The Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) has worked hard for almost three decades to build an extensive 80-mile trail system that connects Main Street Bozeman to the Mountains that surround us. The Main Street to the Mountains trail 
system has trails for all abilities and they are accessible from neighborhoods all over town. However, the trail system can be daunting and confusing to the newcomer or novice user. And even the experienced trail users in Bozeman are probably unaware of all the trails right here in our backyard.
In order to help people explore the great community trail system, GVLT presents its 2019 Discovery Walks, a trail exploration series, throughout May and June. Join GVLT volunteers to walk, talk, and explore on the trails while meeting locals and learning something new along the way. These one-hour, guided, educational walks are totally FREE and open to the public. Volunteers and local experts will be hosting short talks and activities during the walks.
Here’s a look at some of the May walks to kick off this fun, outdoorsy series.
Bozeman Sculpture Park Tour gets things started on Wednesday, May 1st. Join a Board Member from the Gallatin Art Crossing and learn about the unique sculptures and artists that line the Gallagator Trail from the Library to Peets Hill. This walk meets in front of Bozeman Public Library at 5:30pm.
A ‘More Than Dirt’ Walk follows Friday, May 3rd. Tony Hartshorn, a Montana State University soil doc and enthusiast, will share his knowledge about the variety of productive soils of the Gallatin Valley and the stories they hold. This walk meets at the base of Peets Hill at 11am.
Next up, the New Moon Walk will take place Saturday, May 4th. What’s up in the sky tonight? Learn about the science and mythology of some of tonight’s constellations, deep-sky objects, planets, etc. You are welcome to bring a flashlight. This walk meets at the base of Peets Hill at 9pm.
On Monday, May 6th, Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS) presents a Trail Tracking Kids Walk. What types of creatures have travelled through here before us? Get ready to put your detective skills to work while you discover what some of our area’s most popular wildlife have been up to while we were away. Search for tracks, scat, and fur as clues! This walk meets at the East Gallatin Recreation area, near the picnic tables by the bathrooms, at 9:30am.
Walk with a Health Provider on Tuesday, May 7th. Take a walk for your health! Join a provider from Bozeman Health for a conversation about how to lead an outdoor healthy life. This walk meets at the base of Peets Hill at 11am.
And on Wednesday, May 8th, Walk with a Mindset/Health Coach. Instructor Jen Brick will share all her tips and tricks to create self-care habits for a healthy mind and body. This walk meets at the Highland Glen Nature Preserve at 5:30pm, just across from the Softball Complex.
MOSS returns Friday, May 10th with an Adaptation Nation Kids Walk. How does a frog develop gills? Why do falcons have dark stripes near their eyes? Explore how animals and plants are always changing to help them survive! This walk meets at Gallatin County Regional Park, near the Dinosaur Playground parking area, at 9:30am.
Saturday, May 11th sees the Geomorphology of the East Gallatin River. Karin Boyd, water expert and owner of Applied Geomorphology, will share her knowledge and experience with the East Gallatin and the ways it has shaped our landscape. This walk meets at the East Gallatin Recreation area, near the picnic tables by the bathrooms, at 10am.
A Birding Basics Kids Walk with MOSS kicks off a new week on Monday, May 13th. Grab some binoculars to discover the amazing birds in your own backyard! Do you notice how different their feet are? Why are their feathers shaped that way? Find out! This walk meets at the Cherry River Trail parking area at 9:30am, just off Frontage Rd.
Walk with a Naturopathic Doc on Tuesday, May 14th. Join Dr. Mackenzie Mescon from Spring Integrative Health for a walk and talk about Naturopathic medicine. This walk meets at the base of Peets Hill at 11am
GVLT teams up with Thrive on Wednesday, May 15th for Dynamite Dads: Fun with Fishing. Walk around Bozeman Pond and catch fish during a great night out with this Thrive program. *Registration is required at www.allthrive.org. This walk meets at the pavilion on the south end of Bozeman Pond Park at 6pm.
Discovery Walks do not require an RSVP (*with the exception of Dynamite Dads), but please arrive a few minutes early to join the groups. Dogs are not allowed on walks for safety reasons. A full schedule may be found at www.gvlt.org/events/discovery-walks. Meeting locations and complete descriptions are also located on the website.
Gallatin Valley Land Trust connects people, communities, and open lands through conservation of working farms and ranches, healthy rivers, and wildlife habitat, as well as the creation of trails in the Montana headwaters of the Missouri and Upper Yellowstone Rivers. For more information about GVLT and these walks, visit the aforementioned website.
