Flathead Land Trust

Owen Sowerwine Celebration
2024-07-10 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | MT

End of Year Membership & Partner Appreciation Celebration
2024-12-12 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Meridian Office Complex, 690 N. Meridian, Kalispell, MT, 59901, United States
Please join us on December 11th to celebrate our successes in 2024, and THANK YOU for the fantastic year we’ve had together. Our member and partner appreciation year-end celebration is our appreciation to our dedicated donors, supporters, members and partners. It’s YOU who make successful community-based conservation possible! We’ll provide complimentary food by Cartwright Catering, drinks, live music, and some exciting updates of what we have on tap for 2023. We will also be recognizing this years recipient of the FLT Conservation Leadership Award.
The event will be hosted at our office starting at 6:00 PM. Our office is located at: 690 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell.
Please RSVP with Paul Travis at 406-752-8293 or ptravis@www.flatheadlandtrust.org. We hope to see you there!

Wintering Birds of Prey Field Trip, Co-Sponsored by Owl Research Institute
2025-02-01 | MT
Denver Holt, world-renowned owl and bird of prey expert and founder of the Owl Research Institute, and Laura Katzman of Flathead Land Trust will lead a tour of the wintering birds of prey in the Mission Valley on Saturday, February 1. The Owl Research Institute monitors raptors each winter in the Mission Valley with monthly surveys. The tour route will be based on those surveys and will include lands that are important to wintering birds of prey that are in the process of being conserved. Last year on a similar tour participants saw rough-legged hawks, red-tailed hawks, northern harrier, bald eagles, and American kestrel as well as other birds. Group size is limited and carpooling will be required. To sign up please e-mail: lkatzman@www.flatheadlandtrust.org.

Community Tap Night at Tamarack Brewing
2025-02-24 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Tamarack Brewing Company, 05 Blacktail Rd Suite #1, Lakeside, MT, 59922
Join us at Tamarack Brewing Company on Monday, February 24th, from 5-8 PM for Community Tap Night! We’ll be raising our glasses to protect northwest Montana’s stunning landscapes, clean water, and abundant wildlife through community-based conservation.
​For every pint sold during the event, Tamarack Brewing Company will donate $0.50 to Flathead Land Trust. Plus, all week long, you can round up your bill to further support their mission of preserving the open spaces and natural beauty that make the Flathead Valley so special.
​Come sip, support, and celebrate conservation—one pint at a time!

Community Benefit Day at Backslope Brewing
2025-04-08 11:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Backslope Brewing, 1107 9th St W, Columbia Falls, MT, 59912
Mark your calendars! On Tuesday, April 8th, Backslope Brewing Company is generously supporting Flathead Land Trust. Enjoy your favorite Backslope brews and tasty menu items all day long, and a percentage of the sales will be donated to support our community-based conservation work in northwest Montana. It’s a delicious way to make a difference! Meet and greet Flathead Land Trust Board and Staff from 5:00 until 7:00. See you there!

Grand Opening of Danford Reed’s Slough Wildlife Viewing Area
2025-04-12 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Denver) | Reed’s Slough
Please join us for the grand opening of the Reed’s Slough Wildlife Viewing Area on Saturday, April 12, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Space is limited, so please RSVP at info@flatheadlandtrust.org or (406) 752-8293.
This new viewing area is situated on private land graciously provided by the Danford family, and is protected by a conservation easement held by Flathead Land Trust. Thanks to funding from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and partners, the public can now enjoy this vital wetland habitat, a key stop for migratory waterfowl.
Learn about this special area and witness the migratory birds already arriving in the valley, with expert birders and spotting scopes to enhance your experience! The program will feature speakers from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Flathead Land Trust, Flathead Lakers, Flathead Audubon, and Flathead Wildlife.
Special thanks to the Danford family, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and all the partners who made this project possible!

Harrell Forest Community Day
2025-05-03 09:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver) | Harrell Forest, 1017 Bigfork Stage Road, Bigfork, MT, 59911
Get Ready to Explore! Harrell Forest Community Day is Saturday, May 3rd!
Mark your calendars: Harrell Forest Community Day is just around the corner, and we’re thrilled to invite you to a day of outdoor fun, learning, and community spirit on Saturday, May 3rd, from 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m.
Join us for a fantastic opportunity to discover the beauty and history of Harrell Forest right here in Bigfork! Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just looking for a fun family outing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Fun for All Ages:

Guided Hikes: See descriptions of our three fun, informative and diverse hikes below
Trivia Challenge: Test your knowledge of Harrell Forest with our engaging trivia game! Prizes are involved!
Conservation Corn Hole: Enjoy a friendly game of corn hole with a conservation twist!
Informational Table: Our friendly Flathead Land Trust staff will be on hand throughout the day to answer your questions about the forest, local conservation efforts, upcoming programs, and how you can get involved.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, May 3rd
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Harrell Forest (1017 Bigfork Stage Road, just east of Bigfork)
What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, water bottle, weather-appropriate clothing, and a curious mind!

We can’t wait to see you there for a day of exploration and community connection in the beautiful Harrell Forest!
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Guided Hikes (*Please email us to sign up for hikes!):

Rooted Connections: Discovering the Forest One Leaf at a Time (9:00-10:30 a.m.) Ready to leaf your worries behind? Join us for a moderately paced 2.7-mile round-trip hike, winding through quiet conifer forests and the elegant stillness of a birch stand, following gentle switchbacks along the way. As we walk, we’ll uncover clues—leaf shapes, bark textures, berries, buds, and more—that help us recognize the forest’s most iconic residents and the roles they play in this living story. This is your chance to sharpen your tree and shrub ID skills while deepening your connection to the land.
Forest Friends: Kids’ Hike (11:00-11:45 a.m.) This easy, 1.5-mile hike is perfect for young explorers and their responsible adult! Together, you’ll discover the important role forests and trees play in our ecosystem and how they support wildlife and improve air and water quality. It’s a fun, interactive way for kids to connect with nature while learning something new!
History in the Hills: The Story of Harrell Forest Hike (1:00-2:30 p.m.) Take a step back in time as we explore the history of Harrell Forest and the more recent story of conservation and construction of its community trail system. This 4-mile round-trip hike, featuring beautiful views of Flathead Lake from the overlook, will dive into the land’s past and the collaborative efforts that transformed it into a cherished community resource.

*Please email us at: info@flatheadlandtrust.org to sign up for hikes

Tails on the Trails: Dog Day at Harrell Forest
2025-06-07 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Denver) | Harrell Forest, 1017 Bigfork Stage Road, Bigfork, MT, 59911
Mark Your Calendars for “Tails on the Trails”!
Please join us for “Tails on the Trails” on National Trails Day – June 7th (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
Celebrate National Trails Day at Harrell Forest with a tail-wagging adventure for you and your dog! Hit the trails together and learn tips for responsible trail use while enjoying the beauty of the forest. At 10:00 a.m., Sarah Luna of Last Best K9 will lead a free leash training workshop to help you and your dog build good trail habits. Space is limited, so reservations are required. Throughout the day, dogs can bring their human by the Harrell Forest B.A.R.K. ranger table and earn their very own Harrell Forest B.A.R.K. ranger certification. It’s a pawsome way to explore nature responsibly and keep the trails safe for all!
Join us as we celebrate 40 years of Protecting and Connecting! To register for a hike or the leash training session, contact Jen at 406-752-8293 or info@flatheadlandtrust.com. We can’t wait to see you there!

Protect and Connect! Flathead Land Trust’s 40th Anniversary Celebration
2025-06-21 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver) | Kohrs Property, 505 Lodgepole Road, Whitefish, MT, 59937
Celebrate 40 Years of Community-Based Conservation with Flathead Land Trust!

Please join us for a special day celebrating 40 years of conservation in northwest Montana at Flathead Land Trust’s Anniversary Celebration: Protect and Connect! Tickets are on sale now for $40/person ($1 for every year of conservation). Kids under 10 are FREE!

We invite you to gather on Saturday, June 21st, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the stunning Kohrs property, nestled along the Stillwater River just west of Whitefish. This beautiful 655-acre landscape, protected in 2022 through a conservation easement with Flathead Land Trust, showcases some of the vital agricultural land, forest and riparian habitat we work tirelessly to preserve.

Come and enjoy:

Live music by the talented Mike Murray
Delicious picnic lunch created by local caterer, Uptown Hearth

Refreshing beer and wine

Fun for the whole family with conservation corn hole, face painting, fairy hair, trivia, guided walking tours, and hay rides

Exciting chances to win one of our raffle baskets

An inspiring program featuring speakers integral to Flathead Land Trust’s 40-year history

An opportunity to directly support our future conservation efforts through a paddle raise

This is a wonderful chance to connect with fellow conservation enthusiasts, learn more about Flathead Land Trust’s impact over the past four decades, and experience firsthand the beauty of a protected landscape.

The Kohrs property, a testament to the power of voluntary land protection, offers a picturesque backdrop for our celebration. Its conservation easement ensures the long-term preservation of its valuable agricultural lands, thriving forests and critical riparian areas along the Stillwater River, offering habitat and connectivity for plentiful wildlife.

We can’t wait to celebrate this significant milestone with you! Mark your calendars for June 21st and join us for a day of community, conservation, and connection at the Protect and Connect! 40th Anniversary Celebration.

Interested in Becoming a Business Sponsor?

Tour of Johnston Conservation Easement
2025-08-03 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | MT
Tour the Johnston Conservation Easement with the Johnston family and Flathead Land Trust on Sunday, August 3 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Enjoy a morning stroll of this beautiful 682-acre property along the Flathead River northeast of Kalispell, farmed by the family for over a century. This free tour will be followed by a few words from the landowners and a provided picnic lunch.
Space is limited, so RSVP is required. Please email us to reserve your spot at: info@flatheadlandtrust.org.
Learn more about this incredible conservation easement HERE.

Kayak Tours of Conservation Along the Stillwater River
2025-08-09 09:00 - 19:00 UTC | MT
Paddle with Flathead Land Trust on a kayak tour of conserved areas along the Stillwater River on Saturday, August 9. The tour is about 5.5 miles long, and we will view conservation easements on the Kohrs property and the Kuhn’s Wildlife Management Area from the river.
There will be two tours – one from 9:00 a.m. to noon and the other from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. There is a limit of 10 participants on each tour. Please contact Laura at info@flatheadlandtrust.org with questions and to RSVP.

Great Fish Community Challenge Kickoff
2025-08-12 17:00 - 19:30 UTC | Glacier Bank Park, Home of the Range Riders, 25 McDermott Lane, Kalispell, MT, 59901, United States
Please join us on Tuesday, August 12 as we help kick off Whitefish Community Foundation’s Great Fish Community Challenge! Enjoy this FREE party, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Glacier Bank Park, home of the Glacier Range Riders. Every participant will be entered into a raffle and can help us win one of five $1,000 grants! At this family-friendly event, you can explore 85 interactive nonprofit booths, enjoy delicious free food and beverages, and take part in activities for all ages. We are thrilled to participate again in this incredible campaign!
The Great Fish Community Challenge is a multi-week fundraising campaign that has raised an incredible $35 million since 2015 for local nonprofits. It’s the perfect way to make your gift go further.
When you give through the Great Fish Community Challenge, your donation is amplified by a percentage matching grant from Whitefish Community Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of the Circle of Giving donors and others who supported the Great Fish Match Fund, the 2024 match totaled $1.1 million!
Making a gift is simple and impactful. You can support multiple organizations with a single transaction, and 100% of your donation goes directly to the nonprofits you choose.
Learn more HERE.

Community Pint Night at Bias Brewing
2025-08-14 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | MT
Please join us at Bias Brewing on Thursday, August 14! $1 of every pint sold goes to Flathead Land Trust and our conservation projects.
Plus, Bias Brewing is raffling off a goodie bag with some fun merchandise!
Come for camaraderie & commemorative mugs and raise a glass to support our mission!

Tour of Nelson Conservation Easement
2025-09-20 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | MT
Join the Nelson family and Flathead Land Trust to tour this remote and beautiful property along Good Creek, northwest of Whitefish. The tour will explore the property’s forested areas and open meadows on Saturday, September 20, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Prepare to be captivated by this ecologically rich property, where abundant wetlands, sparkling streams, and lush wet forests thrive.
Space is limited, so RSVP is required. Please email us to reserve your spot at: info@flatheadlandtrust.org.
Explore the interesting Nelson family story and the compelling reasons behind this incredible conservation easement HERE.

"Rooted at the Edge" Book Event: Reading and Signing - Kalispell
2025-10-08 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Northwest Montana History Museum, 124 Second Ave. East, Kalispell, MT, 59901
An Evening with Donna Erickson: Rooted at the Edge
Join us for a stimulating experience with author and researcher Donna Erickson, who has spent a lifetime immersed in the complexities of land use. Erickson will visit the Northwest Montana History Museum on October 8 and Frame of Reference Gallery on October 9 to discuss her book, Rooted at the Edge: Ranching Where the Old West and New West Collide.
She will share insights from the book, exploring the challenges and ideas facing land squeezed between settlement and wilderness. Discover the various outcomes for these landscapes and what it means for conservation in our community.
This is a great opportunity to learn from an expert and engage in a thought-provoking conversation.
We hope to see you there!
Details:
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8; free admission
Northwest Montana History Museum, 124 Second Ave. East, Kalispell
Moderated by Mark Schiltz, Western Manager for The Montana Land Reliance
Learn more HERE.

Donna Erickson is the author of Rooted at the Edge: Ranching Where the Old West and New West Collide, published by the University of Nebraska Press in April of this year. Erickson grew up on a ranch in Missoula’s North Hills and was a professor of landscape architecture and planning at the University of Michigan for 16 years. Since leaving academia, she has consulted with land conservation groups across the west from her home in Missoula. Donna’s previous book is MetroGreen: Connecting Open Space in North American Cities.
Rooted at the Edge is a work of creative nonfiction that paints a portrait of a ranching community in a threatened landscape steeped in history, conflict, and beauty. Erickson explores the hilly skirt of ground at the northern boundary of Missoula, Montana, separating the town from the wilderness beyond. The North Hills region represents the critical–and often highly personal–issues at play at the edge of many western towns.
Learn more about the book HERE.

"Rooted at the Edge" Book Event: Reading and Signing - Whitefish
2025-10-09 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Frame of Reference Gallery, 235 Central Avenue, Whitefish, MT, 59937, United States
An Evening with Donna Erickson: Rooted at the Edge
Join us for a stimulating experience with author and researcher Donna Erickson, who has spent a lifetime immersed in the complexities of land use. Erickson will visit the Northwest Montana History Museum on October 8 and Frame of Reference Gallery on October 9 to discuss her book, Rooted at the Edge: Ranching Where the Old West and New West Collide.
She will share insights from the book, exploring the challenges and ideas facing land squeezed between settlement and wilderness. Discover the various outcomes for these landscapes and what it means for conservation in our community.
This is a great opportunity to learn from an expert and engage in a thought-provoking conversation.
We hope to see you there!
Details:
6:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9; free admission
Frame of Reference Gallery, 235 Central Ave, Whitefish, MT
Moderated by Paul Travis, Executive Director, Flathead Land Trust
Learn more HERE.

Donna Erickson is the author of Rooted at the Edge: Ranching Where the Old West and New West Collide, published by the University of Nebraska Press in April of this year. Erickson grew up on a ranch in Missoula’s North Hills and was a professor of landscape architecture and planning at the University of Michigan for 16 years. Since leaving academia, she has consulted with land conservation groups across the west from her home in Missoula. Donna’s previous book is MetroGreen: Connecting Open Space in North American Cities.
Rooted at the Edge is a work of creative nonfiction that paints a portrait of a ranching community in a threatened landscape steeped in history, conflict, and beauty. Erickson explores the hilly skirt of ground at the northern boundary of Missoula, Montana, separating the town from the wilderness beyond. The North Hills region represents the critical–and often highly personal–issues at play at the edge of many western towns.
Learn more about the book HERE.

Bingo & Beers at Sacred Waters Brewing Co.
2025-11-11 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Sacred Waters Brewing Co., 3250 U.S. Hwy 2 E., Kalispell, MT, 59901
Come on out to Sacred Waters Brewing Co, and play bingo, drink beer, & win prizes! All for a great cause. Sacred Waters will donate $1 of each pint sold between 6-8pm to Flathead Land Trust on Tuesday, November 11.

Conservation Easement Panel
2025-11-20 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview Dr., Kalispell, MT, 59901, United States
Have you ever wondered, “What exactly is a conservation easement?” or whether it could be a good fit for your land? Join us for a free, in-depth panel discussion to learn how conservation easements can help you plan your family legacy while preserving the beauty and productivity of our landscapes.
Event Details

Date & Time: Thursday, November 20, 2025, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Location: Flathead Valley Community College – Arts & Technology Building, Room 144 A/B, Kalispell
INFO & RSVP: info@flatheadlandtrust.org; 406-752-8293

Local groups will be joined by landowners who have already placed easements on their property to share firsthand insights into how conservation easements can keep agricultural, forest, and open lands in family ownership for generations, explain important financial, tax, and logistical considerations, and show how these tools help preserve our landscapes and support sustainable land stewardship across the Flathead, Swan, Mission, and Lincoln Valleys.
This event is presented by Flathead Land Trust, Montana Land Reliance, Flathead Lakers, and Vital Ground Foundation – organizations dedicated to conserving land, water, and wildlife across northwest Montana.
We invite you to be part of this important conversation about how conservation tools can help preserve our region’s landscapes and support sustainable land stewardship for generations to come.
Warm regards,
Flathead Land Trust, Montana Land Reliance, Flathead Lakers & Vital Ground Foundation
