Riverside Park Enhancements

Missoula County will begin work this fall to make improvements to Riverside Park in Lolo. This will include reconstructing the trailheads stairs, rerouting portions of the trail to prevent erosion, paving and striping the parking lot, and restoring the vault toilet, among other improvements.

The park, located at 1794 Lakeside Drive, is one of the most popular parks owned by Missoula County and it serves as the primary river access point for the community of Lolo. Park amenities include walk-in river access to the Bitterroot River and a natural surface trail system.

In 2017, Missoula County Parks, Trails, and Open Lands staff worked with community members to envision a park enhancement project at Riverside Park. Initially, funding for the project proved difficult to secure but in 2023, Missoula County was awarded a Trail Stewardship Grant from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. This grant will help provide 90% of the funding for the park improvements, with the other 10% coming from county revenue.

The project will be broken into three phases to limit disruptions to park users and the nearby Lolo Sewer and Water Treatment Plant:

Schedule

Fall 2024 – Trail work conducted by Montana Conservation Corps (MCC)

1. Reconstruction of trailhead stairs
2. Reroute sections of trail to avoid riverbank erosion
3. Clearing of fencing debris

Spring 2025 – Main trailhead work

1. Asphalt overlay and striping in the parking lot to increase parking efficiency
2. Removal of old bollards and replace with fencing where applicable
3. Installation of trailhead amenities like an entry sign, kiosk, bike rack, etc.
4. Vault toilet restoration

Fall 2025 – Complete remaining work (as funding allows)

1. Park benches and tables
2. Add additional interpretive panels
3. Add additional wayfinding signs
4. Complete any remaining trail work