Flathead Land Trust bought a 1,131-acre property directly south of Herron Park last week, marking a milestone in a longstanding effort to secure a continuous public land corridor between Foys Lake and Blacktail Mountain.

The land was previously owned by the Griffith Family Foundation, a nonprofit associated with Georgia-based company Southern Pine Plantations.  

Flathead Land Trust is working with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to place a perpetual conservation easement on the land, prohibiting its conversion into housing or commercial development. The terms of the easement will include provisions to ensure perpetual public recreational access to 12 miles of forest roads and trails, including a 3.5-mile segment of the Foys to Blacktail Trail.  

“We are proud to play a significant role in the realization of what has been a community dream for decades,” said Paul Travis, executive director of Flathead Land Trust in an April 9 statement. “By securing this critical property, we are now able to protect it from future development and provide permanent conservation so that the public will always be able to enjoy its trails, open scenery and important wildlife habitat.”    

The state wildlife agency has received confirmation of funding for the project from the U.S. Forest Service Legacy Program though approval from the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission is pending. The conservation easement likely will be completed within one to three years.

Once the deal with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is sealed, Flathead Land Trust plans to transfer ownership of the property to Foys to Blacktail Trails, a local nonprofit dedicated to maintaining and expanding non-commercial outdoor recreation opportunities in the Flathead Valley. The latter will be responsible for guiding recreational growth on the property, including the development of new trail connections and active management of the forest to mitigate wildfire risk. 

“This project aligns with our mission and goals to advocate for access and trail connectivity between Blacktail Mountain, Herron Park, and the greater Flathead Valley,” said Nathan Russell, executive director of Foys to Blacktail Trails. “It's about stewardship, expanding outdoor recreational opportunities for our community, bringing people together, and celebrating the spirit of collaboration."   

Flathead Land Trust and Foys to Blacktail Trails have launched a joint fundraising campaign to raise $350,000 for the long-term maintenance and stewardship of the property. The organizations will celebrate the project’s launch at a May 1 event at Foys Community Center in Herron Park. Details will be provided at flatheadlandtrust.org and foystoblacktailtrails.org. 

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 406-758-4433 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.