New Study: Mountain Biking Drives Nearly $28 Million in Annual Visitor Spending Across Vermont
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2026
Contact: Dean Havelock, Marketing & Communications Manager, Vermont Mountain Bike Association — dean@vmba.org
Vermont — Recreational mountain biking generates an estimated $27.9 million in direct visitor spending across Vermont each year, according to a new analysis released today by the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA), prepared with counsel from Vermont-based CRO Planning and Design.
The study is the first to estimate the statewide economic impact of trail-based mountain biking, drawing on automated trail-counter data from networks around the state, established trail-classification standards, and visitor-spending profiles built from five independent sources. It estimates roughly 500,000 annual visits to public-access mountain bike trails in Vermont, with about $17 million of the total spending coming from non-local riders who stay overnight — visitors who spend significantly more on lodging, dining, retail, and local services. The findings reflect a season’s worth of data and a combination of observed and estimated data across more than 100 trail systems.
Behind that economic activity is a network most Vermonters never see being built: the local Chapters and VMBA affiliates who design, construct, maintain, and manage 100-plus trail systems of every shape and size, from neighborhood loops to destination-worthy networks. These numbers support data collected through the UVM Center for Rural Studies 2025 Vermonter Poll, which estimated over 20% of Vermonters rode a mountain bike at least once during the 2024 season, and nearly 10% rode trails at least monthly.
“These numbers tell a story about Vermont’s economy, but the real story is who makes it possible,” said Nick Bennette, Executive Director of VMBA. “Nearly $28 million in visitor spending is ultimately driven by the quality and quantity of riding in Vermont, which largely relies upon the 25,000+ hours volunteers put in each year to build, maintain, and manage over 100 trail systems. That work supports restaurants, lodges, shops, and gas stations, especially in rural communities that need it most. If we want to sustain and grow this impact, we have to keep investing in the trails and the people who steward them. Trail investment isn’t a cost — it’s one of the smartest economic development tools Vermont has.”
The report notes that mountain biking helps extend Vermont’s tourism economy beyond the winter season into the warmer months, and that investment in trail building and maintenance translates directly into support for local businesses. It also emphasizes that none of this is possible without a strong base of local riders, who ensure consistent trail use, community engagement, and the long-term health of the network. The report also builds off VMBA’s most recent Member Survey results, which found that 95% of respondents rated their riding experience in Vermont as four or five out of five stars.
The analysis focuses specifically on direct spending from trail visits. It does not attempt to capture the economic impact of races, festivals, or lift-access bike parks, nor the indirect benefits mountain biking brings to communities — improved physical and mental health, enhanced property values, and the appeal of Vermont as a place to live and work. VMBA notes that those figures, if included, would push the activity’s true value substantially higher, and that expanding trail-counter coverage would further sharpen future estimates.
The full report, including methodology and supplemental tables, is available from VMBA HERE. The underlying spreadsheet model may be shared upon request.
About VMBA
The Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the sustainable development and stewardship of mountain bike trails across Vermont. VMBA supports a network of 28 local Chapters, advocates for trail access, and connects nearly 9,000 members with the trails, communities, and resources that make Vermont one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the country. Learn more at vmba.org.