Colorado’s Outdoor Equity Grant Program: What to Know Before You Apply
The 2026 Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program (OEGP) application is open and due June 2. Rising Routes has been part of Colorado's Outdoor Equity Grant Program since before it existed. Here is what we know about the program, how it works, and what tends to make the...
How Rising Routes Shows Up: Three Colorado Partnerships
Rising Routes strengthens the outdoor access ecosystem by building alongside the leaders already doing transformative work in their communities. With three Colorado organizations, that has meant meeting each one where they are and contributing in ways that match the...
$1.3 Trillion and 5.2 Million Jobs. So Why Are Outdoor Providers Still Struggling?
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently released its 2024 outdoor recreation data. At the national level: outdoor recreation accounts for $1.3 trillion in gross output, 5.2 million jobs, and 2.4% of GDP. It's also the slowest growth since the post-pandemic...
The Future of Outdoor Access in Colorado
A systems moment requiring coordinated, statewide leadership to ensure equitable access for the next generation. Above photo: Jason Swann works with Big City Mountaineers to take 8th graders on their first backpacking trip to Oh-Be-Joyful Pass. Colorado’s...
What “Black to the Outdoors II” Taught Us About Building Together
On February 24, Camping to Connect alongside Rising Routes, brought together community members, outdoor professionals, and newcomers for Black to the Outdoors II, an evening of honest conversation about what it takes to expand outdoor access for Black communities in...
Rising Routes Delivers Roadmap for Colorado’s Outdoor Access Ecosystem
Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy generated $65.5 billion in output in 2023, supporting more than 400,000 jobs across the state. On paper, the sector looks strong. But beneath that growth, outdoor education and recreation providers across Colorado are navigating...
Colorado’s Outdoor Equity Grant Program: What to Know Before You Apply
The 2026 Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program (OEGP) application is open and due June 2. Rising Routes has been part of Colorado's Outdoor Equity Grant Program since before it existed. Here is what we know about the program, how it works, and what tends to make the...
What “Black to the Outdoors II” Taught Us About Building Together
On February 24, Camping to Connect alongside Rising Routes, brought together community members, outdoor professionals, and newcomers for Black to the Outdoors II, an evening of honest conversation about what it takes to expand outdoor access for Black communities in...
How Rising Routes Shows Up: Three Colorado Partnerships
Rising Routes strengthens the outdoor access ecosystem by building alongside the leaders already doing transformative work in their communities. With three Colorado organizations, that has meant meeting each one where they are and contributing in ways that match the...
The Future of Outdoor Access in Colorado
A systems moment requiring coordinated, statewide leadership to ensure equitable access for the next generation. Above photo: Jason Swann works with Big City Mountaineers to take 8th graders on their first backpacking trip to Oh-Be-Joyful Pass. Colorado’s...
$1.3 Trillion and 5.2 Million Jobs. So Why Are Outdoor Providers Still Struggling?
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently released its 2024 outdoor recreation data. At the national level: outdoor recreation accounts for $1.3 trillion in gross output, 5.2 million jobs, and 2.4% of GDP. It's also the slowest growth since the post-pandemic...
Rising Routes Delivers Roadmap for Colorado’s Outdoor Access Ecosystem
Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy generated $65.5 billion in output in 2023, supporting more than 400,000 jobs across the state. On paper, the sector looks strong. But beneath that growth, outdoor education and recreation providers across Colorado are navigating...
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Rising Routes is a registered 501(c)(3) that is dedicated to increasing outdoor access nationwide. Contribute to a growing system that shapes how outdoor providers can sustain their work, reach more people, and align coalitions across the country.