Resources
Outdoor Recreation Inventory
Wisconsin Explorer
The Wisconsin Outdoor Recreation Inventory is a visionary project that created a robust catalog of outdoor recreation sites and activities across the state and provides public access to the data. Historically, there was no single inventory of outdoor recreation offerings. Limited maps and data files have existed in various places, often housed on agency websites (state, county, municipality, etc.) or in crowd-sourced, activity-specific apps.
For the first time, this outdoor recreation data is available in one central location. The Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation collected over 70,000 geographic information systems (GIS) features for 12 key outdoor recreation categories from more than 120 partners to populate the Wisconsin Explorer Tool. From here, the public can access, explore and download this data for free. This innovative inventory tool makes outdoor recreation information readily available for businesses, organizations and communities to tap into the economic potential of outdoor recreation.
When was data added to the Tool and Inventory?
The Wisconsin Outdoor Recreation Inventory and Explorer Tool launched in June 2023 using data submitted by contributing organizations across the state, along with data from the Wisconsin DNR.
Additional data was added and updated in August 2024. The information reflected in the Tool and Inventory is as current as what was provided to the Office of Outdoor Recreation. For details on when specific data was created, please refer to the authoritative data source.
This application may be updated periodically. It is intended for planning purposes only, and on-the-ground conditions may have changed since the data was originally submitted.
How can I use the Tool?
This dynamic tool makes a growing inventory of outdoor recreation data publicly accessible to communities, businesses and organizations. It can support a wide range of efforts, including:
- Building awareness of outdoor recreation opportunities
- Promoting recreation destinations
- Informing infrastructure, program development and funding prioritization
- And more applications and uses
Can I add data to the Inventory?
Yes. The Wisconsin Outdoor Recreation Inventory is a growing collection.
If you are interested in adding new outdoor recreation sites or activities, or updating existing data, please use the submission form to share your information.
Frequently Asked Questions
To learn more, please review the FAQs.
