Do you want to get your hands dirty? Grab a shovel and volunteer for National Trails Day on Saturday, June 2nd. Every year in the beginning of summer’s first month, hundreds of community members join Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) for a morning of hard work to maintain or build our community trails. This event is free and open to the public.
This year’s event will focus on improving trails and planting trees on the trails around the west side of town. Volunteers will meet at the pavilion at Valley West (on Clifden Dr. between Babcock and Durston) for task assignments. Breakfast goodies will be provided, and the group will meet for a free picnic lunch at noon once the work is complete.
Please wear layers, sunscreen, and closed toed shoes. Gloves are recommended. If possible, please bring wheel barrows, rakes and shovels (make sure to put your name on them). No registration is necessary, so bring your family, friends and coworkers for a morning of volunteer service for our community trails!
National Trails Day also marks the start of the Summer Trails Challenge, running through June 22nd. During the challenge, GVLT will receive $1 from the Community Match Pool, donated by local businesses, for every mile that is biked, hiked, or run on trails and logged online. 1 mile = $1. It’s that simple! Your miles will help GVLT continue to expand and enhance the Main Street to the Mountains trail system. See website for further details and to start logging!
Also in June, GVLT continues to present its 2018 Discovery Walks, a trail exploration series, through the end of the month. 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 upcoming outings.
Kids Birding with the Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS) is first up on Friday, June 1st. 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? Let’s find out! This walk meets at the Cherry River Trail (off of Frontage Rd. by the parking lot) at 9:30am.
A Wildflower Walk will take place Saturday, June 2nd. Explore the variety of blooming wildflowers with local wildflower enthusiast and expert, Carolyn Hopper. Can you name them all? This walk meets at Drinking Horse Trail (at the trailhead near the parking lot off Bridger Dr.) at 9:30am.
Check out a Trail Tracking Kids Walk with MOSS on Monday, June 4th. What types of creatures have been 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 M Trail (at the trailhead near the parking lot off Bridger Dr.) at 9:30am.
Walk with a Naturopathic Doctor on Tuesday, June 5th. Dr. McKenzie Mescon with Spring Integrative Health will walk with you and describe the unique approach of a Naturopathic Doctor. She’ll share easy tips and tricks to living a healthier and more natural life. This walk meets at the base of Peets Hill (at the bridge near the parking lot off Church Ave.) at 11am.
Walk and Talk Through History with Gallatin History Museum on Wednesday, June 6th. Learn some of Bozeman’s rich history and discover some interesting facts about our community’s past. This walk meets at the base of Peets Hill (at the bridge near the parking lot off Church Ave.) at 5:30pm. An additional Walk and Talk Through History is set for Saturday, June 16th, meeting at the base of Peets Hill at 9:30am.
On Thursday, June 7th, Roots Family Collaborative presents Walk with Baby. Be a part of our community of new and expecting mothers! Join to explore the trails around Bozeman, feeling the benefits of nature with no judgments or expectations. Strap a baby on your back or let your toddler stop to smell the flowers – turn around whenever you like. This walk meets at the base of Peets Hill (at the bridge near the parking lot off Church Ave.) at 9am. An additional Walk with Baby is set for the following week, Thursday, June 14th. This walk meets at East Gallatin Recreation Area (at the climbing boulder near the dock and pavilions off Manley Rd.) at 9am.
A Bugging Out Kids Walk with MOSS is next up on Friday, June 8th. Creep and crawl your way around a trail to explore the hiding spots of your favorite insects! How many insects can we find!? This walk meets at Drinking Horse Trail (at the trailhead near the parking lot off Bridger Dr.) at 9:30am.
An Introduction to Birding follows on Saturday, June 9th. If you’re new to birding or want to discover the “open secrets” of Sourdough Trail, join some experienced birders for what is considered by many to be the best birding walk in the Gallatin Valley. Quiet, curious walkers will be rewarded with a handful of species sightings, a nesting site or two, and glorious birdsong within the hour. Map and bird list provided. Bring binoculars if you have them! This walk meets at Sourdough Trail (trailhead at Tuckerman Park off Goldenstein Rd.) at 8am.
Cool off with a Wonderful Water Kids Walk with MOSS on Monday, June 11th. Everybody needs water! Come discover what a healthy river needs, explore a marsh, and get your feet wet. A great way to cool down, and enjoy a hike. This walk meets at Sourdough Trail (trailhead at Tuckerman Park off Goldenstein Rd.) at 9:30am.
Biking with Bob: Explore Trails with GVLT is set for Tuesday, June 12th. Do yourself a favor and discover your community bike trails with Bob Sands, GVLT Board Member and bike enthusiast. Bob will take you on some of his favorites bike routes, from city streets to lush, shady bike paths. So dust off your helmet and pump up your tires! These rides are designed for bikers of all abilities. This special ride will meet at the GVLT offices (back patio, 212 S Wallace, Ste. 102) at 6pm.
Wildflower Survivors with Montana Native Plant Society takes place Thursday, June 14th. Take an evening stroll through the East Gallatin Recreation Area on the north side of Bozeman, to see what plants are showing during this time of the summer. This primitive park has a large and diverse riparian flora, including a special plant that is rare in this part of the state. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes that can get wet, and bring bug repellent. This walk meets at East Gallatin Recreation Area (in the farthest parking lot, past the beach and the bathrooms) at 5:30pm.
Finally, an Amphibious Adventures Kids Walk with MOSS creeps in on Friday, June 15th. Did you know that Montana has native tiger salamanders and chorus frogs? Can you guess where they live? Get outside and explore the habitats of our amphibious neighbors. This walk meets at Sourdough Canyon Trail (at the trailhead off Nash Rd.) at 9:30am.
Discovery Walks do not require an RSVP, 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.
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.
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