Document Type
Report
Publication Date
1-2026
Abstract
Marshall Mountain Park (MMP) is a beloved and historic public mountain park which hosts a variety of recreation opportunities in Missoula, MT. In 2025, MMP partnered with the Wildland and Recreation Management (WARM) Research Lab at the University of Montana to inform future infrastructure development and decision-making for the park. The aim of this five-month long research project was to inform visitor use management goals, utilizing geospatial and visitor count data to understand visitation patterns and trail use alongside survey data to understand visitor demographics, place attachment, recreation motivations, priorities for amenity development, and reaction to electric mountain bikes. The project shows that MMP is a valued trail system, with participants demonstrating high levels of place attachment and willingness to volunteer to steward the trails. Finally, respondents have mixed feelings towards electric mountain bikes but broadly feel that the current trail system balances use well.
Rights
© 2026 Abigail Fuesler, William L. Rice, Trevor Ross
Recommended Citation
Fuesler, Abigail; Rice, William L.; and Ross, Trevor, "Marshall Mountain Park Visitor Use Study" (2026). Society and Conservation Faculty Publications. 43.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/soccon_pubs/43