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. They create trails systems, work with landowners to conserve local lands and play an important role in the growth and development of the Valley that we all love!

One of their current projects is the Raptor Route, a new walking path that will offer Bozeman residents a safer way to traverse the city on foot. This comes in response to current trail systems ending abruptly at busy roads, like Durston Road, which lack proper crossings for pedestrians.

The Raptor Route aims to solve this problem by creating safe passages across these roads, allowing for a seamless east-west connection. It will eventually link the westernmost suburbs, like The Lakes, to the M Trailhead on the eastern side. This will significantly extend existing walking paths and provide a safer alternative for residents.

Project leader Matt Parsons acknowledges that some newer parts of Bozeman have beautiful walking paths, but these often lead to dead ends or dangerous intersections. The Raptor Route's construction will bridge these gaps, promoting safer pedestrian interaction with the city. While the Durston Road crossings mark the initial phase, Parsons highlights plans for further expansion of the Raptor Route in the coming years.

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image source: GVLT