Trailhead kiosk at Harrell Forest. It took a village! Kiosk design by Jim Atkinson, additional engineering by Eclipse Engineering, built by JD Thinning, sign design by Highline Design, project management by Forestoration.
After a years-long collaboration with partners The Trust for Public Land and Montana Land Reliance, we are proud to announce that the Harrell Forest Community Trails are now open to the public! Lying on the flanks of Swan Hill, just outside of the town of Bigfork, at 1017 Bigfork Stage Road, Harrell Forest offers stacked loop trails for up to 7 miles of hiking and biking round-trip treks. The flowy trails, with beautiful filtered vistas overlooking the pristine waters of Flathead Lake and Swan River and the majestic Swan Mountain Range, have gotten great reviews so far from trail users who are thrilled with the new public access.
Dream Adaptive Recreation staff exploring the new trails.
At an impassioned Grand Opening Ceremony at the trails on September 22, in conjunction with TPL’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Cindy Harrell Horn shared the personal significance of the project as legacy to the Harrell name. Alan Horn and Cindy Harrell Horn made the dream of the Harrell Forest Community Trails possible through their generous land donation to The Trust for Public Land in 2020. A drizzly early fall day did not deter many of the ~140 attendees from hiking and enjoying the trails after the ceremony.
The mission of Harrell Forest is three-fold: to provide recreation for the public, facilitate environmental education and to conserve the property’s open space, scenic and natural values. Now that the recreation component is in place, we plan to add educational signage and programs in the future. Working with Montana Land Reliance, we have ensured that the entire 238-acre property is forever protected under a conservation easement, preserving this stunning property for wildlife habitat and environmental benefit.
Just a reminder that the new trail system is open for non-motorized and day use only. We ask the public to enjoy the trails responsibly and follow all rules and trail etiquette including keeping dogs on leash, picking up pet waste, respecting adjacent private property and refraining from cutting of switchbacks or creating social trails. Horseback riding is not permitted on the property. For more information and to download a map of the Harrell Forest Community Trails:
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