Gallatin Valley offers an incredible array of outdoor activities, but we must balance our individual enjoyment of our public lands and outdoor access with the impacts our increased recreation is having on these shared resources. As the Gallatin Valley population continues to grow, our community’s outdoor code of conduct and culture will be more and more important so that we protect the very things that make living and playing here so special.

Several groups, including Gallatin Valley Land Trust, One Montana, Bridger Ski Foundation and Southwest Montana Mountain Biking Association, have joined forces to create the Outside Kind Alliance. This alliance is streamlining trail etiquette messaging for all user groups, reaching a larger audience by working across organizations, and reminding both established and new users that being kind and considerate outside benefits everyone.

“For years, and particularly in the last year and half, we’ve seen growing pressure on the trails throughout our region. This Alliance reminds us that through kindness and respect for one-another, we can all enjoy our shared outdoor spaces, regardless of whether we like to hike, run or bike the trails,” says Chet Work, Executive Director at the Gallatin Valley Land Trust.

The primary goal of Outside Kind is to share best practices, principles and tips for enjoying the outdoors together. Whether you wish to encourage your friends and family or visiting guests to hike kind, ride kind, ski kind, wag kind, etc., Outside Kind offers the community consistent and clear guidelines around outdoor activities and positive local ethics.

The Outside Kind website, www.outsidekind.org, has an Outside Kind quiz which lets locals and visitors alike test their knowledge about outdoor etiquette and ethics. Outdoor lovers can sign the Outside Kind Pledge and sign up to become an OK Ambassador. Learn more at outsidekind.org. Be Outside Kind Gallatin Valley!

Outside Kind is facilitated by One Montana with the support of GVLT and currently includes the following organizations:
Bridger Ski Foundation
City of Bozeman
Friends of Hyalite
Gallatin Valley Land Trust
One Montana
Queers & Camo
Run Dog Run
Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association
US Forest Service
Winter Wildlands Alliance