PROJECTS FOR

MONTANA STATE PARKS

MISSOURI HEADWATERS STATE PARK EXPANSION

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The Montana State Parks Foundation intends to donate 26.36 acres to the Missouri Headwaters State Park located near Three Forks, Montana. Through this donation, we strive to preserve rich cultural resources, safeguard history, revitalize fish and wildlife habitat and enhance recreational opportunities.

We need your help to make this dream a reality! First, we are asking the public to participate in the upcoming public comment period to show their support for the park expansion. Second, we are humbly asking for support in covering our remaining legal fees, closing costs, and operational expenses.

The donation requires approval from the State Parks and Recreation Board and Land Board. The Parks Board voted unanimously to approve the donation and the Land Board decision will take place in March, 2024. Please follow the link to learn more about making a comment or to sign our Letter of Support.

The Montana State Parks Foundation has received grant funding for the property value from the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust, in a process facilitated by Montana’s Outdoor Legacy Foundation. The MT State Parks Foundation now needs your help to cover our legal fees, closing costs and operational expenses.  Please consider making a donation today!

Preserve the rich cultural resources and safeguard the captivating history of Southwest Montana.

The Missouri Headwaters has held profound significance for Indigenous peoples and served as a crucial meeting point for traders and settlers. Lewis and Clark's visit in 1805 marked a pivotal moment, weaving the park into a tapestry of history. Across the ages, it has witnessed diverse narratives - pre-contact Indigenous campsites, the Corps of Discovery, fur traders, Indigenous bison hunting and trade, prospecting, treaty-making, Jesuit missionary endeavors, and agricultural settlement. Today, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities recognize its enduring cultural importance. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966, it also served as Montana's Bicentennial site in 1976.

Revitalize riparian and upland ecosystems to safeguard precious habitats.

The meeting point of the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson Rivers at Missouri Headwaters State Park forms a captivating blend of riparian areas and sagebrush grasslands. This remarkable location, recognized as an Important Birding Area (IBA) by the National Audubon Society, serves as a haven for countless migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and majestic raptors, including bald and golden eagles. The park also nurtures a diverse range of wildlife, encompassing white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, black bears, otters, beavers, and coyotes. Preserving the property through acquisition will safeguard the habitat for these species while offering unique wildlife-centric recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and photography. Furthermore, this acquisition would facilitate the removal of debris and old fences, thereby enhancing the habitat and restoring seamless open space connectivity along the enchanting Gallatin River corridor.

Enhance recreational opportunities at Missouri Headwaters State Park.

Public Access: As Gallatin Valley's population grows and the park gains popularity, peak season crowding can be alleviated by spreading usage across the additional 30 acres. This enhances recreational experiences for all visitors and aligns with goals in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.

Trails: Trails are the most desired amenity for state park users. Adding the property would allow for expanding the trail system, including the currently trail-less eastern portion of the park.

Fishing: Fishing is popular at MHSP, and adding the property would enhance access, opportunities, and habitat protection for fisheries resources. The property's eastern side is intersected by Gallatin River tributaries, while Rae Creek runs through the western and central areas. These streams are vital for spawning and supporting trout species, as well as resident fish populations. Rae Creek has faced challenges like sedimentation and warm ditch returns, public ownership of the property would facilitate future restoration efforts and prevent potential impairments from private ownership.

Thank you to our generous partners!

Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust

Montana's Outdoor Legacy Foundation

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Interested in becoming business or organization sponsor? Contact [email protected] to learn how!

ONGOING PROJECTS

FOR STATE PARKS

We are constantly working on park improvement projects.  We work closely with Montana State Parks managers to select a variety of urgent park needs spread across the state meant to enhance the experience of park visitors and create the next generation of State Park enthusiasts.

A donation to the Montana State Parks Foundation helps fund projects like the ones described below.  Projects that improve our parks and ensure that they will remain great for generations to come.  Please help your parks with a tax-deductible gift today.

The Visions of Chief Plenty Coups

THE VISIONS OF CHIEF PLENTY COUPS

The Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard & Drumming Group traveled to Arlington, VA on November 9, 2021, to participate in the 100-year anniversary ceremonies of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

They honored their legendary leader Chief Plenty Coups, who 100 years ago was selected by his fellow Native American Chiefs to represent all native tribes at the inaugural ceremonies of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This project is supported by and will be documented by the Montana State Parks Foundation, in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.

SOMERS BEACH STATE PARK

On December 21st, 2020, the Montana Land Board voted unanimously to approve the Somers Beach acquisition by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to become a new State Park!

The Sliter family of Flathead County has generously committed a $125,000 matching challenge to raise needed funding for long-term operations and maintenance of the site as a State Park.

Somers Beach Project
Chief Plenty Coups

Alternative Lodging Options For Parks

Since 2020 and 2021, we've been working to fundraise for purchase, and construct durable, attractive lodging structures to provide alternatives to camping at Montana State Parks.

In 2021, we provided an alternative Lodging housing unit for park staff and volunteers at Chief Plenty Coups State Park.

We also selected and purchased a 20ft Yurt from Shelter Designs of Missoula to be placed on a bluff overlooking Glendive and the lower Yellowstone River Valley at Makoshika State Park.

SHARED BICYCLE CAMPING AREA AT LEWIS & CLARK CAVERNS STATE PARK

We supported the opportunity for bicyclists and hikers to travel through the state of Montana by providing shared camping areas for individuals and groups traveling by bicycle or hikers on foot, with a no-turn-away policy.

The camping area we provided matching funding for is designed specifically to support & optimize the bicyclists’ and hikers' needs when travelling long distances.

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Frenchtown Pond State park

This project seeks to develop an ADA kayak and canoe launch, fishing dock, access trail, and accessible parking at Frenchtown Pond State Park

Fort Owen State Park

We seek to preserve and restore the original trading post structures including repairs to the adobe walls, the roofs, and foundation. Additionally, improving and expanding the interpretive, cultural, and historical displays held within the buildings and other locations within the park will take place in the next two years.

Accessing Fort Owen State Park, which is currently limited, will also be addressed by improving road access, building additional visitor parking, and providing new access for school and tour busses.

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RECENT

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

During the past years we have worked hard to complete very ambitious projects that have had a positive impact in the experience of park visitors and have helped create the next generation of State Parks enthusiasts. Check out some of our completed projects.

We are truly proud of these accomplishments!

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WILD HORSE ISLAND STATE PARK

The Wild Horse Island Unit of Flathead Lake State Park receives around 20,000 visitors annually who seek world-class wildlife viewing opportunities.

In 2019 and 2020 we worked on several immediate project opportunities that improved wildlife habitat, improved park access, and enhanced the visitor experience.

SLUICE BOXES STATE PARK

The trail to the Sluice Boxes State Park overlook may lead to one of the most spectacular views in Central Montana, but the path itself is in bad shape and getting worse every day.

Currently, the trail passes through areas that are wet and muddy from a year-round spring.  Hikers, just trying to keep feet dry and clean, avoid the trail in this area and subsequently cause a lot of erosion and trampling of native plants nearby.

As if the mud and muck were not enough, the trail then climbs to a steep cliff area where negotiating the steep climbs and descents often proves too much for many park visitors.

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Shelter at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

LEWIS & CLARK CAVERNS STATE PARK

  • A large, custom built shade and weather shelter at Lewis and Clark Caverns to help the park offer alternative caverns tours to visitors with mobility limitations in the spring of 2020
  • Provided matching funds for the development of a hike/bike-in campsite at the main campground of the park
  • Earth Day volunteer event in April 2019

FLATHEAD ACTION FUND

When the 66th Montana Legislature took decisive action to keep Big Arm State Park in the state parks system in March of 2019, the Montana State Parks Foundation established the Flathead Action Fund to help support the immediate and possible future needs for the purchase, restoration, and eventual improvement of Big Arm and the five other State Parks on Flathead Lake.

Shore at Big Arm State Park
Shore at Wild Horse Island

WILD HORSE ISLAND STATE PARK

  • Installed landing site kiosks, trail marker signs, and built new visitor information stations
  • Treated and manually removed several acres of invasive weeds and plants
  • Trail maintenance, construction, and facility maintenance

LONEPINE STATE PARK

  • New visitor information kiosks
  • Interpretive program equipment
  • New Archery targets
Lone Pine State Park
Milltown State Park

MILLTOWN STATE PARK

  • Installed park benches
  • Planted trees, bushes and native plants

Tongue River Reservoir State Park

Repaired and replaced critical components of the Fish Cleaning Station located near the Tongue River Reservoir Marina

Tongue River Reservoir State Park
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SLUICE BOXES STATE PARK

  • Trail design
  • Property boundary survey

MAKOSHIKA STATE PARK

  • Trail design and consulting
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Wayfarers State Park 1

WAYFARERS STATE PARK

  • Lending library
  • New park benches

SMITH RIVER STATE PARK

  • Funded a ranger position for 2017
Smith River State Park
Madison Buffalo Jump State Park 5-min

MADISON BUFFALO JUMP STATE PARK

  • Paid for annual property lease

NATIONAL IMPACT

We funded the Annual Meeting of the National Association of State Parks Directors in Missoula, Montana in September 2017.

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GET INVOLVED

Montana's State Parks embody the best things about our state.  Clean, natural, accessible to everyone, our parks create a shared sense of pride in our communities.  However, state budget shortfall, natural disasters, and increasing use have left our parks needing serious work.

A donation to the Montana State Parks Foundation helps fund projects like the ones described below.  Projects that improve our parks and ensure that they will remain great for generations to come.  Please help your parks with a tax-deductible gift today.

A donation to the Montana State Parks Foundation helps fund projects like the ones described below.  Projects that improve our parks and ensure that they will remain great for generations to come.  Please help your parks with a tax-deductible gift today.

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