Montana senate tables 406 Trail resolution

Despite receiving bipartisan support and passing through the House with at 60-39 vote on March 2, a joint resolution to support the designation the Montana Trail 406 was indefinitely postponed and declared "probably dead" on April 1 after failing to pass the Senate with a 23-27 vote.

"Probably dead? I was shocked. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut. We had no inkling that that's what was coming," said local business-owner Laurie Richards, who helped establish Lincoln as a Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community and now serves as the Trail Town Liaison for the Montana Trail 406 Association.

The Montana Trail 406 Association trail team proposed the joint resolution to the Montana Legislature. Amy Grisak, vice president of Montana Trail 406 Association, wrote the bulk of the resolution, which became HJ 15 and was sponsored by Representative Marilyn Marler of Missoula.

The Association plans to link existing trails throughout Montana together to form a single recognized trail that will traverse 1,500 miles across the state. The proposed trail would focus on hiking, biking, and horse-riding, and would include a 149-mile section of the Missouri River, which could be floated.

"It's already existing trails and public lands," said Amy Grisak, vice president of Montana Trail 406 Association. "We don't want to reinvent the trail. We don't think that's necessary."

Proponents of the bill cited increased tourism and the economic benefits reported by towns along similar trails, such as the Continental Divide Trail, which would correspond to 500 miles of the Montana 406 Trail.

"It's for the economics of Montana, not just these small towns. People have to fly in. We make it on tourism," said Richards.

Richards met Marty Bannon, Founder and President of Montana Trail 406 Association, in 2017 when he pulled together a team to seek official designation for the trail.

"He is an avid hiker and cyclist. He has hiked the CDT, and he thought, what a great thing. We could be like the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and have a designated trail just for Montana," she said.

Opponents of the bill cited concerns about unforeseen costs, such as those associated with emergency services, as well as doubt about economic benefit to communities along the trail.

One such opponent is Representative Becky Beard, who serves the Lincoln area, and voted against the bill when it came before the House.

"We have so many trail initiatives going on that are costing more and more money," said Beard, noting that when she visits family in north central Montana, the development of trails has caused the places they used to visit to be shut down.

"I would really like to take a bit of a pause and evaluate what kind of changes we're willing to pay for," said Beard, adding, "I understand we want to have more tourists come through, but those jobs don't pay a lot. I would like to see a return a little bit back to our resource industry here in the Treasure State. Those jobs pay very well."

"It's nerve-wracking, this whole political aspect," said Grisak, adding, "All we're asking for is that the State Legislature recognize that this is good for Montana. We're not asking for money."

Bannon was hiking when news of the vote came out, but noted that a lot of progress was made this year and that they hope to have the joint resolution pass in the next legislative session.

The Montana 406 Trail team is planning to continue efforts to raise awareness of the trail before the next Montana Legislative session in 2023. This includes organized hikes along sections of the trail and having a presence at local events like Lincoln Trails Rendezvous, scheduled for Aug. 14.

"The next legislative session will be better. We'll have the survey more complete. In the meantime, more people are going to hear about this, and they're going to want to hike that section, and they're going to discover these small towns, and they're going to fall in love," said Grisak.

The association's website, mt406.org, says the trail was conceived in 2015, with a mission to "plot a path less taken across the Big Sky highlighting the vast diversity of the people, land and terrain. We strive to NOT create new trail but link the best of trails that already exist to create an incredible experience for a multitude of adventurers."