Recreation
The Highlands is rich in local recreational opportunities including trails, parks, campsites, viewpoints, watersports, and more. The Highlands region receives more visits than Yellowstone National Park. Fishing and hunting are very significant activities throughout the Highlands, and attract millions in regional expenditures. Hiking, boating and camping are also important activities in the Highlands. The Appalachian Trail crosses through the Highlands at several points. The Highlands Trail, which runs through PA and NJ, is a fantastic opportunity to build a means for getting the diverse population of the Highlands out into the woods. The Forest Service modeled recreation in the Highlands to prioritize areas for conservation, and focused on five factors: recreational trails, scenic visible ridge tops, existing parks and protected lands, historic and cultural resources, and recreational waters and shorelines.
Facts and Figures
How much is there in the Highlands?
- Hundreds of miles of trails (hiking, biking, horseback riding, winter sports)
- Campgrounds/campsites
- Tens of thousands of acres of public parks, protected areas, and game lands
New York/New Jersey
- 311,000 acres of state, federal, local and county parks in NY-NJ
- 20% of the NY-NJ Highlands is protected open space
- 14 million visits
- 350 miles of trails
- 620 miles of local trails, though 25% are on private lands
- 165 identified cultural/historic sites
- 1,860 miles of trout streams
- 535 canoeable river miles
- Dozens of lakes and reservoirs with fishing and boating
- 25,000 public acres available for hunting
- 40 golf courses
- 170 recreational trail view points
Threats
- Declining activity levels and sedentary lifestyle of Americans
- Obesity epidemic of children
- Loss of connection to the outdoors by children (nature deficit disorder)
- Decreasing numbers of young hunters or fisherman/women
Strategies for protection
- No Child Left Behind (CT)
- Highlands Trail (PA and NJ)
- Educational opportunities
