ROCKS - A place for all

Seeley Lake ROCKS' mission "To build healthy children, strong families and vibrant communities through outdoor recreation," has expanded significantly the past two years. Two years ago, ROCKS [Regional Outdoor Center for Kinetic Sports] was known primarily as the group that bought skis for the elementary school and promoted youth XC skiing. Today we have dozens of volunteers also helping with an ice rink at the elementary school and with new multi-use trails above Placid Lake.

COMMUNITY ICE RINK: The Seeley Lake Community Ice Rink, is getting geared up for another exciting skating season. Located on the athletic fields right next to SLE, the ice surface will be expanded by an additional 50 feet in length to allow for larger crowds and a variety of different skating activities.

Thanks to a generous grant from Missoula County and local donations, we will be adding a new electric pole and light to allow for early evening skates and fun Friday and Saturday events. Also, plans are in the works for a shed that will house the skates (and possibly cross-country skis) for children and the community to use. Benches for changing and ice clearing equipment will also be stored in the shed.

Season begins early December and extends through March, weather permitting. Contact Garry Swain at 406-499-2966 for more info.

PLACID LAKE TRAILS: Today we have 7.3 miles of multi-use trails starting on Placid Lake Road about a half mile from Highway 83 and connecting all the way to Tuppers Lake. The centerpiece of this trail is the new two-mile, $40,000 single-track "Lake View Trail" that sits on a bluff just north of Placid Lake. As the name implies, the "Lake View Trail" has wonderful views of Placid Lake.

The non-motorized, multi-use (hike, bike, ride horse) trail is wild enough to be quiet but also close enough that you can hear the loons. The remaining trails are mostly single-track trails converted from old logging roads.

The trails:

• Give local residents and visitors new opportunities for shorter hikes relatively close to Seeley Lake.

• Greatly enhance trail use opportunities adjacent to Placid Lake State Park, encouraging visitors to stay longer and helping the local economy.

• Make bike travel to Placid Lake State Park safer and more scenic. This will encourage the "Great Divide" riders to travel from Seeley Lake to Placid Lake and to Missoula.

All the trails are located on The Nature Conservancy (TNC) land in the "Hill-16" area between Seeley Lake and Placid Lake. ROCKS began working with TNC and the Western Conservation Project (Andy Baur) in January, 2018. We received a $30,000 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in the spring of 2019. ROCKS raised the remaining $10,000 locally. TNC and ROCKS have worked to blend responsible forest and wildlife stewardship, with responsible use of the land to enhance the land values and local economy.

The most visible part of the new trails is the "gateway" located near the Placid Lake State Park. ROCKS volunteers built a 160-foot Jackleg fence near the fork of the Placid Lake Road to keep motorized traffic off the new non-motorized trails.

ROCKS is still raising money to install signs on the trails, and to help with weed control.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: ROCKS raised funds several years ago to purchase the yurt /warming hut at the XC ski trailhead. The Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club and ROCKS work together to maintain the yurt, cut firewood and to heat the yurt during the ski season.

WE APPRECIATE LOCAL SUPPORT: ROCKS is growing. We have been blessed with grants to finance large projects but we remain a local group depending on local volunteers and local matching funds. We appreciate the generous support of this community and look forward to working together in the future.