Seeley Lake ROCKS receives $30,000 grant for Hill 16 Trails

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake ROCKS received a $30,000 grant from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for use on Phase 1 of the Hill 16 Community Trail System (CTS). They look forward to continued work on the Lake View Trail within Phase 1 of the project this summer.

The Hill 16 Recreation Area lies between the community of Seeley Lake and Placid Lake including Placid Lake State Park. Hill-16 CTS was deemed a priority project in the Seeley Lake Trails Plan. This plan was the result of three years of locally led public outreach and facilitated discussion.

Phase 1 of the Hill 16 CTS is proposed on The Nature Conservancy (TNC) lands near Placid Lake. TNC staff have advised ROCKS on trail locations, wildlife habitat and other resource issues in keeping with wildlife and conservation values related to the CTS. Volunteers cleared more than two miles of old logging roads last fall.

The RTP grant is designated for the “Lake View Trail” within Phase 1 near Placid Lake State Park. The Lake View Trail includes 2.7 miles of logging roads and 2.3 miles of single track.

The RTP grant allows ROCKS to complete approximately half of Phase 1. Part of the match to this grant comes from the $2,000 grant they received from the Seeley Lake Community Foundation earlier this year.

Phase 2 is proposed on Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation land closer to Seeley Lake. Phase 2 trails, that are still waiting for state approval, will provide additional trail connections from the Seeley community.

ROCKS President Jim McLean said ROCKS is grateful for the support ROCKS has received for the Hill 16 Trail Project. The partnerships and expertise from surrounding landowners, MTB Missoula – a mountain bike and trail advocacy organization – and Western Conservation Project and the letters of support from organizations and members of the community have been invaluable.

McLean wrote in a press release, “Phase 1 & 2 will be safer for bikers by creating off-road travel options and will enhance the Seeley-Missoula Spur of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route – the 3,083 mile route from Jasper, Alberta to US/Mexico border.”