Smith Lake Swift Creek Legacy

Protecting Smith Lake & Swift Creek: A Path Forward

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For nearly a decade, Whitefish Legacy Partners (WLP) has worked to protect 615 acres at the headwaters of Whitefish Lake, including Smith Lake and Swift Creek. While the original vision of conserving the entire property is no longer financially feasible, our commitment to protecting this special landscape and securing permanent public access remains strong. WLP is now pursuing a more targeted approach: securing permanent trail easements across the 615-acre property to protect existing and future connections on the Whitefish Trail.

The proposed trail easements include:

• A 15-foot-wide permanent easement along 3.2 miles of existing trail.

• Potential future easements covering an additional 6.5 miles of trail.

• Protection of trail corridors previously analyzed and approved through the 2019 Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) process.

This approach would safeguard public access, strengthen the Whitefish Trail system, and preserve the scenic and recreational values that make this landscape so important to our community.

 

Why Smith Lake & Swift Creek Matter

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 Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) land could eventually be sold to the highest bidder, potentially 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 original conservation vision included a Public Recreation Use Easement (PRUE) that would:

• Permanently protect more than 600 acres.

• Secure lasting public access and a trail easement for the Whitefish Trail.

• Preserve critical habitat for bears, mountain lions, elk, and deer.

• Support sustainable forest management.

• Generate millions of dollars for Montana's Permanent Education Fund, along with ongoing annual interest revenue.

Despite broad community support and years of groundwork, unforeseen challenges ultimately halted the project in its original form. An initial state appraisal valued the proposed conservation purchase at $7.3 million. A subsequent reappraisal divided the land into smaller parcels and increased the valuation to approximately $24.3 million. This dramatic increase made the full conservation purchase financially unattainable under current commitments, forcing WLP to conclude the original PRUE proposal.

 

Although the original plan could not move forward, the vision for Smith Lake and Swift Creek endures. WLP remains committed to finding meaningful, lasting ways to protect public access and preserve the recreational and conservation values of this important landscape.

 

Learn more about the challenges behind the original conservation effort:

• The Costly Quest to Save Smith Lake - Flathead Beacon

• Increased Price puts Smith Lake Conservation Plan in Jeopardy - Whitefish Pilot