Sponsored by the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, the kickoff to summer recreation comes on Saturday, June 1st with National Trails Day. GVLT’s largest trail volunteer project of the year invites trail-users and other outdoor enthusiasts to take part in the restoration of a much-loved local pathway.
This year’s efforts will focus on the Highland Glen Nature Preserve. With much to be done in preparation of summer access, this single-day event will see volunteers prepping the paths with everything from trail resurfacing to weeding.
Volunteer check-in begins at 8:30am with project hours running from 9am to noon. Volunteers are asked to bring their own sunscreen, work gloves and water. Biking, walking and carpooling to the volunteer site is encouraged as there will be limited parking available at the softball complex lot. The day of hard work will be followed by a celebratory barbecue, courtesy of Yellowstone Bank.
National Trails Day also marks the start of GVLT’s annual Summer Trails Challenge. The seasonal community mileage bank will be open June 1st–27th. During the challenge, the local nonprofit will receive $1 from the Community Match Pool, donated by local businesses, for every mile that is biked, hiked, walked or run on local trails and logged online. 1 mile = $1. It’s that simple! This year’s goal is 90,000 miles. Yours will help GVLT continue to expand and enhance the Main Street to the Mountains trail system.
All participants are invited to the Challenge Finale BBQ on Friday, June 27th at the GVLT offices. Sponsored by generous local businesses, this wonderful celebration is free and open to anyone who logs miles during the monthlong Challenge.
Visit www.GVLT.org for National Trails Day volunteer registration and access to the Summer Trails Challenge mileage logger.
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. •
