Tour of Johnston Conservation Easement
2025-08-03 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
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
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)
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
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: 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

Easter Egg Hunt at Harrell Forest
2026-04-04 11:00 - 13:00 UTC | Harrell Forest, 1017 Bigfork Stage Road, Bigfork, MT, 59911
Hop on over to Harrell Forest on Saturday, April 4, for a family-friendly adventure hosted by Flathead Land Trust! Located just outside of Bigfork, our community trails offer the perfect backdrop for a spring Easter Egg hunt through the trees. Receive candy and cash prizes at this FREE event!
We’re hiding eggs along the lower sections of the Harrell Forest trail system for children up to age 12. Kids will be divided by age group into three groups to find eggs in a location suited for their age level. Cash prizes increase with age with up to $10 hidden in eggs for the oldest participants.
When: Saturday, April 4, 11:00 a.m.
Where: Harrell Forest Community Trails (1017 Bigfork Stage Road)
What to Bring: An Easter basket and sturdy walking shoes
Sign Up: Please RSVP at: lkatzman@flatheadlandtrust.org
Please Note: Registration is required as the number of participants is limited.

Foys to Blacktail Community Forest Project Kick-off Celebration
2026-05-01 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Herron Park, 2310 Foys Lake Rd., Kalispell, MT, 59901
1,100 Acres Protected: A Celebration of Land and Community
Join Flathead Land Trust and our project partners at the Foys Community Center at Herron Park on Friday, May 1, at 5:30 p.m. as we celebrate a massive conservation milestone.
Together, we’ve successfully secured over 1,100 acres of land for future generations. This evening is a tribute to the power of stewardship and the incredible community that made it possible. Come and hear the behind-the-scenes story of the project, enjoy music by BlueGrass Trio, “Mossy Rock“, local snacks and beverages, and connect with fellow supporters.

When: Friday, May 1, 2026 | 5:30 p.m.
Where: Foys Community Center (Herron Park, west of Kalispell)
What: Short project presentation, refreshments, and community mingling.

This project was only possible through the extensive collaboration between Flathead Land Trust, Foys to Blacktail Trails, the Griffith Family Foundation, Trust for Public Land, Whitefish Community Foundation (and the 11 generous donors who were instrumental in providing the initial funding to secure the land!) and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Many thanks to Flathead Lake Brewing Co., Tamarack Brewing Co., Ceres Bakery and Mossy Rock for their generous donations!

The Land Affair 2026 is Sold Out! If you have already purchased a ticket, you may still pre-purchase raffle tickets at the link below:
2026-07-30 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | The FARM Montana, 6850 MT Hwy 35, Bigfork, MT, 59911, United States
Join Us for The Land Affair!
Celebrate the landscapes that define our home at Flathead Land Trust’s premier summer event. The Land Affair returns on Thursday, July 30, for an evening dedicated to protecting the spectacular open spaces, clean water, and wildlife habitat of northwest Montana.
We are gathering at the stunning FARM Montana (Wrangler Springs Ranch), located just outside of Bigfork. It’s the perfect backdrop to toast to our recent conservation wins and look ahead to the future of conservation in northwest Montana.
Event Details
When: Thursday, July 30 | Doors open at 6:00 pm
Where: The FARM Montana (Wrangler Springs Ranch), Bigfork
Music: Live Americana/Country/Rock music by the dynamic Radio Ranch
Food: Exquisite Montana BBQ, featuring locally sourced ingredients, catered by Forage
Why Join Us: To support local conservation and recreational access
We invite you to take advantage of Early Bird pricing. Purchase your tickets by July 15 to enjoy a special rate of $75 per person. After this date, tickets will transition to the standard rate of $85.

The refurbished 1905 historic barn, nestled within a 500-acre working ranch, is both the centerpiece for the event and the home of Paladin Conservancy. Through this unique setting, the Conservancy strives to preserve the Old West by engaging youth and the community in authentic Montana farming and ranching activities, fostering an appreciation for traditional western life skills.
Come and enjoy:

Live Americana/Country/Rock music by the dynamic Radio Ranch
Exquisite Montana BBQ (with vegetarian options), featuring locally sourced ingredients, catered by Forage
Refreshing local beer, wine and soft drinks
Exciting chances to win one of our raffle baskets
A focused program showcasing Flathead Land Trust’s recent and upcoming vital conservation achievements
An opportunity to directly support our future conservation efforts through a paddle raise, with a $5,000 match thanks to an anonymous donor

Under the historic barn’s grand rafters or beneath the Montana sky, The Land Affair at The FARM is an invitation to reconnect with the quiet power of the land and to ensure that these “wild places” remain a permanent part of our community’s story.
Come for the mission, stay for the food and music, and help us ensure that northwest Montana remains a place where nature and community thrive together.
New this year: Pre-purchase raffle tickets (or buy them at the event)! Please note: You must be present to win.

Thank you to Our Amazing Sponsors!
Title Sponsor: Corwin Auto Group of Kalispell

Save the Flathead Public Forum
2026-09-10 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview Dr., Kalispell, MT, 59901, United States
