Marshall Mountain Park

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Let us know your questions on the Marshall Mountain Park. Click the "stay informed" button on the right-hand side to receive email updates.

Following years of public input and planning, the Missoula County commissioners voted at their Dec. 14, 2023, public meeting to purchase and manage the three parcels comprising Marshall Mountain Park. Read the full report from County staff for more information on this project. Commissioners signed the close-out documents to complete the purchase of this park on March 26, 2024.

This vote also finalized the conceptual master plan and entered into an interlocal agreement with the City of Missoula. The interlocal agreement outlines the County’s role as owner and manager, the City’s role in providing recreation programming, and how both government agencies will provide funding to support the park. Click here to see the interlocal agreement. The Conceptual Master Plan and exhibits B through F are linked separately. Exhibits B and C are the respective city and county resolutions approving the use of open space bond funds. Exhibits D and E outline the acquisition budget and management funds. Exhibit F is the Marshall Mountain guiding principles, as adopted by the primary partners in 2021.

The Missoula County commissioners and the Missoula City Council voted to commit $2 million total from open space bond funds towards the acquisition of Marshall Mountain Park at a joint hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 On July 13, 2023 the County's Open Lands Citizen Advisory Committee and the City's Open Space Advisory Committee each voted in favor of recommending Open Space Bond funds for the acquisition of Marshall Mountain Park. On Oct. 4, 2023 the county commissioners and Missoula City Council considered this recommendation at a joint hearing and approved the one-time use of up to $1 million each (up to $2 million total) of open space bond funds for the purpose of acquiring the 480 acres as part of the Marshall Mountain Park project.

This acreage includes three sites:

  1. The base area of the former Marshall Mountain Ski Area (160 acres owned by Izzy Dog LLC)
  2. The mid-mountain area of the former ski area (160 acres owned by the Five Valleys Land Trust)
  3. The northern parcel (160 acres owned by The Conservation Fund).


Aerial view of Marshall Mountain Park parcels to show who owns what


This opportunity is possible thanks to the generosity of the three private landowners listed above, as well as previous efforts by other landowners. The mid-mountain area was donated to Five Valleys Land Trust by The Nature Conservancy in 2015.

The total project cost to acquire Marshall Mountain and open it to public access is approximately $3.8 million. This includes roughly $3.2 million in land value (with a purchase price of approximately $2.4 million including transaction costs), and $600,000 for site access improvements. Two landowners have generously agreed to sell their parcels at below-market value. Additional funding from state, federal and private grants will be used towards the purchase price.

Read the details about this park, ask questions, follow this project to hear about future engagement opportunities, including public hearings and events. Be sure to visit the City of Missoula's Engage Missoula page to see what's been done so far, such as the design concept, current trail map, survey data and more.

Let us know your questions on the Marshall Mountain Park. Click the "stay informed" button on the right-hand side to receive email updates.

Following years of public input and planning, the Missoula County commissioners voted at their Dec. 14, 2023, public meeting to purchase and manage the three parcels comprising Marshall Mountain Park. Read the full report from County staff for more information on this project. Commissioners signed the close-out documents to complete the purchase of this park on March 26, 2024.

This vote also finalized the conceptual master plan and entered into an interlocal agreement with the City of Missoula. The interlocal agreement outlines the County’s role as owner and manager, the City’s role in providing recreation programming, and how both government agencies will provide funding to support the park. Click here to see the interlocal agreement. The Conceptual Master Plan and exhibits B through F are linked separately. Exhibits B and C are the respective city and county resolutions approving the use of open space bond funds. Exhibits D and E outline the acquisition budget and management funds. Exhibit F is the Marshall Mountain guiding principles, as adopted by the primary partners in 2021.

The Missoula County commissioners and the Missoula City Council voted to commit $2 million total from open space bond funds towards the acquisition of Marshall Mountain Park at a joint hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 On July 13, 2023 the County's Open Lands Citizen Advisory Committee and the City's Open Space Advisory Committee each voted in favor of recommending Open Space Bond funds for the acquisition of Marshall Mountain Park. On Oct. 4, 2023 the county commissioners and Missoula City Council considered this recommendation at a joint hearing and approved the one-time use of up to $1 million each (up to $2 million total) of open space bond funds for the purpose of acquiring the 480 acres as part of the Marshall Mountain Park project.

This acreage includes three sites:

  1. The base area of the former Marshall Mountain Ski Area (160 acres owned by Izzy Dog LLC)
  2. The mid-mountain area of the former ski area (160 acres owned by the Five Valleys Land Trust)
  3. The northern parcel (160 acres owned by The Conservation Fund).


Aerial view of Marshall Mountain Park parcels to show who owns what


This opportunity is possible thanks to the generosity of the three private landowners listed above, as well as previous efforts by other landowners. The mid-mountain area was donated to Five Valleys Land Trust by The Nature Conservancy in 2015.

The total project cost to acquire Marshall Mountain and open it to public access is approximately $3.8 million. This includes roughly $3.2 million in land value (with a purchase price of approximately $2.4 million including transaction costs), and $600,000 for site access improvements. Two landowners have generously agreed to sell their parcels at below-market value. Additional funding from state, federal and private grants will be used towards the purchase price.

Read the details about this park, ask questions, follow this project to hear about future engagement opportunities, including public hearings and events. Be sure to visit the City of Missoula's Engage Missoula page to see what's been done so far, such as the design concept, current trail map, survey data and more.

  • Podcast episode: The Evolution of Marshall Mountain

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    Marshall Mountain Park sits between East Missoula and Bonner and is publicly owned by Missoula County. Many lifelong residents learned to ski there as kids, and the legacy of learning continues today.

    This week, the commissioners spoke with Park Manager Jackson Lee to hear what’s new at Marshall Mountain Park since the County acquired it in spring 2024. They discuss new trails, planned improvements, forest health and Commissioner Slotnick’s nascent mountain biking career.

    Click here to listen or find it wherever you get your podcasts under "The Agenda with the Missoula County Commissioners."

  • Forestry project to start Sept. 2

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    How did we get here?

    Marshall Mountain Park is a United States Forest Service (USFS) designated Community Forest, one of only two in the Missoula Valley. An Interim Community Forest Plan was developed in the summer 2024. This plan set forest management areas and priorities at Marshall Mountain.

    Thanks to the Missoula County Wildfire Program, a Forest Action Plan grant from the DNRC and a generous contribution from Friends of Marshall Mountain, we can now begin the first phase of forestry work within the highest priority management units. These areas coincide with the legacy ski runs at Marshall Mountain.

    Actively maintaining the ski runs is the No. 1 improvement request from the winter recreation community and designated essential within the Marshall Mountain Park Conceptual Master Plan.

    MMP staff worked with Montana Forest Consultants in the winter 2024-25 to develop a project plan that is consistent with the natural resource priorities of the Community Forest Plan and the recreation priorities of the Master Plan.

    Why this project?

    • Forest health: Insect and disease disturbance is present across Marshall Mountain. Thinning will reduce the spread of insects and address diseased trees, while also promoting resilience through species composition and biodiversity across the project areas.
    • Wildfire risk reduction: Tree density is currently too high to effectively manage wildfire risk. Increasing space between trees, creating fuel breaks and removing ladder fuels are all part of the plan.
    • Winter recreation improvements: Dense regeneration of small trees is reducing space for skiing in previously cut and managed runs. This project frees up more skiable terrain while staying in line with forest health and wildfire risk priorities.

    Project Timeline and Impacts:

    Forestry activities will start the first week of September and continue until the snow flies. Trail closures are not planned. Vehicles and machinery will be traveling on the double-track roads within the park. Notices will be posted at the park entrance and near project activities. Follow along for project updates on the Marshall Mountain Park Instagram page. You can see the map of the project area in the Community Forest Plan document on this page.


  • Trails Bond Funding Approved, Ski Lift Cable Removed

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    On July 1, the Missoula County commissioners approved $176, 581 from the 2014 Trails Bond to fund trailhead facility improvements at Marshall Mountain Park.

    These funds will be used as local match for an upcoming Land and Water Conservation Fund grant application, which will be focused on base area redevelopment at the park.

    Facility development at the base area includes kiosks for maps and signs, bear-resistant trash cans, bike racks, drinking fountains and an ADA-compliant double-vault restroom.

    The trail bond request accounts for roughly 10% of the total project budget for the broader redevelopment of the base area.. Private and community contributions from Friends of Marshall Mountain's ongoing capital campaign, Missoula Mountain Bike Coalition's 2025 Trail Stewardship Award, and remaining Open Space Bond dollars from acquisition round out the local match package.

    From Monday, July 7 through, Friday, July 11, a contractor will be removing the cable from the old ski lift. The towers and other ski-era infrastructure along the lift line will remain in place. The cable is no longer in use and is being removed for public safety considerations and to prepare the base area lift terminal for conversion into a shade shelter.

    Cable removal operations will affect certain trails and portions of the base area. Dual Slalom and Lower Hello Kitty will remain closed for the duration of operations, with most impacts expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bjorn Again, Moose, and Upper Hello Kitty will also see impacts and be closed for specific windows dependent upon removal operations. Signage and traffic control will be in place along the project site.

  • Upcoming Events

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    Upcoming Events at Marshall Mountain Park

    Event
    Date(s)
    Host
    Revival Trail Runs
    Sunday, May 11
    Rut Mountain Runs
    Send and Ascend Clinic
    Saturday and Sunday,
    May 17-18
    MT Alpha Cycling
    Nature Walk Week
    Tuesday and Wednesday,
    May 27-28
    Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension
    Homesteader Race
    Saturday, May 31
    MTCX
    Marshall Madness
    Sunday, June 1
    Missoula Mountain Bike Coalition, Five Valleys Land Trust and Run Wild Missoula
    MTB League
    Wednesday evenings
    June 4-July 2
    MTCX and Missoula Mountain Bike Coalition
    Missoula Mountain Bike Clinic
    Saturday, June 14
    MTCX
    Mullet Classic
    Friday, June 20
    Missoula Mountain Bike Coalition
    Missoula XC
    Saturday and Sunday,
    June 21-22
    MTCX


    Signs will be posted at the corner of Marshall Canyon Road and Highway 200 notifying recreators of base area activity, limited parking and impacted trails.

    Registration and more information about these events can be found through the host organization.

    **This list only reflects larger special events. Youth mountain bike practices, outdoor education programming and beginner clinics will be ongoing on weekdays and evenings from April through July.**

    Questions about operations at Marshall Mountain?
    Email marshallmountain@missoulacounty.us
    or call 406-258-4657

  • Public Comment Open for Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives

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    As part of the pre-purchase due diligence for Marshall Mountain Park, Missoula County used funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Program to support Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs). The ESAs revealed some hazardous building materials, such as lead-based paint and asbestos, in the lodge, base building, rope tow base shack and upper pumphouse. Additionally, lead contamination was found in the soil near the rope tow wheel and shack, as well as lead-based paint on the rope tow wheel. Missoula County knew about these issues prior to purchasing the property. The structures that have been impacted are closed and not open to the public.


    Next steps for cleaning up the contaminants

    As an initial step to address these hazardous materials, Missoula County funded the development of an Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA). An ABCA is used to identify a preferred method for abating hazardous materials before cleanup and redevelopment of the site can proceed. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has agreed to perform cleanup activities once the public comment period on the ABCA is completed and a preferred cleanup alternative is selected.


    The full public notice and the ABCA, along with associated documents, are provided below. This investment from the Brownfields Program aligns with the ongoing momentum at Marshall Mountain Park regarding planning and fundraising for infrastructure improvements.


    Preferred cleanup option

    Missoula County staff and the project consultant, NewFields, have identified Alternative 4 as the preferred cleanup option. This alternative prepares the site for reuse by addressing all Asbestos-Containing Building Materials (ACBMs), lead paint contamination and universal waste. It retains the main base building for future renovation and public use, while the lodge (with clocktower) and rope tow base shack would be demolished or deconstructed.


    Only the estimated abatement and professional services costs are eligible for DEQ funding. Demolition and/or deconstruction costs will need to be addressed separately. Missoula County staff, in collaboration with community partners, are actively seeking additional funding for these activities and subsequent recreational improvements.


    Current risk to the public

    Regular recreational use of Marshall Mountain will not put the public at risk of coming into contact with these potentially hazardous building materials. These hazardous building materials are within nearly every building constructed before 1979, but rarely present a hazard to people living in the buildings. The buildings at Marshall Mountain Park are no different, and the fact that we know exactly where the hazards are allows us to keep the public safe. In general, the hazardous building materials are only an issue if disturbed. If left alone, they pose no dangers. Since the redevelopment plan involves potential deconstruction of some buildings and renovation of others, these contaminants need to be abated before proceeding. Missoula County and Montana DEQ are arranging to have these materials abated in accordance with EPA and OSHA regulations by a professional company. A third-party company will oversee the abatement, and the hazardous areas will be sealed until air samples analysis shows clean results.


    If you have any questions about the contaminants and/or risks to the public, please contact Michael Kelly at mkelly@newfields.com or 907-317-2924. Michael Kelly is an environmental consultant and accredited asbestos contractor-supervisor.


    Historical preservation

    Marshall Mountain Park has been evaluated as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) due to its association with outdoor recreational history in Missoula and the surrounding communities.

    None of the structures or features identified at the site contribute to its NRHP eligibility. Therefore, demolition or deconstruction of the lodge (with clocktower) or any other existing structures will not adversely impact Marshall Mountain Park’s NRHP eligibility.

    Although the buildings themselves are not individually eligible for the NRHP, Missoula County acknowledges the iconic nature of these structures and will strive to retain or replicate key elements to preserve the site’s character wherever feasible.


    PUBLIC NOTICE

    Notice of availability and public comment period on the Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) document for the Marshall Mountain Park site in Missoula County, Montana.


    Missoula County and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are seeking public comment on a document analyzing several options for cleanup at Marshall Mountain Park located at 5250 Marshall Canyon Road, Missoula, Montana. The ABCA was prepared to address abatement of hazardous materials in several structures as well as in soil on the Marshall Mountain site property. Specific goals of the ABCA include protection of human health and the environment and cleaning up the property to allow for future redevelopment. Preparation of the ABCA involved collaboration between Missoula County, the Montana DEQ Brownfields Program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Program.


    Cleanup alternatives identified in the ABCA include taking no abatement action, abatement of all asbestos, universal waste, lead-based paint and lead-contaminated soil, or moderated abatement in preparation of demolition or deconstruction of some existing structures, including the main lodge building and the rope tow base shack. Missoula County and DEQ are accepting public comments on the ABCA through January 23, 2025.

    The ABCA and associated documents are found here.

    Comment Period Ends: January 23, 2025

    Comments may be submitted by commenting on this post.

    You can also send/submit comments to:

    Colleen Owen at Cowen@mt.gov or (406) 755-8954
    Montana Department of Environmental Quality
    Brownfields Program
    655 Timber Wolf Parkway
    Kalispell, MT 59901

    Or:

    Sindie Kennedy
    Grants and Community Resources, Missoula County
    200 West Broadway
    Missoula, MT 59802
    (406) 258-3688 or skennedy@missoulacounty.us

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  • New Trail Construction Update

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    The base area connection (0.5 miles), and the multi-use trail/uphill bike-only trail (3 miles) are fully constructed. The beginner, adaptive friendly downhill mountain biking trail (1.6 miles) is trending towards an early May 2025 completion. Updating trail signage and maps is a priority for this winter. We’ll be working on a grand opening for the new trails in summer 2025 and look forward to sharing more information about this celebration when it is available.

  • Headwall Descent trail maintenance

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    MTB Missoula has identified maintenance needs on the Headwall Descent trail. The goal is to build a more sustainable foundation for the trail by fixing erosion issues, improving corner support, and reducing brake bumps. MTB Missoula is planning on starting in on this project this week with a closure of Upper Headwall for the next couple of weeks. As their work shifts downhill, expect a similar closure to Lower Headwall. Signage will be posted at trail junctions, and efforts will be made to keep one section (upper or lower) open at any given time. Click here to see the map of mountain biking trails on TrailForks.com

  • Marshall Mountain Park Day - Aug. 10

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    To officially welcome the community to this special place, the public is invited to celebrate the Missoula area’s newest park during Marshall Mountain Park Day, Saturday, Aug. 10, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.!

    The event will include activities, food, ice cream, giveaways and more, including a raffle for three historic Marshall Ski Area lift chairs. The first 50 attendees who arrive on a bike will receive a free Marshall Mountain memento.


    This event is organized by the Friends of Marshall Mountain Park and is sponsored by Bedrock Sandals, McGowan Water, Oboz Footwear, Planetary Design and REI Coop.

    Hosts include the City of Missoula, Missoula County, MTB Missoula, Five Valleys Land Trust and Run Wild Missoula.


  • New trails to be constructed

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    On Thursday, July 18, the Missoula County Commissioners approved an agreement between Missoula County and Mountain Bike Missoula for trail construction and maintenance services at Marshall Mountain Park. New trail construction will start later this summer thanks to $100,000 secured through the state Recreational Trails Program and up to $70,000 in matching funds from city and county open space bonds.

    This trail development includes a new base area connection (0.4 mile); adaptive friendly, downhill mountain bike trail (1.6 miles); and a multi-use trail/uphill bike-only trail (3 miles), with about 6 to 7% grade. Construction is scheduled to start in early August. MTB Missoula hopes to wrap up construction by late October but will wrap up the project next spring if needed.




  • Marshall Mountain Park Ribbon-Cutting

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    Missoula County, the City of Missoula and partner agencies hosted the Marshall Mountain Park ribbon-cutting on May 28, 2024, at Marshall Mountain Park (5250 Marshall Canyon Road).

    With years of public input and planning, significant partner support and the use of voter-approved City and County open space bond funds, the City and County collaborated to ensure this historic recreation area will forever remain open to public use. Missoula County will own and manage the 480-acre park after acquiring it earlier this year.

    The event included lawn games, ice cream and an opportunity to enjoy the site with fellow community members. Officials from the County, City and partner agencies said a few words celebrating public ownership of the park. Friends of Marshall Mountain will host a community celebration event Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Page last updated: 27 Aug 2025, 11:54 AM