Lunch on Glacier View Mtn

From the official Forest Service press release…

The Flathead Community of Resource Educators (CORE), a network of individuals and organizations working together to increase awareness and understanding about the natural, historical and cultural resources of the Flathead Region, is celebrating Winter Trails Day on Saturday, January 20 with several free outdoor activities.

These free activities are a great way to enjoy the outdoors in winter and discover the fitness and social benefits of snowshoeing and winter hiking in Northwest Montana. All activities are suitable for beginners and families. Be prepared with warm clothing and wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Bring along binoculars for catching a glimpse of winter birds.

• Snowshoe walk in the Flathead National Forest, hosted by the Swan Lake Ranger District and Foy’s to Blacktail Trails, will be at the Blacktail Mountain cross-country ski trails near Lakeside, 10am-Noon. Come explore the winter landscape and enjoy a guided look at animal tracks, trees and shrubs and even the snowpack. Participants may bring snowshoes, or a limited number of children and adult shoes will be available by reservation. Please meet at the Blacktail Cross-Country Ski Trails parking area. For more information or to reserve snowshoes, please contact the Swan Lake Ranger District at 837-7500.
• Explore Lone Pine State Park on snowshoes. Adult and children’s snowshoes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A ranger-led snowshoe walk takes place from 2pm to 3:30pm. Please contact the park at 755-2706 for more information or to reserve snowshoes for a fee.
• Ranger-led snowshoe hikes at Glacier National Park will be hosted at 10:30am and 2pm. Each hike will last approximately two hours and reservations are not required. Take an intimate look at the park searching for signs of wildlife, discovering plants and animals and enjoying the solitude of winter. Snowshoes are available for hike participants. Visitors need to purchase a park entrance pass. Please meet at the Apgar Visitor Center. Call 888-7800 for more information.
• Join Flathead Audubon for a guided ‘Winter Birding and Tracking’ snowshoe hike along the river bottom trails at the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area in Kalispell, from 10am to Noon. Bring your snowshoes. Meet at the Montessori School parking lot on Willow Glen Ave. Call 249-3987 or email auduboneducator@gmail.com for more information and to register.

For more information about the above local events visit, http://flatheadcore.org/.

During the month of January there are other opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy winter trails, including a ‘Winter Walk’ on snowshoes with the Montana Wilderness Association to Stanton Lake on January 13 and a winter ecology walk in the Condon area, January 27 with Swan Valley Connections, (http://wildmontana.org) . On January 20 Glacier Nordic Club hosts Winter Trails Day from 11am to 3pm at Whitefish Lake Golf Course with free rentals, trail passes and more.