People are invited to help with trail cleanup and maintenance work in Butte’s Thompson Park in conjunction with National Trails Day on Saturday.
The local effort is spearheaded by the newly formed Friends of Thompson Park. Volunteers of all ages will meet at the Sagebrush Flats trailhead parking lot (turn right at the sign on Highway 2). Volunteers should bring gloves and be prepared to walk. The effort should last about four hours. Social distancing and safety rules per state Covid19 guidelines will be followed.
Activities will include opportunities to learn about trail maintenance, including cleaning drain dips, nipping lodgepole seedlings, removing small trees, painting over graffiti in the tunnels and elsewhere, and picking up garbage.
For details, call Janet Axelson at 533-8541 or Jocelyn Dodge at 533-0727.
Friends of Thompson Park is a multiple use organization that includes all users of the park whether you are a hiker, horseback rider, runner, bicyclist, disc golfer, birder or anyone who has a desire to ensure the park is maintained for enjoyment by the public.
The park, located 10 miles south of Butte, encompasses 3,500 acres. It was established in 1922, and underwent rehabilitation in 2012 through grants from the Natural Resource Damage Program, Recreation Trails Program, and Forest Service funds. Over 25 miles of trails are available for non-motorized recreation including the Milwaukee Rail Trail that connects to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and three picnic areas.
On National Trails Day, thousands of hikers, bikers, rowers, horseback riders, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, land trusts, and businesses across the U.S. come together in partnership to advocate for, maintain, and clean up public lands and trails.
