Let’s go play outside
MEET THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
On August 26, 2023 in the last hours of twilight, while dancing under the stars, Kaniksu Land Trust announced that with the $50,000 + raised that day at Sledfest ‘23 and an additional recent grant totaling $600,000 that the community had once again made magic happen and raised over $2.1M to purchase the treasured community sledding hill.
The effort involved over 500 individual donations along with great support from local businesses and a number of successful grants. Together we have saved this parcel which includes 48 acres of forest, meadows, a large pond, and structures associated with this historic homestead. The most notable feature of course is the large hill that has served as a community recreation site for a half century.
In the weeks and months ahead we will continue to plan for the eventual opening of this property to our community. Sign up for our e-news or check back here for the most recent updates.
Thank you for being a part of this historic campaign.
All of our public access properties require ongoing upkeep and maintenance. Consider becoming a recurring donor to help us continue to give these properties the care they need as well as support our ongoing initiatives to protect more special places just like this one.
Say hello…meet our public access properties
Pine Street Woods
HIKING | BIKING | TRAIL RUNNING | XC SKIING | SNOWSHOEING
These 180 acres of rolling hills, healthy woodlands, and beckoning trails provide a place for all residents to learn, play, and connect with nature, forever.
These trails are open to year round recreation. In the winter, the grooming crews keep the trails ready for your next nordic skiing or fat tire biking adventure.
Visit and support our awesome partners, Sandpoint Nordic Club and Pend Oreille Pedalers, who help us maintain trails and who staff the Outdoor Recreation Center at Pine Street Woods.
Sherwood Forest
HIKING | BIKING | TRAIL RUNNING
The name Sherwood Forest elicits an air of whimsy, even a hopeful exuberance. There’s a modern day Sherwood Forest in Sandpoint that evokes similar feelings thanks to a local couple’s desire to protect and share their own whimsical place with fellow nature enthusiasts. Sherwood Forest is comprised of 140 acres of undeveloped woods with a myriad of trails that are accessible to the public through the generosity of the landowners. The area is not only a welcome haven for recreationalists looking for a morning hike or lunchtime bike ride, but has also been identified as habitat for white-tail deer, moose, black bear and other critters.
Land owners Mark and Susie Kubiak ensured the permanent protection of this property from development and encroachment of residential, commercial and industrial uses by partnering with Kaniksu Land Trust in a conservation agreement in 2012. By doing so they provided a tremendous benefit to the local community.
Continued access to this private land is contingent upon respectful use.
VTT
HIKING | BIKING | TRAIL RUNNING
One of KLT’s newest partner projects, VTT comes to us through the generosity and foresight of local residents Steve and Julie Meyer. The Meyers purchased this 100-acre upland forestland adjacent to Pine Street Woods and Sherwood Forest in 2020 and are actively working to develop management plans, construct trails, and establish a permanent conservation agreement to protect the property.
PS: If you’re curious, VTT stands for Velo Tout Terrain, which is French for Mountain Bike!
Cabinet View Nature Area
WILDLIFE VIEWING | HIKING | PICNICKING
Located just east of the state line between Clark Fork, Idaho and Heron Montana, Cabinet View was acquired by KLT in 2015 as a nature preserve and non-motorized public access site. The project was made possible through support from Avista Corporation, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and a generous landowner who continues to be a passionate conservationist. The site offers a 1 mile nature trail that winds through the 76 acre property, offering exquisite views of an extensive wetland complex with the Cabinet Mountains as a backdrop. A timber frame gazebo was added in 2018 with assistance from students at Clark Fork High School, who regularly utilize the site as an outdoor classroom. Please tread lightly on this special property and keep your dog on a leash. Wildlife are abundant.
Directions: From Clark Fork, Idaho, turn onto River Road and continue east to the Montana state line. the Cabinet View parking area will be immediately on your left (north).
Wood Duck
HUNTING ACCESS
The Wood Duck Conservation Easement, established in 2009 through a partnership between KLT and Avista Corporation, protects 153 acres of wetlands and riparian habitat along the Bull River in Sanders County, Montana. This property is protected by KLT, owned and managed by Avista, and enrolled in Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Block Management. A cooperative program between private landowners and FWP, Block Management helps landowners manage hunting activities and provides the public with free hunting access to private land, and sometimes to adjacent or isolated public lands. Landowner participation in block management is voluntary and contracts are negotiated annually. In 2020, approximately 1,200 landowners enrolled over 7 million acres of land in the Block Management Program.
Formally started in 1985 and expanded significantly in 1996, Block Management has provided free public hunting experiences across the state since its inception. Positive working relationships have been formed between landowners, hunters, and resource managers. The future looks promising, but is dependent on you. By following the rules and demonstrating courteous, legal and ethical behavior, sportsmen and women can do their part to assure future access to private lands in Montana.
Directions: Wood Duck is located at Mile Marker 40.5 on Montana State Highway 56 outside of Heron, MT.
Twin Creek
FISHING ACCESS (Clark Fork River)
A clear stream gurgling through cedar groves, upland forests for moose to wander, and open meadows where hay grows tall. KLT has partnered with Avista to conserve over 200 acres of forest and field along Twin Creek in eastern Bonner County. This land will always be available for birds and wildlife to roam, and for you to enjoy when traveling scenic River Road between Clark Fork and Heron. Public access is permitted on the property. Parking areas are situated on either side of River Road.
Protection of this property helps to ensure responsible forestry and agriculture practices as well as to preserve significant wetlands and riparian habitats that contribute to nutrient cycling, water quality, erosion control, and natural habitats for native fish, wildlife, and plants. The west-slope cutthroat trout, listed as a vulnerable species by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, is just one of many species that find their homes here.
The riparian and upland forests, wetlands, and proximity to Twin Creek and the Clark Fork River are all positive indicators for diverse bird species including migrant songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. Moose and deer, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians such as painted turtle and Coeur d’Alene salamander also live here, and six species of bats are known to occur in the vicinity.
Directions: Twin Creek is located at Mile Marker 5 on River Road outside of Clark Fork, Idaho