8/20/25 Parks and Recreation News 

Partners Celebrate New Trails in the North Hills

Republic Services, Five Valleys Land Trust, and the City of Missoula have announced the opening of a new trail system that will soon expand recreation options in Missoula’s North Hills.

A public ribbon cutting for the new trails on the Republic Services-Five Valleys Land Trust Conservation Easement property will be held at the City’s Bluebird Preserve Trailhead, 5650 Grant Creek Rd, at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 21.

The Republic Services-Five Valleys Land Trust Conservation Easement property, located in the heart of the North Hills above Interstate 90, will offer community members an additional 2.5 miles of scenic grassland trails. This adds to the existing 2-mile trail system on the City’s Bluebird Preserve.

“Good things are worth the wait. This community outcome has been 15 years in the making, which stands as a testament to strong partnerships, the support of the Missoula community, and the important landscape of the North Hills,” said Whitney Schwab, Executive Director of Five Valleys Land Trust.

The conservation easement project, completed in 2010, protects 300 acres of land north of the Missoula Landfill, which is home to an abundance of wildlife, agricultural soils and picturesque views. In 2019, Five Valleys Land Trust worked with private landowners to conserve the 124-acre Bluebird Preserve, directly to the west of the landfill, and transfer ownership of the parcel to the City of Missoula. The City built more than two miles of trails on the Bluebird Preserve, connecting it to the landfill’s conservation easement.  

"This project is a great example of how public funding delivers real benefits for residents,” says Jeff Gicklhorn, Parks and Recreation Conservation Lands Superintendent. “The voter-approved 2006 Open Space Bond helped purchase the Conservation Easement, and the 2018 Conservation and Stewardship Mill Levy funded the staff and expertise to design, build, and maintain high-quality trails. When voters support these measures, we can deliver better recreation opportunities for all Missoulians.”

Republic Services, Five Valleys Land Trust, and the City of Missoula spent the last two years refining the trails and developing a management plan. Now complete, the property’s conservation easement will continue to be co-managed by Five Valleys Land Trust and Republic Services. The City of Missoula will manage the public trails system. 

“Through this strong partnership, we are providing a new, nature-filled experience that will be enjoyed by the community for years to come, while also conserving this important land,” said Republic Services General Manager Catherine Bernhardt. “This project exemplifies how our shared commitment to sustainability can help protect the environment and the communities we serve.”

The new trails encircle the Missoula Landfill property, meandering through grassland hills and draws while offering outstanding views of the Missoula Valley. The property provides essential wildlife habitat, so trail users are required to stay on designated trails, and to support elk and other wildlife, these trails will close seasonally. 

While the new trails will expand public access from the Bluebird Preserve, they will not connect to the Moon-Randolph Homestead or the Waterworks Hill trails to the east. For more information and a map of the new trails, visit www.missoulaparks.org.