County approves renewed MOA with mountain bike coalition for Marshall Mountain trails

Missoula County commissioners approved a memorandum of agreement with the Missoula Mountain Bike Coalition to continue volunteer-led trail maintenance and new trail construction at Marshall Mountain, county staff and coalition representatives said at a county meeting. The agreement covers ongoing upkeep of existing trails and support for newly built beginner- and adaptive-friendly routes as well as planned hand-built technical trails in the upper portion of the hill.

The renewal matters because it formalizes the county’s working relationship with a local nonprofit that has led recent trail-building and volunteer days at Marshall Mountain, and it funds and authorizes construction that county staff and coalition members say will expand access for beginners and adaptive riders while also creating higher-skill features for progression. Jackson, staff member, and John Stegmaier, representing the Missoula Mountain Bike Coalition, presented the proposal and answered commissioners’ questions during the discussion.

County and coalition presenters said work completed over the prior year included a 3.5-mile multiuse trail and a package of beginner- and adaptive-friendly routes designed to reduce the creation of unsanctioned trails on public land. "Once tourist season comes around, there are out-of-state plates up there all the time," John Stegmaier said, describing regional and out‑of‑state visitation. Presenters said the coalition now plans to shift focus to the upper quadrant of Marshall Mountain to build a hand-built technical trail intended for advanced riders (described by presenters as analogous to a "black, double black diamond" ski run); they said that feature will not be suitable for all users but will add skill‑progression opportunities.

Presenters noted the trails are largely intended to be multiuse in places and that some trails are bike-specific. County staff said the main multiuse trail is uphill-only for bikes to reduce conflicts, and they described growing use of Marshall Mountain by local runners, including organized events supported by Run Wild Missoula.

Safety and emergency access were discussed. Presenters said they have met with local emergency responders, including fire and Life Flight Network, and are working to identify helicopter landing zones; they noted power lines and cable towers near the base area limit options for aerial evacuation. John Stegmaier and county staff emphasized coordination with emergency services as part of the planning process.

Speakers framed the county‑coalition partnership as a way to provide high‑quality, sanctioned facilities and to discourage informal, unsanctioned trail building on public land. They also credited private sponsors for supporting projects at Marshall; presenters referenced a named sponsor in connection with a trail feature.

During the meeting a commissioner moved to approve the memorandum of agreement between Missoula County and the Missoula Mountain Bike Coalition; the commissioners voiced assent and the motion passed by voice vote. The presenters and commissioners did not identify a vote tally in the meeting record. County staff and the coalition said they will continue coordinating with emergency responders and proceed with planned construction under the terms of the renewed MOA.

Details provided at the meeting included the existing 3.5-mile multiuse trail, recent beginner/adaptive trail work, and the planned upper‑quadrant technical trail; funding sources and the formal start dates for construction were not specified in the meeting transcript.