Linking Recreation.gov as a source
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Contents
This source is currently in alpha. The interface and available tables may change.
The Recreation.gov connector syncs activities, campsites, events, and more into the PostHog data warehouse, so you can analyze them alongside your product data.
Prerequisites
Credentials that can read the data you want to sync. PostHog only reads data, so read access is enough.
Adding a data source
- In PostHog, go to the Sources tab of the data pipeline section.
- Click + New source and click Link next to this source.
- Enter your credentials (see Configuration below) and click Next.
- Select the tables you want to sync, choose a sync method and frequency, then click Import.
Once the syncs are complete, you can start querying this data in PostHog.
Import public US federal recreation data from the Recreation Information Database (RIDB) behind Recreation.gov: recreation areas, facilities, campsites, tours, permit entrances, and more.
To get an API key, sign in at ridb.recreation.gov, open your profile from the account menu, and copy the API key shown there.
You'll be asked for:
- API key: for example
Enter your RIDB API key.
Sync modes
Each table can be synced in one of several modes, depending on what the source supports:
- Webhook (when available) – the source pushes changes to PostHog in real time. Fastest freshness, lowest ongoing cost, and the only mode that reliably captures updates and deletes.
- Incremental – only new or updated rows are synced on each run, using a cursor field (such as an
updated_attimestamp). Cheaper than a full refresh, but deletes aren't captured. - Append only – new rows are appended using a cursor field; existing rows are never updated. Ideal for immutable, append-only tables like event logs.
- Full refresh – the whole table is reloaded on every sync. Use it when a table has no reliable cursor or when you need deletions reflected.
See sync methods for a full explanation of how each mode works and how to choose between them.
All Recreation.gov tables are full refresh. Each sync replaces the contents of the table.
Configuration
| Option | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|
API key | password | Yes |
Supported tables
| Table | Description | Sync method | Incremental field | Primary key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Activities | The catalog of recreational activity types (e.g. camping, hiking, fishing) that recreation areas and facilities can offer. | Full refresh | — | — |
Campsites | Individual campsites within facilities, including type, use, accessibility, location, attributes, and permitted equipment. | Full refresh | — | — |
Events | Events taking place at recreation areas and facilities. | Full refresh | — | — |
Facilities | Recreation facilities (campgrounds, permit offices, visitor centers, trailheads) with descriptions, contact info, coordinates, and reservability. | Full refresh | — | — |
FacilityAddresses | Physical and mailing addresses for facilities. | Full refresh | — | — |
Links | Links (official websites, maps, downloadable documents) attached to recreation areas and facilities. | Full refresh | — | — |
Media | Media items (images, videos, webcams) attached to recreation areas, facilities, and campsites. | Full refresh | — | — |
Organizations | Federal agencies and organizations (e.g. National Park Service, USDA Forest Service) that contribute recreation data to RIDB. | Full refresh | — | — |
PermitEntrances | Permit entrances (wilderness areas, river launch points, lottery entrances) where recreation permits apply, with zones and attributes. | Full refresh | — | — |
RecAreas | Recreation areas (national parks, forests, lakes) with descriptions, contact info, coordinates, and reservability. | Full refresh | — | — |
RecAreaAddresses | Physical and mailing addresses for recreation areas. | Full refresh | — | — |
Tours | Ticketed and guided tours offered at facilities, with duration, type, accessibility, and member tours. | Full refresh | — | — |
Troubleshooting
- If the connection fails with an authorization error, the API key is wrong, expired, or has been revoked. Create a new one, then reconnect the source.
- If a table syncs no rows, the credential may not have access to that data. Check its permissions, then reconnect the source.
If your sync is failing or data looks wrong, see the Data warehouse troubleshooting guide. If that doesn't help, contact support – we're happy to help.