MCC Building the Family Trail

Using the Trails In and Above Herron Park:  FTBT’s Proposed Trail Plan

Until recently, the trails on the 320-acre Conservation Fund parcel above Herron Park were mostly user-created–a network of trails that have evolved over time as people explore and use the area. Exceptions are The Overlook Trail, Plum Creek Connector, Chase Family Forest, Family Trail, and “Matt’s Way” trails which Montana Conservation Corps built in conjunction with Foy’s to Blacktail Trails (FTBT).

The user-created trails served us well over the years, but problems had become apparent with time. Many of the trails do not shed water well and are prone to erosion. In addition, portions of the existing trails are not sustainable and enjoyable because of their steepness. Finally, there are a number of places where old logging roads simply dead-end without connectivity to other trails.

In an effort to address these concerns, and as part of our plan for adding the Conservation Fund parcel to 120-acre Herron Park, in fall of 2009 FTBT’s Trails Committee completed the Proposed Trail System Map shown here covering the Conservation Fund and Herron Park properties, a total of 440 acres (Download Trail Map PDF). FTBT contracted Forestoration Inc., the professional trail design firm based in Whitefish that worked on the Trail Runs Through It project. The heart of our  Trails Plan is the newly built (May 2010) Family Trail. As its name implies, this easy trail averages about 5% grade. Children, joggers, casual walkers, cyclists, cross country skiers, and anyone who prefers a gentle trail now have a scenic means to reach the ridge top without overexertion or fear of the descent back down to the meadow.

In addition, the Family Trail will serve as a major connecting trail for those seeking loop opportunities. One of the limitations of the existing trails is that while there are many miles of them, few are actual loops. Therefore, much of the proposed new singletrack trail interconnects with the existing system. In total FTBT is planning for almost 6 miles of new trail, which, when combined with the Foy’s Overlook trail (0.4 km) the Chase Family Forest Trail (2.5 miles built in 2007) and the existing doubletrack trails will bring the total to 14 miles of trail! more importantly, the Trails Plan calls for dozens of loop options of varied difficulty.

In designing the trails, planners found some wonderful places on the property and in almost all instances were able to route the trail from one special spot to another. When built, the trails will provide a far more scenic, safe and enjoyable experience for all users than we have today.

FTBT  hosted a public meeting on January 13, 2010 at the Lone Pine Visitors Center to to obtain public comments on our proposed Trail Plan.   We passed out surveys to gather facts and opinions about current and proposed  Herron Park and Conservation Fund trail usage at the meeting. We also collected survey responses online through April 15, 2010.  We received many responses that are now being tabulated and analyzed.

Trails Extending South Toward Blacktail Mountain

Most of the land extending south from Herron Park to Blacktail Mountain is owned either by Plum Creek Timber, Stoltze Lumber Company, or the U.S. Forest Service (see overview map).  There is more than one way to get from Herron Park to Blacktail Mountain and the routes utilize and intersect various logging roads, the location of which are subject to change or become abandoned without notice. Many of them abruptly dead-end. Eventually FTBT hopes to work with the various landowners to establish a single, designated route extending to Blacktail Mountain. Our current priority, however, is protecting access to the gateway to these lands–without the Conservation Fund property, there can be no access south to Blacktail Mountain! If you are trying to find a route to Blacktail Mountain, you may wish to check a nationally popular website, www.everytrail.com, to see if GPS coordinates showing a route to Blacktail have been posted. Be aware that routes are not signed or maintained and you bear sole responsibility for your safety and comfort.

Maps by Mobile LoGIStics Mapping of Whitefish.

Overview Map of FTBT Project Area From Herron Park to Blacktail Mountain