Current Projects
Discover and support our current and on-going state park priority projects.
We are collaborating with the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center, the Montana Wild Education Center, and Spring Meadow Lake State Park to enhance recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. Our goal is to donate adaptive recreation equipment for free shared use at all three locations and the Ten Mile Creek Trail System.
Montana's newest state park, Somers Beach is currently under development to create a trail system, preserve habitat and create camping opportunities.
The Montana State Parks Foundation will seek approval from the Montana State Parks and Recreation Board to accept this land donation and establish the Judith Landing State Park. Located at the confluence of the Missouri and Judith Rivers, the location is an incredible wildlife habitat, recreational area, and historical site. The public is invited to review and comment on the proposed Environmental Assessment by December 14th, 2024. If approved, MSPF will donate the land to the State of Montana. Learn more here!
Recent Project Highlights
During the spring of 2024, the Montana State Parks Foundation purchased a 26.36 property and donated the land to the Missouri Headwaters State Park. The donation improves connectivity within the park, enhances mixed use recreational opportunities, and will allow for protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat and preservation of the historical site of Gallatin City II. The project is on-going and future stages will focus on cleanup and preparing the site's structures for integration into the park.
This project was made possible by the generous support of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the community of Three Forks, Montana.
The swimming dock was a beloved summer tradition on Whitefish Lake until 2023, when it was removed due to its poor condition and not replaced due to lack of funding. In the summer of 2024, a volunteer led fundraising campaign secured funding for a new dock and additional park improvements to be completed for the 2025 summer.
The preservation of Fort Owen, completed in 2024, was an epic effort rooted in research and a commitment to historical accuracy. Located in the ancestral home of the Bitterroot Salish Tribe, Fort Owen served as a gathering place for trade among white settlers, immigrants, and the Salish and Nez Perce people. Established in the mid-1850s, its remaining structures are among the oldest and most historically significant in Montana. The revitalization project preserved the east barracks with handmade adobe bricks from locally sourced clay, developed new educational materials, acquired land for a parking lot, and improved the trail system.
This project was made possible by the generous support of the Helmsley Charitable Trust and with the dedication of the Friends of Fort Owen.
The popular Greer Gulch Trail winds is through forested hillsides on the way up to Lewis and Clark Caverns, offering a shaded moderate hike that connects the lower area of the park to the upper cave area. The trail and footbridge had become degraded and needed repairs. To protect the sensitive stream running along the trail, a team of Montana Conservation Corps and park staff hand built the new trail system and bridge in 2024.
This project was made possible by the generous support of the Montana Gift Corral.
In 2023 a new, accessible boat launch was installed at Frenchtown Pond, expanding outdoor recreational opportunities for people with physical limitations.
This project was made possible by the generous support of the National Environmental Education Foundation.
The Makoshika Yurt provides an alternative lodging option in Montana's badlands. The yurt is equipped with a ramp, queen bed, bunk bed, pac-n-play, tables, chairs and couches. The private campsite (#21) offers a comfortable and accessible camping experience with a view that rivals the most remote backcountry locations. Make your reservations today!
This project was made possible by the generous support of the Treacy Foundation and Montana Dakota Utilities.
Lone Pine and Lake Elmo were the first state parks to introduce all terrain wheelchairs, available for free by reservation on 2022. The Action Track brand all terrain chairs are burly, trail worthy and creates more opportunities for members of the disability community to spend time on the trails.
This project was made possible by the generous support of the Dana and Christopher Reeves Foundation and Hydro Flask Parks for All.
Project Archives
History, Culture and Education
- Fort Owen State Park: Preservation, research, and updating of educational materials and interpretive signage.
- Sluice Boxes State Park: Nomination for National Record of Historic Places.
- Chief Plenty Coups State Park: Vision of Chief Plenty Coups Documentary Film, Day of Honor Apsáalooke Tribal Speaker sponsorship.
- Wildhorse Island: Information center sponsorship.
Park Improvements
- South Sandstone Fishing Access Site: Dock donation.
- Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park: Greer Gulch Trail Improvements, weather shelters, bike and hike in campsite.
- Wayfarers State Park: Lending library and benches.
- Chief Plenty Coups State Park: Tiny house for employee housing and benches.
- Sluice Boxes State Park: Trail design, property boundary survey.
- Makoshika State Park: Trail design and yurt.
- Tongue River Reservoir State Park: Fishing cleaning station repair.
- Milltown State Park: Park Benches, native plant landscaping.
- Lone Pine State Park: Information kiosks, interpretive program equipment, new archery targets.
- Wild Horse Island State Park: Landing site kiosks, trail markers, visitor information stations, invasive weed removal, trail maintenance.
Park Accessibility
- Lone Pine State Park: Action Track all terrain wheelchairs, available for complimentary reservations.
- Lake Elmo State Park: Action Track all terrain wheelchairs, available for complimentary reservations.
- Frenchtown Pond State Park: Safe Board adaptive kayak launch dock.
New and Growing Parks
- Missouri Headwaters State Park: Donation of 26 acres.
- Somers Beach State Park: Supported the development of the Montana's newest park.
- Fort Owen State Park: Funding of parking lot acquisition.
Building Advocates
- Friends Group Network
- Park Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Communications Internship for students
- Legislative advocacy
- Volunteer opportunities
