Lost Trail a hidden gem
A small herd of elk run across the meadows below Dahl Lake on the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge in Pleasant Valley. The refuge about 20 miles northwest of Marion provides winter range for about 300 elk and year-round habitat for a variety of wildlife. The approximately 8,000 acres, which used to be working cattle and horse ranches, was acquired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999 as a way to mitigate for wildlife losses and impacts on the Flathead Lake Waterfowl Production Area attributed to the operation of Kerr Dam. Recreation, including wildlife watching, mountain biking, h…
The Daily Inter Lake
Out in the remote area of Pleasant Valley lies a massive refuge that offers recreation, beautiful views and excellent opportunities to view wildlife.
Prior to becoming a refuge, the lands were privately owned and managed as a cattle and horse ranch known as the Lost Trail Ranch. The ranch's history dates back into the late 1800s.
In 1996, the Montana Power Company, which owns Kerr Dam, purchased the ranch to partially settle a mitigation order by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Past and future operations of Kerr Dam had negatively impacted the Flathead Waterfowl Production Area along Flathead Lake. In 1999, the power company conveyed 3,100 acres of the ranch to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The service then purchased the remaining acreage from Montana Power. Lost Trail is managed as a satellite unit of the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Highlights of the refuge include Dahl Lake, the large variety of wildlife and Indian pictographs on rock faces.
Getting there: Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge can be reached by traveling west from Kalispell on U.S. 2 approximately 20 miles to Marion. Turn north at Marion onto Pleasant Valley Road. After approximately 1.3 miles, take the right fork and continue on the blacktop until reaching the graveled road. Continue on the gravel road for approximately 13 miles. The Refuge Headquarters is located north of the county road.
General information: The refuge is 7,885 acres and was established on Aug. 24, 1999 for the benefit of migratory birds and resident wildlife species. It was acquired as a way to mitigate for impacts on the Flathead Waterfowl Production Area attributed to Kerr Dam. Funding for the refuge was provided through the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965.
Lost Trail is the 519th refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System, which comprises more than 93 million acres of wildlife lands.
Public use: Visitors are allowed to hike, cross-country ski, snowshoe, hunt, take photographs, mountain bike and go horseback riding. Some motorized vehicle access is available. A large portion of the refuge is closed from Sept. 1 through Dec. 10.
Landscape: The refuge contains everything from wetland habitat to prairie grasslands to wooded slopes. Elevation ranges from 3,488 feet to 4,600 feet.
Wildlife: Lost Trail is home to a large number of waterfowl including mallard, teal, wood duck, common goldeneye and Canada gees. Marsh and shorebirds include grebes, herons, gulls, killdeer and black terns. Other birds that populate the refuge include grouse, hawks and owls.
Mammal species on the refuge include white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, fisher, pine martin, lynx, muskrat and badger.
Contact: 406-858-2286 or online at http://www.fws.gov/bentonlake/Lost_Trail_NWR.html