Bent Creek Experimental Forest, a United States Forest Service site near Asheville, NC, serves many functions. These include scientific research and various forms of recreation such as hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Mountain biking is becoming more popular among both residents and visitors to the area which poses new issues for public land managers including trail erosion and potential conflict with other user groups. In order to estimate the value of mountain biking trails, this research surveyed mountain bikers at Bent Creek to learn about their visit behavior, experiences, and trail preferences. The United States Forest Service can use these results to help manage the mountain biking trails and the overall recreation experience at Bent Creek.
