Smith Lake Swift Creek Legacy
Protecting Smith Lake & Swift Creek
For nearly a decade, Whitefish Legacy Partners (WLP) worked toward what we believed would be a major win for the City of Whitefish, Montana schools, wildlife habitat, and permanent public access on the Whitefish Trail. The vision: conserve 615 acres at the headwaters of Whitefish Lake — protecting Smith Lake and Swift Creek for generations to come.
Smith Lake sits between growing residential development and the rugged slopes of the Whitefish Range. Swift Creek winds through old-growth forest and wetlands that support abundant wildlife and help safeguard clean drinking water for the Whitefish community. Without protection, this DNRC land could eventually be sold to the highest bidder, fragmenting wildlife habitat and limiting public access. Our community envisioned something different — an outdoor classroom for local students, thriving wildlife corridors, working forests that support timber jobs, and families creating lifelong memories along the Whitefish Trail.
The proposed conservation plan included a Public Recreation Use Easement (PRUE) that would:
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Permanently protect 600+ acres
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Secure a lasting trail easement for the Whitefish Trail
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Preserve critical habitat for bears, mountain lions, elk, and deer
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Support sustainable forest management
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Generate millions for Montana’s Permanent Education Fund and ongoing annual interest revenue
Despite broad community support and years of groundwork, unforeseen challenges halted the project. After an initial state appraisal valued the project at $7.3 million, a re-appraisal divided the land into smaller parcels and increased the valuation to approximately $24.3 million. This dramatic rise made the full conservation purchase financially unattainable under current commitments, forcing WLP to conclude the PRUE project in its original form.
Read about the difficulties in WLP's fight to protect 615 acres at the head of Whitefish Lake.
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The Costly Quest to Save Smith Lake - Flathead Beacon
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Increased Price puts Smith Lake Conservation Plan in Jeopardy - Whitefish Pilot
A Path Forward: Trail Easement Proposal
While the full acquisition is no longer feasible, the commitment to conservation remains strong. WLP is now pursuing a more targeted strategy: securing permanent trail easements to protect public access across the 615-acre property. The proposal includes:
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A 10-foot-wide easement along 3.2 miles of existing trail (approximately 4.4 acres protected)
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Potential future easements covering an additional 6.3 miles of trail (approximately 12 total acres of corridor protection)
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Trails previously analyzed and approved under the 2019 MEPA process
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An estimated total cost of approximately $540,000
This alternative approach would permanently safeguard public access, strengthen the Whitefish Trail system, and protect the scenic and recreational values that define our community. The vision for Smith Lake and Swift Creek endures — and we remain committed to finding meaningful, lasting protection solutions.
Protecting Smith Lake and Swift Creek is a part of the larger effort to complete the 55+ mile recreation loop trail around Whitefish Lake.
