Celebrate National Public Lands Day!

 

Racers up Emigrant Gulch

This Saturday, September 27th is National Public Lands Day—a time to honor and celebrate the places that make Montana so special. This year, more than ever, we’re reminded how vital these lands are to wildlife and our communities. We’d love to share some recent highlights from PCEC and invite you to join in on some upcoming events that benefit our local public lands.

Celebrating Community Victories

Last Sunday, 140 runners took to the trails for the Yellowstone Gateway 30K. This race is more than a challenge—it’s a living tribute to our community’s 2019 victory with the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, which permanently protected over 30,000 acres of public lands from industrial scale gold mining. The course winds through Emigrant Gulch, and every step honors the public lands we worked to protect. A heartfelt thanks to our volunteers and sponsors for making this day possible!

Conversations that Shape the Future

On Wednesday, we hosted the second event in our Fall Community Conversation Series: A Suce Creek Update. Maggie McGuane, Suce Creek resident and organizer, and planner Jen Madgic shared the inspiring story of how local residents created a zoning district to protect their neighborhood’s rural character from a proposed luxury development. Their work doesn’t just safeguard their neighborhood—it protects wildlife, habitat, and the public lands next door.

Ways to Celebrate and Give Back This Weekend

There’s no better way to celebrate National Public Lands Day than by lending a hand and enjoying time on the trails. Here are two great opportunities:

  • Suce Creek Stewardship Day – Hosted by ABWF
    - Suce Creek Trailhead, Livingston -(map)
    - Saturday, Sept. 27 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Help protect the trails we all love! Volunteers will be installing “check steps” to prevent erosion. It’s rewarding work and a wonderful way to give back. Register here!

  • Livingston Bicycle Club Annual Porcupine-Ibex Trail Maintenance & Celebration
    - Porcupine Cabin, Crazy Mountains
    - Friday–Sunday, Sept. 26–28

LBC has the Porcupine Forest Service cabin in the Crazies reserved this Friday and Saturday evenings for our end-of-season trail clearing of the Porcupine-Ibex lowline connector trail and BBQ extravaganza! 

The tentative plan is to have BBQs both Friday and Saturday evenings (9/26-27) at Porcupine cabin.  On Saturday morning, LBC plans to do either an out-and-back trail clearing mission from the porcupine cabin, or coordinate a key swap with anyone who would like to bike or run from the Ibex side and have a vehicle waiting for them at the other end. 

Folks are welcome to come from Friday to Sunday, to stay in the cabin (first come first serve), camp, bring a camper, or sleep in your van. 

Please let LBC know how and when you’d like to join them so they can plan for you with food, drink and fun ahead of time. LBC would welcome a salad or side dish if you have something to share. RSVP to livingstonbikeclub@gmail.com and if you want to participate or have any questions!

Public lands need us now more than ever, and this weekend is the perfect chance to celebrate, connect, and contribute. We hope to see you out on the trail!

 
Melynda Harrison