Business Description
Gateway to Glacier Trail is a non-profit citizens organization with a goal of building a safe bicycle/pedestrian paths.
OUR MISSION: Developing and maintaining a network of trails within the Greater Glacier Ecosystem to foster stewardship and connect communities to our open spaces.
Current and Future Projects:
Gateway to Glacier Trail: The project that started it all. The Gateway to Glacier Trail, aims to complete a safe off-highway path from Columbia Falls to Glacier National Park. Phase one of the project was completed in 2016. This included 7 miles of paved paths for cyclists, walkers, runners and other recreationalists. A safe and complete path now exists from Hungry Horse to West Glacier, Montana. This phase also included a Welcome Gazebo in Hungry Horse. This staging area provides a safe, off-trail area to park vehicles and get onto the trail. The gazebo was built from parts of the Old Steel Bridge in Kalispell and designed by local Metaphoric Artist, Jeffrey Funk. Fall of 2018 saw the completion the South Fork of the Flathead bridge reconstruction. This included a separated path on the bridge, as well access from the path to the west side of the South Fork of the Flathead River. We have secured funding through the Federal Lands Access Program, for a 2.7 mile trail from Columbia Falls to Bad Rock Canyon. Optimistically, construction should begin summer of 2020. We have also successfully lobbied the Montana Department of Transportation to include a bike path through Badrock Canyon as part of a future planned highway upgrade.
Columbia Falls River Trail: Gateway to Glacier Trail has negotiated a license with Glencore, owners of the now defunct Columbia Falls Aluminum Company, to construct a trail on property along the Flathead River from Columbia Falls to Badrock Canyon. This will be a primitive trail that is approximately 3 miles long with access to this unique area of land directly adjacent to the community of Columbia Falls.
The Cedar Flats project proposes including expanded multi-use trails on National Forest land North of Columbia Falls.
