Public Playgrounds or Private Trusts? The Future of Recreation on State Trust Lands

June 2025
Citation:
55
ELR 10294
Issue
3
Author
Temple Stoellinger, Sam Johnson, Bryan Leonard, and Eric Atkinson

State trust lands, covering more than 40 million acres across the West, were granted to states with the primary purpose of generating revenue for public schools and other designated beneficiaries. These lands were historically managed for extractive uses such as grazing, timber harvesting, and mineral development. This Article examines how recreation—ranging from hiking and hunting to wildlife viewing and camping—fits within this fiduciary framework. It analyzes state-level policies, revenue models, and accessibility considerations, and explores the opportunities and challenges of integrating recreation into trust land management. As recreational demand grows and state economies evolve, there is a need for adaptive management strategies that balance economic returns with ecological and public benefits.

Temple Stoellinger is Associate Dean and a Wyoming Excellence Chair in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming, with a joint appointment in the College of Law. Sam Johnson is a Gina Guy Center Research Fellow and third-year law student at the University of Wyoming, concurrently pursuing a master’s degree in environment and natural resources. Bryan Leonard is the Chaired SER Professor at the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. Eric C. Atkinson is an Associate Professor and Biology Department Coordinator at Northwest College.