The economy here, until it began to be exploited as a turistic ski destination, was based on agriculture and livestock. The abundance of water coming from the melting peaks and the fertile ground made for the development of a long-standing agricultural tradition. Livestock has also been an important activity in the Sierra, and still today, the practice of sheep herding is still practiced in summer.

Today, the situation has changed dramatically. Now, the main source of income in the Sierra Nevada is tourism, as here the snow, sun, and moderate temperatures (sometimes you can even ski in short-sleeves!) have attracted a massive number of skiers and snowboarders.