WE ARE WHITEFISH LEGACY PARTNERS
About Us
A NON-PROFIT PROTECTING LOCAL LANDS
Our Mission
Whitefish Legacy Partners is a non-profit organization whose community-minded vision ensures conservation, recreation and education on the lands around Whitefish for future generations.
CONSERVATION
Places Worth Protecting
Public lands are at the heart of the Flathead Valley. Whitefish Legacy Partners recognizes that clean water, recreation, thriving forests, uncluttered views and wildlife are a huge part of our way of life. The Places Worth Protecting campaign contributes to this legacy by placing local lands into permanent protection, ensuring public access to public lands, and continuing sustainable forest management. To date, our conservation efforts have protected 6,100 acres of vulnerable lands and provided Montana schools and universities with over $10 million dollars in much-needed revenue – without a single dollar of taxpayer money. The program is a win-win for all: our local protected lands are the backbone of the local and state tourism economies.
EDUCATION
Community Connections
Education on the Whitefish Trail serves as a portal to bring people outdoors and offers a unique opportunity to cultivate connections between our community, our natural lands, and our outdoor heritage. Whitefish Legacy Partners facilitates outings on the Whitefish Trail for all ages and strives to provide relevant school curriculum programs, encourage outdoor education, and increase awareness of our local natural resources. Our Whitefish Trail programs offer opportunities for our community to learn about the value of conservation, sustainable forestry, and open lands surrounding Whitefish. The WT Learning Pavilion at Lion Mountain offers a base for our year-round, free environmental education programs that educate locals, visitors, and youth about the interwoven elements of a thriving ecosystem while fostering an appreciation for the special places surrounding our community.
RECREATION
The Whitefish Trail
The Whitefish Trail is the anchor project of Whitefish Legacy Partners and is the result of community collaboration to preserve clean water, public access, recreation, thriving forests, uncluttered views and wildlife. To date, Whitefish Legacy Partners and the City of Whitefish have built 47 miles of trail and 15 trailheads readily accessed from town. The trail is comprised of stacked loops, scenic overlooks, beautiful single-track trail and gated logging roads.
With Whitefish Trail construction slated to continue over the next five to ten years, the Whitefish Trail provides a high-quality recreational experience that links the paved trails in the City of Whitefish and the mountain biking trails at Whitefish Mountain Resort with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) State Trust Lands, Flathead National Forest, MT Fish Wildlife and Parks (fishing and boating sites), Flathead Land Trust easement property, and multiple private owners.
