In 1990, Chris Boyd and several community leaders set GVLT on a visionary course with one of our first conservation and trails projects at Burke Park and Peets Hill in downtown Bozeman. Since then, GVLT has helped expand the Main Street to the Mountains trail system to over 60 miles in length and partnered with 85 families to conserve more than 36,000 acres of land. The phenomenal growth of the valley over the past two decades has proven just how timely GVLT’s creation was, and that our work is not done.

Click here to watch a 4 minute video about GVLT.

  • become one of the first accredited land trusts in the nation.
  • received numerous awards, including 2009 Montana Trail of the Year from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Recreational Trails Program.
  • completed over $1 million in trail improvement projects and achieved over $25 of conservation for every $1 invested to permanently protect more than 56 square miles of land.
  • played a lead role in establishing some of the region’s iconic parks and trails, including Burke Park (Peets Hill), Drinking Horse Mountain, Snowfill Recreation Area, and the brand-new Chestnut Mountain Trail.

Imagine what we can accomplish in the next 20 years with your support!

  • 1990 – GVLT is founded by Chris Boyd and several visionary community leaders.
  • 1991 – GVLT completes our first conservation easement, working with Gertrude Baker to conserve her 180-acre property on Bozeman Pass.  We have now conserved over 4000 acres in this critical wildlife corridor.
  • 1992 – GVLT helps broker a deal with the Burke family to acquire 40 acres of Peets Hill, creating Burke Park and establishing our dual mission of community trails and land conservation.
  • 1993 – GVLT helps organize activities, and over 300 people from nine Bozeman area organizations take part in the first National Trails Day. GVLT has held Trails Day events every year since, involving thousands of community volunteers building and maintaining trails.
  • 1993 – GVLT’s first Ski-A-Thon at Lone Mountain Ranch raises $1,600.  Now our largest annual fundraiser, the event has evolved into Make Tracks for Trails at Bohart Ranch, with fun for all ages and abilities – not just hard core Nordic skiers.
  • 1998 – GVLT completes its first bridge, spanning Rocky Creek on the Story Mill Spur Trail.  We have now installed a total of seven large bridges on trails throughout our community.
  • 1999 – GVLT’s “1000 by 2000” membership drive succeeds in signing up our 1000th member.
  • 2000 – GVLT and partners help pass the first of two $10 million Open Space Bonds. To date, this investment by Gallatin County citizens has secured conservation easements worth $71 million on 58 square miles of working farms and ranches and wildlife habitat, as well as acquisitions of new parkland and new access to public land.
  • 2003 – GVLT exceeds 10,000 acres of land conserved.
  • 2004 – GVLT acquires its 50th conservation easement with the 10,000-acre DeHaan Ranch
  • 2006 – Ice House Park created on the Gallagator Trail along Bozeman Creek.
  • 2006 – GVLT surpasses 25 miles of open space and habitat conserved along the East Gallatin River and its tributaries.
  • 2006 – GVLT and the Trust for Public Land complete the first stage of landmark conservation deal with the Schmidt family covering 2,055-acres on Bozeman Pass including a conservation easement, new public land and a major new public trail to be built in 2010.
  • 2007 – First annual Longest Day of Trails membership drive recruits 75 new members
  • 2007 – Connecting to Main Street at the new Public Library, the Main Street to the Mountains trails reach 50 miles.
  • 2008 – GVLT exceeds 50 square miles of land conserved.
  • 2008 – GVLT earns Accredited Land Trust status.
  • 2008 – (Burke Park completed)
  • 2008 – GVLT and the City of Bozeman open Hedvig’s Trail and the Snowfill Recreation Area.
  • 2009 – GVLT acquires 80th conservation easement
  • 2009 – The Kevin Mundy Memorial Bridge over Bridger Creek completes the Drinking Horse Mountain Trail – one of our most ambitious trail projects ever. With eleven conservation easements, we also achieve more private land conservation projects this year than any other in our history.
  • 2010 – GVLT celebrates 20 years of Trails and Conservation!