The New Mexico Department of Wildlife has opened a public survey to quantify the economic contributions of motorized backcountry recreation across the state, with a particular emphasis on benefits to rural communities.
The New Mexico Department of Wildlife has launched a survey to measure the economic impact of motorized backcountry recreation, focusing on spending in rural communities. The survey covers activities like dirt biking, overlanding, and ATV use, asking participants about expenditures on gas, food, lodging, and gear, aiming to capture economic effects beyond traditional off-highway vehicle definitions.
Officials hope the data will demonstrate how motorized access supports rural economies and helps justify maintaining backcountry trails. This effort follows federal data showing outdoor recreation contributed $3.6 billion and over 31,000 jobs to New Mexico’s economy in 2024. The survey, taking five to ten minutes, is available online, with additional resources on the department’s Ride New Mexico site.
Titled the “New Mexico Motorized Backcountry Recreation Economic Impact Study,” the survey asks participants about spending on gas, food, lodging, gear, and purchases from local businesses related to activities that rely on or benefit from motorized vehicles. These include dirt biking, overlanding, ATV and side-by-side use, and other forms of motorized access that support broader outdoor pursuits in remote areas.
Department officials say the effort is designed to capture a fuller picture than traditional off-highway vehicle (OHV) studies alone. The legal definition of an OHV can be too narrow, they note, to reflect the true economic ripple effects in rural areas. Motorized access enables many forms of recreation—some of which may not themselves involve an OHV—while supporting local economies through visitor spending.
“This study measures the economic impacts attributable to back-country outdoor recreation involving motorized vehicles in New Mexico,” the survey introduction states. It emphasizes that the data will help illustrate how such recreation sustains rural communities and contributes to keeping backcountry access open.
The survey comes amid growing recognition of outdoor recreation’s broader role in New Mexico’s economy. Federal data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis show that outdoor recreation contributed $3.6 billion to the state’s economy and supported more than 31,000 jobs in 2024, accounting for about 2.5% of GDP. While categories such as RVing, boating and fishing, and snow activities rank among the largest contributors, motorized activities including motorcycling and ATVing also play a measurable role.
The Department of Wildlife oversees the state’s OHV program, which is funded primarily through registration and permit fees rather than general tax dollars. The program supports trail improvements, safety education, law enforcement patrols, and grants for responsible recreation projects. By gathering detailed spending data, officials aim to better understand and demonstrate the value of maintaining and managing motorized access on public lands managed by the department, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Participants are asked to respond based on their own experiences. The survey typically takes five to ten minutes, though it may take longer for those involved in multiple activities. Officials encourage thorough answers to provide the most useful information.
The online survey is available at survey.alchemer.com/s3/8983181/Motorized-travel-and-equipment-as-part-of-outdoor-recreation.
For more information on New Mexico’s OHV regulations, riding areas, permits, and safety resources, visit the department’s Ride New Mexico site at ridenm.dgf.nm.gov.
