Bozeman Pass

The Bozeman Pass in Gallatin National Forest traverses rolling, green hills nestled between the Gallatin, Bangtail, and Bridger Mountain ranges as elk, deer, moose, and other wildlife freely roam.

“The whole Bozeman Pass area is one of the only connectors between the central Rocky Mountains and the northern Rocky Mountains,” says Paulette Epple—native plant specialist and Sacajawea Audubon Society chair. “It provides an important pass-through for grizzly bears and cougars, as well as habitat for big, charismatic birds like great gray owls, which need a lot of territory for breeding.”

Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Frog Rock, a popular rock-climbing spot as difficult to get to as the climb itself. The Schmidt Family owned much of this land housing Montana’s wildlife that also blocked easy access to Frog Rock. This area faced the threat of development when the family decided to sell their property.

For over a decade, Trust for Public Land and other partners worked to acquire and conserve over 800 acres of the Schmidts’ land and create Bozeman Pass Trailhead. The trailhead is used by hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and Frog Rock thrill seekers.

This landmark project included a large conservation easement, significant public land acquisition, and the creation of Chestnut Mountain and Frog Rock Trails.

“By themselves, the wildlife and scenic values of the Schmidt property are more than worthy of protection. But what really sets this project apart is the public access we could secure along the way. None of this would have been possible without the help of GVLT, the Forest Service, the Southwest Montana Climbers Coalition, and our many other collaborators. Community-based land conservation is what it is all about,” commented Alex Diekmann, TPL’s local project manager.