A Year in Retrospect: Skalkaho Bend Park

Through the generosity of the people of the Bitterroot Valley, and in partnership with the City of Hamilton, Skalkaho Bend Park officially opened to the community in 2020. For the Bitterroot community, the new outdoor space to exercise and enjoy nature is the reward for all the local support – contributions, helping hands, encouraging voices, and more – that brought the dream to reality. For all of us at the Land Trust, opening day was the happy conclusion of years of planning, fundraising, building, and working with countless partners to coordinate one of our most ambitious projects ever. To download a map of the park, click here.

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Noxious Weeds on the Run

A lot has happened down at the future Skalkaho Bend Park since its opening. BRLT paired-up with the Hamilton High School cross-country team to knock-out some noxious weeds at the park.

The runners were excited to volunteer their time removing weeds, getting the park ready for the public.

Sophomore Colter looks up from a patch of knapweed, “We need more land that’s close by for people to use. Having the river run right through is so important.”

The cross-country team looks forward to adding the park to their training route because it’s so close to home and school. Team member Jake wants parents and teachers to know, “It’s important to protect lands for the community, being able to bike, fish, run. It’s not always easy for people to get to the river and have access to outdoor activities.”

Creating this park with you–our supporters–is a momentous accomplishment for the entire community. Caring for the land is the next step. We’ve only just begun with volunteer projects like this.

As Cheyenne, a sophomore on the team, puts it,

“I always want to give back. I’m glad I get the opportunity. I’ve lived outside of Montana, and the truth is, you don’t have places like this–mountains, rivers, nature. We get to run here. It makes you feel lucky and grateful.”

And she feels lucky because of you.

Caring supporters like you who make it possible to bring more young people to land and water, in a way that is meaningful to them.

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Veterans Have a Place to Reflect

“Along the river, places open to the public can be hard to find,” says Dan Kimzey.
“That’s why I’m so excited this park is here for veterans like me to step out of isolation and begin to mend the emotional injuries, grieve those we’ve lost, and find our own paths, by walking here at Skalkaho Bend.”

It warms the heart to know that places like Skalkaho Bend Park—70 acres of river bottom, cottonwood galleries, easily accessible trails, flanked by views of the Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains—can break barriers to nature and bring conservation to more people.

And you make it all possible: nature, close to home, for everyone.

Thanks to you, and so many in our community, Skalkaho Bend Park is a place for people of all ages and abilities to seek health, joy, and peace.

“That’s why I’m so excited this new park will be here for veterans like me to step out of isolation and begin to mend the emotional injuries, grieve those we’ve lost, and find our own paths, by walking here at Skalkaho Bend.”

Dan Kimzey, retired veteran