Chapters of SWMMBA

The SWMMBA Chapter Program was created to allow the regional organization to have grassroots groups executing the mission of SWMMBA in their local communities. Through enhancing access to trails and advocating for mountain bicyclists in their towns, these chapters are engaging and educating their communities, and building and maintaining trails for all cyclists. The SWMMBA Chapter Program operates very similarly to how other chapter programs operate, where donors donate to the parent organization (SWMMBA), and donations are directed to areas of most need including maintaining, building, and advocating for trails in local communities with chapters. All donations to SWMMBA are tax deductible, and you’ll automatically be recognized as a donor of your local chapter if you live in their Service Area.

SWMMBA’s Chapters benefit greatly from increased impact with regional outreach, donations, and volunteerism provided by SWMMBA. Additionally, SWMMBA handles all the more difficult parts of running the organization including tax fillings, employment, and day-to-day operations. This frees up the Chapters to pursue group rides, trail work days, and focusing on their local mountain bike community. We’re stronger together, and by representing your community with a Chapter of SWMMBA, you can multiply the voice of mountain bikers everywhere.

Want to support your local trails?

Forming Chapters

To form a chapter, a local group of Mountain Bikers must first organize themselves into a rough board structure and ensure they have more than 10 members of SWMMBA living in their desired service area. They must then submit a letter requesting chapter status to the SWMMBA Board President so the SWMMBA Board may determine eligibility and feasibility of bringing a new chapter online. If you have more questions reach out to the SWMMBA Board President: ian@southwestmontanamba.org

 Chapter Service Areas

Chapter Regions

SWMMBA Chapters have areas which they primarily serve. While the organization as a whole serves over 20,000 square miles, our chapters focus their efforts in their local trails and improving their community.

Big Sky Chapter

Big Sky’s Chapter serves over 300 square miles in and around the unincorporated community of Big Sky, Montana. They have the responsibility to maintain trails like Mountain to Meadow, Porcupine-Buffalohorn, and Garnet Mountain. Additionally, they work heavily with Big Sky Community Organization to enhance bike access and bike parks across the community. They’ve branded themselves the Trail Dogs in honor of their legendary hot dog meals following trail work nights.

Bozeman Chapter

Bozeman’s Chapter serves over 500 square miles in and around the core urban center of the Gallatin Valley, Bozeman. They have the responsibility to maintain trails like Leverich Canyon, the Bangtail Divide, and Sypes Canyon. Additionally, they work alongside numerous other entities including Gallatin Valley Land Trust, the USFS, and the City of Bozeman to enhance mountain bike access to natural surface trails in the Gallatin Valley. They’ve branded themselves The Dirt Concern in a call back to SWMMBA’s original name.

Future Chapters

Chapters apply for their own service area, and cannot have overlapping service areas with other chapters of SWMMBA.