More than three decades in the making, a 10-mile bike/pedestrian trail now connects Kalispell and Kila.

Work that began as far back as 1975 and picked up steam in 1989 has culminated in the completed path west of Kalispell.

Rails to Trails of Northwest Montana will celebrate the grand opening of the completed trail on Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Julie's Arena, next to the Smith Valley Fire Department 5 miles west of Kalispell.

Jam to the music of Truck Stop Inferno, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

Refreshments and cake will be served. At 5 p.m., people are invited to join a parade of bikes to the Cottage Inn where entertainment will be provided by the Tropical Montana Marimba Ensemble on the deck (weather permitting).

The trail follows the route of the historic Great Northern Railway.

The wheels for Rails to Trails were first set in motion in 1975 when the Land and Water Conservation Fund helped purchase an isolated one-mile section of land west of Kalispell from Burlington Northern Railway.

In 1989 Rails to Trails was established as a nonprofit organization. The railroad then gave permission for an easement along its rail bed west of Meridian Road and the two trail segments were connected.

Numerous grants, donated equipment, volunteer efforts, supporter donations and fundraisers - such as the annual pie social and Great Northern 5-kilometer race - have contributed to the completion of the trail.

One of the project's greatest hurdles was bridging Ashley Creek in two places west of Kalispell. In 2007 and 2008, $107,000 in grants were secured from various sources, allowing the bridges to be erected.

Donations also have made possible trail features such as benches, gift walls, bird-nest boxes, garbage cans, historical signs and trees.

"It's taken hundreds of thousands of dollars, countless volunteer hours and the great support of in-kind donations from local businesses and agencies over 20 years to make it happen," Rails to Trails board member Mark Crowley said of the trail completion.