Current and Upcoming Projects
In 2024, the Montana State Parks Foundation partnered with American Prairie to donate 109 acres to the State of Montana, establishing Judith Landing State Park. While the property offers exceptional recreation opportunities and important wildlife habitat, its greatest significance lies in its extraordinary history.
Known locally as the PN Ranch or Judith Landing Historic District, this landscape preserves thousands of years of Indigenous history alongside many defining moments in Montana's past. The site includes evidence of deep prehistory, Indigenous cultural use, military history, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Montana's ranching heritage, and the location of the state's first dinosaur discovery, among many other stories.
To support the new park, the State of Montana invested $2.6 million in site development. The funding will create a rustic heritage park with amenities such as camping, trails, and restrooms while preserving the site's historic character and natural landscape. However, no funding was dedicated to historical research, and only limited funding was available for interpretation.
Although much of the site's history has been documented, significant gaps remain in our understanding of its Indigenous history and local heritage. Developing the park without first building a more complete understanding of these stories would be a missed opportunity to fully interpret this remarkable place.
With support from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Montana State Parks Foundation once again partnered with The Leona B. and Harry M. Helmsley Charitable Trust to fund comprehensive research and interpretation.
“Judith Landing is a remarkable place where the landscapes of the Missouri River Breaks connect people to centuries of history,” said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “By supporting research and interpretation at the park, this project will help ensure that visitors can experience and understand the cultural and natural significance of this landscape for generations to come.”
Through this partnership, the park is undertaking a comprehensive research initiative that includes:
- Ethnographic research with Indigenous partners
- Oral history collection with local ranching families
- A biological inventory of the surrounding landscape
- Development of a comprehensive interpretive plan
With additional support from LLCTLC, we are also documenting local heritage through expanded oral history and archival research, publishing these findings in a journal, and helping establish the Judith Landing Friends Group to support the park's stewardship for generations to come. Stay tuned for exciting updates on this project and for opportunities to get invovled!
The Park Accessibility Project brings accessibility enhancements to state parks across Montana. Guided by the concept of "nothing about us without us", our accessibility projects are developed in collaboration with the Montana State Parks Accessibility Committee, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Staff, University of Montana and disability advocates and members of the disability community.
We're excited to have several current and upcoming accessibility projects across the state! To help fund the Park Accessibility Projects statewide, we have established the Skye Fund for Park Accessibility.
Project Goals:
- Install adaptive kayak dock and launch
- Install universally designed pathway from parking lot to dock and other amenities
- Donate an all terrain wheelchair and beach wheelchair
Project Updates (summer 2026): The dock and pathway have been fully funded and are currently being installed. We are continuing to fundraise for the final wheelchair expenses.
Thank you to our amazing sponsors LLCTLC, The Dana and Christopher Reeves Foundation, Bronco Wild and Americas State Parks, Northwestern Energy, Saint Peters Health, Appleton Furniture, Rotary of Helena, Aspen Adult Services and The Base Camp. Thank you to Brothers Tapworks and Capital Sports for event support.
Project Goals:
- Pilot inclusive park planning through the Inclusive Interdisciplinary Walk Move Audit (IIWMA) with representation across the disability community
- Develop Trail and Amenity Improvement Plan
- Develop or improve existing accessible trails on the waterfront, Harry Horn trail loop, and Lupine Loop lookout
- Improve amenities based on IIWMA, Trail and Amenity Improvement Plan and continued collaborative planning
Project Updates (summer 2026): The IIWMA (pictured) was completed in 2025 with leadership from the University of Montana. In 2026 we have contracted Summit Independent Living to develop the Trail and Amenity Improvement Plan and Montana Conservation Corps to complete the recommended improvements.
Thank you to our amazing sponsors LLCTLC, Weyerhaeuser Foundation, and the Whitefish Community Foundation and the FWP Trail Stewardship Program!
Upcoming Project Goals:
- Donate a new model of All Terrain Wheelchair to accommodate a steeper trail system
Upcoming Project Goals:
- Build accessible trail and shade shelter
Recent Project Highlights
The Montana State Parks Foundation is proud to support events that celebrate the history, cultures, and living traditions of Montana's state parks.
150th Commemoration of the Battle of the Rosebud
In 2026, with support from Talen Energy, we sponsored the 150th Commemoration of the Battle of the Rosebud, known by the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne as the Battle Where the Sister Saved Her Brother. The event brought together Tribal Nations, descendants, veterans, and community members for a day of remembrance featuring a keynote address, wreath-laying ceremony, reenactment, cultural demonstrations, traditional drumming and dancing, and a community meal.
Annual Day of Honor at Chief Plenty Coups State Park
With support from Red Road Publishers, we proudly sponsor the Annual Day of Honor at Chief Plenty Coups State Park. Held each summer, this free celebration honors the legacy of Chief Plenty Coups, the last traditional chief of the Crow (Apsáalooke) Nation, through traditional drumming and dancing, guest speakers, cultural demonstrations, and a community feast.
In 2025, we partnered with an anonymous donor and the Yellow Bay Unit of Flathead Lake State Park to help fund major park enhancements focused on accessibility and camping. With our support, the park installed an ADA-accessible waterfront tent campsite and a new waterfront access trail, alongside broader infrastructure improvements. The new campsites and waterfront upgrades make Yellow Bay more welcoming and enjoyable for all visitors. Be sure to check them out!
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.
In 2024, we partnered with American Prairie to donate 109 acres to establish Judith Landing State Park! Judith Landing State Park encompasses 109 acres along the confluence of the Judith and Missouri Rivers, offering rich opportunities for wildlife observation, boating, and fishing. The park’s landscape reflects Montana’s deep cultural heritage, from Indigenous history and early exploration to its long ranching tradition. Historic ranch structures, scenic river corridors, and diverse wildlife make Judith Landing a place of both natural beauty and educational significance.
The park is now open to the public and undergoing the first phase of development. Development plans include trails, camping, and stabilization of the historic buildings. With a rustic heritage designation, the park will maintain a natural landscape and preserve the historic assets without making major changes to the site.
We are committed to the future development of the park and are focusing on; Enhanced historic preservation of the PN Ranch Mansion and other historic buildings, research and interpretation, day use shelter, and accessible trails.
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 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 was installed in 2023 as an alternative lodging option in Montana's badlands. The yurt was equipped with a ramp, queen bed, bunk bed, pac-n-play, tables, chairs and couches. The private campsite (#21) offered a comfortable and accessible camping experience with a view that rivals the most remote backcountry locations.
This project was made possible by the generous support of the Treacy Foundation and Montana Dakota Utilities.
Sadly, the yurt burned on July 4th, 2025* in a wildfire that was started by lighting.
Thankfully the fire response was quick and effective, no one was injured and it was the only structure lost. We are committed to supporting the rebuilding of an accessible lodging option and are working directly with the park and Friends of Makoshika on wildfire recovery.
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.
Somers Beach State Park, located on the northwest shore of Flathead Lake, spans 106 acres of diverse shoreline, wetlands, and open grasslands. With the support of the Montana State Parks Foundation and many other partners, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks acquired the property in 2021. The park offers nearly a half-mile of lake access and is part of a 2,400-acre conservation corridor that supports more than 229 bird species. Recent improvements include new on-site host facilities, a bear-proof maintenance building, donor recognition signage, and expanded dynamic beach areas that improve wetland health and year-round access.
Looking ahead, plans for Somers Beach include paving the park’s entry road and parking area, creating an ADA-accessible boardwalk and hand-launch area, and developing a thoughtful trail system with interpretive kiosks, picnic shelters, and rental cabins. Together, these efforts will enhance recreation opportunities while preserving the unique shoreline and wildlife habitat that make Somers Beach a Flathead Lake treasure.
Thank you to Sliters Lumber and the Sliter Family, The Darrow Family, Flathead Lakers, AGL Foundation, High Stakes Foundation, Whitefish Community Foundation, AARP Montana, Flathead Lake Protection Association, Deborah Hoffman, Whitefish Day of Giving and Unity, Margaret Davis, James Hollensteiner, Frugals Restaurants, Dan Robinette, Nancy Fowler, Paul Mutascio, Douglas Hetrick and the Amber Foundation.
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
