Economic Impact of Hiking and Related Trail Recreation in the Custer Gallatin National Forest
Department
Recreation and Park Administration
Recommended Citation
Bradley, Michael J. and Maples, James, "Economic Impact of Hiking and Related Trail Recreation in the Custer Gallatin National Forest" (2019). University Presentation Showcase Event. 2.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2019/faculty/2
Abstract
This study examined the economic impact of four forms of human-powered trail recreation: day hiking, backpacking, trail running, and peak bagging visitors to Montana’s CGNF National Forest. The report collectively refers to these categories as hiking. Hikers visit the CGNF over two million times per year. An estimated 30% of these visits are from persons living outside the CGNF and surrounding region. In all, 537 hikers around the nation responded to the survey, with 358 respondents sharing the economic expenditures from their most recent 2017-2018 trip to the CGNF. Based on the economic impact analysis and NVUM visitation figures, hiking visitors annually spend an estimated $125 million and support an estimated 1,186 jobs and $36 million in job income in the CGNF and surrounding area.
Presentation format
Poster
Economic Impact of Hiking and Related Trail Recreation in the Custer Gallatin National Forest
This study examined the economic impact of four forms of human-powered trail recreation: day hiking, backpacking, trail running, and peak bagging visitors to Montana’s CGNF National Forest. The report collectively refers to these categories as hiking. Hikers visit the CGNF over two million times per year. An estimated 30% of these visits are from persons living outside the CGNF and surrounding region. In all, 537 hikers around the nation responded to the survey, with 358 respondents sharing the economic expenditures from their most recent 2017-2018 trip to the CGNF. Based on the economic impact analysis and NVUM visitation figures, hiking visitors annually spend an estimated $125 million and support an estimated 1,186 jobs and $36 million in job income in the CGNF and surrounding area.
