GVLT NEWS
Get the Latest Trails and Land Conservation Updates
Final Piece of the Bridger Ridge Trail Secured for the Public
The iconic Bridger Ridge Trail is now fully and forever in public hands. Following a multi-year effort, a final 0.6-mile stretch of private land south of Mount Baldy has been officially transferred to the U.S. Forest Service.
On the Trail With Dayle: Where Will the Trails Take Me in 2026?
Guest columnist Dayle Hayes has set an ambitious goal for 2026: walk the entirety of Bozeman's Main Street to the Mountain trail system, which totals nearly 100 miles!
190 Acres of Vital Agricultural Land Permanently Protected Near South Cottonwood Creek
GVLT is thrilled to announce the permanent conservation of 190 acres near South Cottonwood Creek.
Northern Yellowstone Open Lands: 2025 Year in Review
2025 brought exciting wins and challenging setbacks in our efforts to support land conservation throughout the county. Learn more about the projects, the partnerships, and the people who make this work possible.
Pitching a ride: Bozeman community invited to help design new Bikefill park
Read Bozeman Daily Chronicle article.
GVLT’s Northern Yellowstone Open Lands Remains Nimble in Face of $25 Million Funding Loss
Read the December 2025 Montana Free Press article.
Public Input Requested: Bikefill Community Bike Park Moves to Design Phase with Contractor Selection
Following a successful major fundraising campaign that attracted more than 800 donors, GVLT, the City of Bozeman, and Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association (SWMMBA) are moving forward with plans to build Bikefill, a world-class community bike park for all ages and abilities.
We’re Hiring: GVLT Lands Director
We’d love to hear about your interest in becoming our next Lands Director, one of the great conservation leadership positions in the West. It’s a rare opportunity to help lead a highly respected and accomplished land trust in a region of remarkable beauty.
Thank You to Outgoing GVLT Board Members: Bill Cochran, Mimi Helvie, and Jeff Ott
As 2025 comes to a close, three of our amazing Board Members are preparing to wrap up their terms with GVLT. We want to express our deepest gratitude to Bill Cochran, Mimi Helvie, and Jeff Ott for their dedicated service to our organization and mission of trails and conservation.
On the Trail With Dayle: Is 10,000 steps a day a magic prescription?
On the Trail With Dayle Guest Columnist, Dayle Hayes, digs into where the advice to walk 10,000 steps a day came from and whether we should use it to judge our own activity and lifestyle.
A Note from Brendan: Reflecting on 12 Years with GVLT
Read reflections from GVLT Conservation Director Brendan Weiner as he wraps up his incredible 12-year tenure with the land trust and see messages of appreciation from colleagues and partners for his legacy of conservation.
Honoring a Legacy: Dotty Ballantyne Receives Lifetime Service Award
At our recent Field Day event, we were delighted to honor Dotty Ballantyne with the GVLT Lifetime Service Award for decades of dedication to preserving scenic beauty, supporting the organization, and cherishing our trail system.
Nine Miles of Bliss—The Yellowstone Shortline Trail
Learn how an abandoned railway was transformed into a scenic trail thanks to the persistence and dedication of two West Yellowstone women and support from countless local donations and grants, including $100,000 from the Gallatin County Open Lands Program.
The High-Tech Stroller: Getting Data to Make Trails More Accessible
GVLT Trail Stewardship Specialist Gill Thorp describes her summer gathering data with a high-tech stroller to help improve trail accessibility.
Burke Park Traverse Trail: Phase 2 Construction to Begin
The City of Bozeman and GVLT will begin Phase 2 construction on the Burke Park Traverse Trail on October 6, continuing efforts to formalize and improve a long-standing social trail on the western slope of Burke Park/Peets Hill.
The Power of Private Philanthropy in Protecting Open Lands
Private philanthropy has emerged as a critical driver in land conservation, helping protect productive agricultural, wildlife-rich, and scenic open lands.
A 'Needle in a Haystack': The Rare Acquisition That Became Gallatin County's Beloved Park
Bozeman’s beloved Gallatin County Regional Park exists thanks to the residents of Gallatin County and their support for the Open Lands Program, which helped fund the acquisition of the 87-acre park. Learn more about how a rare opportunity became a stunning jewel.
On the Trail With Dayle: Trail Haikus for Me and You
On the Trail With Dayle Guest Columnist, Dayle Hayes, shares haikus from friends, family, and the wider GVLT community inspired by trails and open lands.
On the Trail With Dayle: Where have all the wildflowers gone?
Guest columnist Dayle Hayes is back with stories and interesting details about her favorite wildflower. Can you guess what it is?
Rocky Creek Farm: How a conservation easement kept this land open for agriculture and the community
The already established conservation easement on Rocky Creek Farm was important to Matt and Jacy Rothschillers and their group of investors when they purchased the property in 2017 to expand their certified-organic Gallatin Valley Botanical operations. The Gallatin County Open Lands program helped cover transaction costs for the project when the easement was created by the previous landowner, Pete Fay, in 2006.
