It really depends on the natural area in question. Not everyone is really motivated to build up the skills required to do things like navigate via map and compa

It really depends on the natural area in question. Not everyone is really motivated to build up the skills required to do things like navigate via map and compass to actually tackle natural terrain safely. People die every year in the Angeles National Forest and its almost always because they didn't prepare for the conditions and didn't let anyone know that they were hiking that weekend and therefore where to aid search and rescue when the missing persons report is filed. However I think smaller urban/suburban trails have probably never been more popular. You know the sort of 1-3 mile loop in the hills or woods trails with a convenient parking lot. Those are filled with trail runners, dog walkers, people pushing strollers, etc.