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. It allows for the maintenance of fixed climbing routes already in wilderness areas, and the creation of new routes.

The Connect Our Parks provision would study where the “greatest need” is for broadband internet and cellular service in the country’s national parks. Once the study is complete, the Department of Interior would create a plan to expand service in the highlighted areas.

The Biking On Long Distance Trails provision would study routes that could support a long distance bike trail, creating a public comment process that would result in a two-year report. The act would also expand mapping resources for trail users, including publishing and distributing maps of the identified trails. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which winds along the foothills of the Wasatch Front, could be identified and expanded under this act.

The Range Access provision is similar, and directs the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to identify areas suitable for a target shooting range. Contingent on funding, the agencies are then directed to establish and maintain a shooting range.

The Supporting Gateway Communities And Addressing Park Overcrowding provision directs the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work with state and local governments to address housing shortages and visitation management. The USDA could use low-interest loan and vocational training programs to assist gateway communities—like Moab or Springdale—to “expand infrastructure to accommodate and manage sustainable visitation, including hotels, campgrounds, and restaurants.”

The Parking And Restroom Opportunities For Federal Recreational Lands and Waters provision seeks to improve parking and bathroom infrastructure on federal lands by allowing public-private partnerships. The federal government could contract with a local government or private entity on non-federal land to expand parking access—it also directs the Department of the Interior to develop “innovative” new public restroom designs or partnerships.

The Access For People With Disabilities provision requires the Department of the Interior to study accessibility of camping facilities, shooting ranges, boat launch ramps and more on federal land. It would also require the government to survey and improve accessibility on trails for people with disabilities. Public land agencies like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management would be required to create new “accessible recreation opportunities” for people with disabilities—that includes bike trails, camp shelters, water or snow sports, or motorized recreation.

Local city and county leaders would be well advised to learn the details of these various provisions and seek our share of the authorized funding to enhance the local outdoor activities economy.

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