Economic Impact of Mountain Biking in the Custer Gallatin National Forest

Abstract

Custer Gallatin National Forest (CGNF) is an important American mountain biking destination. 

Mountain bikers visit the CGNF over 260,000 times per year. An estimated 30% of these visits are  from persons living outside the CGNF and surrounding region.  

Over 579 mountain bikers from around the nation responded to our survey with 485 sharing their  economic expenditures on their most recent to six study areas within the CGNF. 

Based on the economic impact analysis and NVUM visitation figures, the research team estimates: 

1. Mountain bike visitors who are not local residents annually spend an estimated $9.1 million  in the CGNF. 
2. Mountain bike visitors’ expenditures in the CGNF support 111 jobs and $3.4 million in job  income within the region.