East Crazies/Inspiration Divide Land Exchange
This week, the Crazy Mountain Project, an informal coalition of locals representing ranching, recreation, the Crow Nation, hunting and conservation interests (which includes PCEC), announced a new land exchange designed to help consolidate public land and improve public access in the Crazy Mountains: The East Crazy Mountains and Inspiration Divide Public Access Improvement Land Exchange.
Since our founding 30 years ago, PCEC has sought to protect and consolidate wild lands in the Crazy Mountains. We believe this exchange is one of the most significant opportunities we’ve had to help lead to permanent protections for the range. These mountains possess significant spiritual and cultural value for the Crow Nation, provide critical wildlife habitat for endangered species like the Canada lynx and threatened species like the wolverine. Naturally, the range is admired and enjoyed by hunters and recreationists alike.
The exchange in the East Crazy mountains creates a large contiguous block of public land and helps resolve long-standing issues in the in a way that will benefit the public and conservation. Explore an online map of the land swap.
In the Crazies, resolving conflicts over public and private land access is imperative to conservation. For the last three years, PCEC participated in the Crazy Mountain Working Group to help work through these challenges with landowners, recreationists, conservationists, and land management agencies. We showed up to listen, learn, and provide a voice for wildlands conservation. PCEC’s goal is to protect the Crazies, ensuring they remain wild, primitive and surrounded by open land and working family ranches for generations.
We support the Proposed East Crazy Mountains Land Exchange for the following reasons:
Land consolidation: Any long-term management in the Crazies needs to first address and find practical solutions to the checkerboard land ownership that currently defines that area. The land exchange creates a large block of 5,205 acres of consolidated National Forest lands on the East Side of the Crazies.
Net gain of roadless area: The Forest Service gains approximately 3,900 acres of roadless public land that would increase the overall roadless area in the Crazies to 94,590 acres. This action will facilitate more effective land management of the wilderness qualities of these inland parcels.
Protection of wildlife habitat: The Crazy Mountains are flanked by large, intact working ranchlands. Likewise, the heart of the range currently remains largely undeveloped. PCEC wants to see it remain that way. The range provides critical high alpine wildlife habitat for threatened species like wolverines. The Crazies also provide a key corridor connecting wildlife to the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness, the Little Belts, and even the Northern Continental Divide. This exchange trades interior inholdings for public lands on the periphery -- protecting interior parcels from development and providing safer refuge for wildlife. This linkage could provide critical habitat linkages for the endangered Grizzly Bear.
Recognizes the significance and interests of the Crow Nation. The Apsaalooke, or Crow, have lived in the Yellowstone region since time immemorial, and all of the lands within and surrounding the Crazy Mountains were agreed to be Apsaalooke owned lands by the Treaty of 1851. PCEC fully supports and recognizes the interests of the Apsaalooke Nation in protecting the Crazies as a spiritual and historic landscape, free from development and distractions of the 21st century. This proposal is supported by the Apsaalooke Nation, and we are encouraged by ongoing discussions between the tribe and landowners regarding access to private lands on Crazy Peak for ceremonial purposes.
Resolves a longstanding trail access issue: Trail 136, commonly referred to as the “East Trunk Trail,” is a historic route that connects Big Timber Creek to Sweet Grass Creek. This trail crosses five sections of private land and accesses two sections of public land. Recent disputes over the legality and location of the trail has created conflict between hunters, ranchers, and the Forest Service. This exchange would secure permanent easements and relocate the East Trunk connector to primarily public land.
Retains the status quo on Trail 122 in Sweet Grass Creek: Trail 122, or Sweet Grass Creek is another disputed trail access on the east side of the Crazy Mountains. The Forest Service does not hold recorded easements through private land along Sweet Grass Creek in Sweet Grass County and landowners have required visitors to ask for permission to access Trail 122 for the last several years. The landowners in Sweet Grass intend to continue to allow permissive access. Visitors can travel Rein Lane to its end in Section 2 and sign in at the ranch buildings. During fall and early winter, gates are locked but access can still be obtained by permission from the landowners. The new trail connecting the Big Timber and Sweet Grass Creek will provide year round, permanent public access on foot or horse to Sweetgrass Creek via a new 21 mile-trail. PCEC supports this resolution because it provides some definitive trail access in a timely manner, yet does not fully relinquish the public interest to Trail 122. We are hopeful that the positive dialogue will result in an alternate permanent access into Sweet Grass Creek in the future.
Provides a unique backcountry experience: A new 21-mile “East Trunk Trail” would be constructed and funded by the participating landowners on National Forest lands gained in the exchange. This foot and horse trail would connect to Trail 119 on the West side of the range, offering the opportunity for a 40-mile backcountry loop. PCEC values connecting our community to nature, as these experiences are foundational to creating a culture of conservation and stewardship. Considering the growth of Southwest Montana, PCEC is excited about this new trail and the opportunity for quiet, backcountry experience that this new trail will provide.
Improves the trailhead at Big Timber Canyon: Establishing a southern trailhead for the new trail in Big Timber Creek Canyon near the existing Half Moon Campground that will help accommodate and manage public use of this already popular area.
All lands acquired by the National Forest will be withdrawn from mining: PCEC’s primary effort in recent years has been protecting public lands north of Yellowstone from mining. Knowing that these lands will already be off limits to future mining is reassuring.
The exchange in the Madison Range is outside PCEC’s geographic area. However, we see benefits associated with the Inspiration Divide Area of the exchange, including:
The exchange requires lands acquired by private interests be placed in conservation easement: We support limiting development to ski uses only, with no subdivision, residential, commercial or non-ski development permitted on lands acquired by private landowners.
Consolidating Forest Service ownership and management in the Eglise Peak Area: Private lands bisected by the Inspiration Divide Trail #8 would become public, and contiguous with National Forest in Section 8. This would improve backcountry access and hunting opportunities in the area.
While we see a lot of conservation benefits to consolidating land, PCEC continues to work with partners to make the exchange even stronger.
This proposal builds off the success PCEC has had on the west side of the Crazies. To learn more, watch this video.
The proposal is a remarkable example of local people working together towards a common goal, demonstrating that we can resolve very complex land management challenges. PCEC applauds the efforts of the participating landowners to seek input and perspective from many different organizations and individuals throughout the process of preparing the draft proposal. Many people care deeply about the future of the Crazy Mountains, and by learning from diverse perspectives we will make better decisions that benefit the landscape and future generations of people.
If you’d like to learn more about the proposal, please visit the Crazy Mountain Project’s website.
This citizen-led proposal, which has been negotiated by local landowners and public land users, will be submitted to the Forest Service after a month-long public input period.
PCEC will be co-hosting four open houses to help educate the public about the land exchange at the following dates and locations. We welcome you to join us in engaging in the process and providing input.
LIVINGSTON: July 16th, Shane Lalani Center, 6-8pm
BIG TIMBER: July 23, American Legion, 6-8pm
BOZEMAN: July 30, Masonic Lodge, 6-8pm
BIG SKY: August 6, Wilson Hotel, 6-8pm
All open houses will follow State of Montana COVID-19 guidelines. Social distancing and masks will be encouraged.
You can also submit feedback by August 7th online or by emailing comments to comments@crazymountainproject.com. All feedback will be reviewed and constructive ideas will be considered.
Once completed with public feedback, the proposal will be submitted to the Forest Service.
If you have any questions about the exchange, feel free to reach out to erica@pcecmt.org.
