The Main Street to the Mountains trail system is welcoming improved recreation options with a ribbon-cutting event on August 25. The new quarter-mile Homestead Connector Trail provides an additional north-south looped access for public use and encourages users to recreate only on dedicated trails, reinforcing no trespassing restrictions around the historic homestead to support the preservation of the site. This addition connects into the 6.1 miles of trails within the Bozeman Health-owned lands known locally as Highland Glen for the thousands of trail users who enjoy public access to this privately owned property each year.

“The Highland Glen trail system is a community gem,” notes GVLT CEO Chet Work. “Even though it is right in town, the natural feeling of the glen transports users into a true outdoor recreation experience. The Homestead Connector Trail is yet another connection to make the trails more user-friendly and convenient for the most amount of people. We’re grateful for the support and partnership of Bozeman Health in expanding these trails for our community.”

“Walking outside, especially on beautiful green trails, can improve both mental and physical health.  Exercising and recreating outside is known to decrease risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as strengthen bones and muscles; time outside helps to reduce stress and benefits mental and emotional health as well,” said Dr. Kathryn Bertany, Bozeman Health CEO. “Bozeman Health is grateful to our community partners who help us to provide accessible outdoor spaces for physical activity for all.”

“Highland Glen is beloved by many in our community, so to see this new quarter-mile path open up is truly exciting,” Bozeman Deputy Mayor Cunningham stated. “This additional segment adds variety to the trail use options for walkers, runners and snowshoers, while allowing them to enjoy more of this beautiful property. I've run this trail segment many times, and it's a blast.”

This new connector trail will offer walkers, runners, hikers, and bikers a new way to loop from the southern to the northern end of the property without backtracking and creates a more direct path to the Glen’s eastern trails from the Haggerty entrance. It also provides dedicated, maintained trail access for users that have desired a shorter route to the eastern trails. Some users have been trespassing through the homestead in order to reach the rim trail. Bozeman Health is grateful to GVLT for coming up with this innovative approach to maintain and increase the recreation experience while also reducing unauthorized use around the homestead’s historic structures and fences.

Ten years of partnership are also being celebrated today. Bozeman Health generously partnered with GVLT and the City of Bozeman in 2013 to allow for public access on their 450-acre property. With the help of volunteers, GVLT designed and constructed the 4.5 miles of trails that exist today and connect in with the larger Main Street to the Mountains trail system. The Bridger Ski Foundation grooms the trails in Highland Glen in the winter. The trails provide a welcome natural respite from the bustling Bozeman core. While the single-track trails are great for bike rides, trail runs and quiet walks, the community is encouraged to respect the existing agricultural use on the property and extensive wildlife by leashing their dogs, cleaning up dog waste, and being courteous to other users.

The Homestead Connector Trail cost approximately $9,000 to create. Funding for this project was provided by GVLT through a grant from Athletic Brewing.

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About Gallatin Valley Land Trust

Gallatin Valley Land Trust connects people, communities, and open lands through conservation of working farms and ranches, healthy rivers, and wildlife habitat, and the creation of trails in the Montana headwaters of the Missouri and Upper Yellowstone Rivers. For more information, visit www.gvlt.org.

About Bozeman Health

Bozeman Health is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving an eight-county region in Southwest Montana. As a nonprofit organization, governed by a volunteer community board of directors, we are the largest private employer in Gallatin County, with more than 2,400 employees, including 250 medical providers representing 40 clinical specialties. It is our privilege to deliver expert, compassionate health and wellness services across the care continuum, designed to meet the diverse healthcare needs of the communities we serve. Learn more about Bozeman Health at BozemanHealth.org.