Current Projects
Discover and support our current and on-going state park priority projects.
The Park Accessibility Project
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, State Parks Staff, disability advocates and members of the disability community. Our two current projects are;
Spring Meadow Lake State Park, Helena: Our goal is to install an adaptive kayak launch, dock, and gangway. We will also donate three pieces of adaptive recreation equipment for FREE shared use at the park, ten mile creek trail system, Montana WILD Education Center, and Fort Harrison VA Medical Center.
Wayfarers State Park, Big Fork: We hosted our first pilot Inclusive Interdisciplinary Walk Move Audit and are currently working with our team to develop project proposals to improve access to the waterfront, trails and shared use areas.
Judith Landing State Park
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
Recent Project Highlights
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!
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.
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 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 in a 4th of July wildfire in 2025. 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 replacement of the yurt 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.
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
