2. onX

For mobilizing outdoor enthusiasts to be advocates for access to public lands

When the U.S. faced its largest threat to public lands in decades due to Trump administration plans to sell vast areas controlled by the federal government, onX—a mapping app for hunters, hikers, and off-roaders—leveraged its proprietary mapping platform to transform 33 pages of dense legislative text into an interactive map that pinpointed every single parcel of land at risk for disposal.

Thanks to a social campaign built around the message of “I know a spot on public land” that reached 15 million people with information about how to contact members of Congress, public land lovers came out in droves. The result was one of the largest outreach efforts in history focused on public lands—an effort that ultimately saw lawmakers abandon provisions to sell off public lands.

onX also flexed its influence to close a gap it identified through research: Of the 92% of Americans who recreate on public lands, a scant 19% participate in stewardship activities each year. Partnering with Toyota, the company created a series of trail revival projects across 12 states in 2025. Nearly 500 volunteers dedicated 3,000 hours to restore more than 260 miles of trails and clean up more than 13,000 pounds of trash. Such efforts show that blending digital advocacy with on-the-ground engagement can mobilize a fragmented outdoor community to protect and restore public lands.