In May 2020, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources launched the Indiana Trail Count Analysis, a statewide study of volunteer-based convenience sample trail count data. By partnering with trail managers and stakeholders across the state who were previously collecting data from fixed counters on their respective trails, the DNR was able to create a more current and comprehensive trail data set. The goal of this analysis is to use this convenience sample data to document, track, and better understand major trail-use trends in Indiana.
2019 – 2020 Comparison Summary
Total Trail Count
| Month | 2019 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAN | 70,583 | 101,585 | 44% |
| FEB | 72,220 | 117,012 | 62% |
| MAR | 124,370 | 221,987 | 78% |
| APR | 209,979 | 251,612 | 20% |
| MAY | 256,267 | 398,273 | 55% |
| JUN | 369,632 | 503,872 | 36% |
| JUL | 389,332 | 426,306 | 9% |
| AUG | 414,691 | 474,878 | 15% |
| SEP | 360,209 | 423,828 | 18% |
| OCT | 233,673 | 293,423 | 26% |
| NOV | 128,570 | 248,826 | 94% |
| DEC | 133,060 | 169,261 | 27% |
| TOTAL | 2,762,586 | 3,630,864 | 31.4% |
| Month | 2019 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAN | 66,814 | 96,761 | 45% |
| FEB | 68,731 | 110,215 | 60% |
| MAR | 117,092 | 207,783 | 77% |
| APR | 200,456 | 228,232 | 14% |
| MAY | 246,185 | 376,583 | 53% |
| JUN | 362,053 | 489,518 | 35% |
| JUL | 381,139 | 415,895 | 9% |
| AUG | 403,966 | 463,293 | 15% |
| SEP | 351,056 | 409,151 | 17% |
| OCT | 221,529 | 274,325 | 24% |
| NOV | 120,528 | 237,890 | 97% |
| DEC | 126,091 | 162,307 | 29% |
| Total | 2,665,640 | 3,471,953 | 30.2% |
| Month | 2019 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAN | 3,769 | 4,824 | 28% |
| FEB | 3,489 | 6,797 | 95% |
| MAR | 7,278 | 14,204 | 95% |
| APR | 9,523 | 23,380 | 145% |
| MAY | 10,082 | 21,690 | 115% |
| JUN | 7,579 | 14,354 | 89% |
| JUL | 8,193 | 10,411 | 27% |
| AUG | 10,725 | 11,585 | 8% |
| SEP | 9,153 | 14,677 | 60% |
| OCT | 12,144 | 19,098 | 57% |
| NOV | 8,042 | 10,936 | 36% |
| DEC | 6,969 | 6,954 | 0% |
| Total | 96,946 | 158,911 | 63.9% |
2019-2020 Findings
Based on counts from 65 trail counters around the state (see map below), trail use is shown to have increased more than 31% in 2020 from the previous year. Each month in 2020 saw more trail use compared to the same month in 2019, ranging from increases of 9% to 94%.
Hard-surface trails saw the majority of trail counts in our analysis, with a peak of 97% increase in the month of November. Despite representing less of the total trail counts, natural-surface trails saw the biggest increase, almost 64%, in 2020. Of note, natural-surface trail counts increased more than 100% in the months of April and May.
The data reflects a clear and significant rise in trail use in 2020. This rise in Indiana is consistent with trail use increases documented across the country as well as an uptick in many other outdoor recreation activities such as paddling, bicycling, camping, and off-roading. Some of this increase is thought to have been spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the sustained trend shows that Hoosiers are eager to get outside more and enjoy the many benefits trails have to offer. The results of the 2019-2020 Trail Counts Analysis indicate a high demand for and interest in trails across the state.
2019-2020 Trail Data was collected from 65 trail counters over 16 counties.
