Conserved Land Becomes Part of Whitefish Trail

In 2002, 570 acres of forested land adjacent to the Stillwater State Forest northwest of Whitefish was conserved by the Stillwater Land Co. The land is now owned by the State of Montana and managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. It also has a trail that is part of the Whitefish Trail system.

The conserved property consists of undulating terrain with forest and wetland communities providing good wildlife habitat. Much of the forest is dominated by Douglas fir and lodgepole pine with scattered larch and some grand fir and subalpine fir. Closed depressions scattered on the property form shallow basins of standing water and associated wetland vegetation. Deer, elk, black bear, mountain lion, coyote, and many species of birds and small mammals use the property.

The Stillwater Land Company acquired the property in the 1930s and timber was logged and sold from the property for several decades. Herb Peschel, one of 7 partners who owned the Stillwater Land Company, helped put the conservation easement on the property in place. The conservation easement protects the forested open space by limiting residential development and continuing forest management to encourage uneven-aged stands with mixed tree species, promote forest health, and improve wildlife habitat.

The property was sold to Mike Goguen in 2006. Goguen constructed a trail system on the property that is a combination of pre-existing logging roads and single-track trail. In 2009, the State of Montana acquired the land through a land exchange. The trail system now on public land is the Lupfer loop of the Whitefish Trail. It consists of a 4 miles of trail including a 3-mile loop and spur trail to a scenic viewpoint of the Salish Range. The trail is enjoyed by hikers, bikers, and skiers.

We all can enjoy the trail through the forested gently rolling hills and its wildlife for generations to come thanks to this conservation project.