A host of local nonprofit land stewardship organizations were busy in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the North Fork of the Flathead  and other local wildlands making sure trails were cleared and other key projects were getting support.

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Association did 51 projects over the summer in the sprawling wilderness complex, utilizing work from over 300 volunteers as well as its own paid staff.

They  worked on 128 miles of trail which amounted to 54 unique trails in the Bob covered.

With historic blowdown across the region, they cleared more than 4,724 trees and treated 220 acres in the Bob for invasive weeds.

The association often found itself pivoting in 2026 to cover trail clearing and other work on key trails in the Bob due to the blowdown. Outfitters, Montana Conservation Corps, the Backcountry Horsemen of the Flathead and private individuals also pitched in.

The Wilderness Association hired 21 seasonal workers, including six trail crew leaders, five “wilderness stewards” which were more entry-level positions that helped with trails and other work, as well as hiring three trail technicians which specialized in trail work.

They also hired one professional packer and supported two apprentices, noted director Cliff Kipp.

“We also piloted a Trailhead Ambassador program where some volunteers delivered education and safety information at a few main trailheads (like Meadow Creek and Benchmark),” to visitors, Kipp noted.

The Association also does more than trails and has expanded its outreach in the past few years. They now host select nature walks in the Bob  and they continued to host the Great Bear Posse program, where volunteers who can’t commit to a longer trip in the Bob get training and then help maintain trails in the Great Bear Wilderness.

The Association also supports the Artist in Residence Program, where artists spend a week in the Bob Marshall painting and crafting other artworks while they live in a Forest service cabin.

In addition they work with a host of other civic organizations, including Rotary, Freedom Bank in Columbia Falls, high schools in the Flathead Valley and Pikuni Lands crews.

“The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation has been an exceptional and dependable partner to the Spotted Bear Ranger District, providing essential support to maintain trails and public access in some of the most challenging backcountry in the National Forest System. Their assistance is especially vital as we confront high levels of blowdown this year. BMWF consistently supplies highly capable, well-trained individuals who help the Flathead National Forest to fulfill our mission while developing the next generation of land managers,” the Ranger District said in a statement.

The Backcountry Horsemen of the Flathead were also busy, according to longtime member Greg Schatz. In addition to clearing trails, the organization worked on two big infrastructure projects in the Bob Marshall, upgrading the water systems at Big Prairie and Schafer Meadow Ranger Stations. Both have gravity-fed water systems in need of repair.

All told it’s a three-year project and a Horsemen-supported plumber spent the summer working in Big Prairie on new plumbing in the buildings there. Schatz noted that MCC crews dug 900 feet of trench at Big Prairie and 630 feet at Schafer. There’s still a few thousand feet to go in both locations. Both projects will take about three seasons to complete and are supported by Great American Outdoors Act funding.

The Horsemen are also working on a long-term project to rehab the Logan-Dirtyface-Sheep Creek trail system. The trail system runs up and over the Flathead Range and down to the Middle Fork near the Big River Trailhead. While it’s a beautiful hike, portions haven’t been maintained in years, Schatz noted and the trails are mostly user-built and don’t follow the actual mapped routes in some places.

The Horsemen also did work in the Cedar Flats area and up Seemo Creek in the North Fork. That trail goes up to some pretty country at Mount Thompson Seton.

They’re also working with the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to build parking near the Ray Kuhn’s Wildlife Management area. They used to park on the east side of Farm to Market Road and cross the road to trails to west, but traffic is so dangerous now, they’re hoping for a parking area on the west side.

In addition, they’re working with MCC at the Raven Training area west of Kalispell to teach crews skills on building and repairing roofs without the use of power tools so they can work on structures in the backcountry, Schatz noted.

Up the North Fork, the North Fork Trails Association did quite a bit of work, but not as much as usual as the Forest Service hit some the trails they normally clear before they got there, said president Bill Walker. Still, they had quite a few projects including one up the backside of Nasukoin mountain to clear trails in that area. Nasukoin is the highest peak in the Whitefish Range and offers outstanding views of Glacier National park from its summit.

They also recently cleared the trail to Link Lake, which is en route to Nasukoin.

You can support the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation at its upcoming BobFest fundraiser on  Friday Oct. 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. The annual event features live music, food, drinks, mules, activities, live/silent auction and a raffle. For more information, visit the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation website at bmwf.org

The Backcountry Horsemen of the Flathead are always looking for new riders and members as well. Its website is bchmt.org/wp/flathead.

The North Fork Trails Association has a website as well and is always seeking volunteers at: nftrails.org