Montana Trail Work Expands Wayfarers Access

Crews cleared and leveled a Flathead Lake trail as part of a statewide push to make Montana's state parks more accessible.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in National Parks

Montana Trail Work Expands Wayfarers Access

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Montana State Parks Foundation crews cleared brush, widened and leveled sections, and removed rocks and roots from the Harry Horn Trail at Wayfarers State Park on Flathead Lake. The work is part of a statewide initiative to make all 56 state parks accessible.

Why it matters

The project is intended to make Montana's outdoors more accessible and is shaped by people with firsthand experience of navigating accessibility barriers. Organizers hope the Wayfarers work will serve as a model for other state parks across Montana.

The trail was left unpaved, with crews packing down soil and adding crushed gravel where water collects. The foundation's stated goal is to make all 56 Montana state parks accessible.

The players

Montana State Parks Foundation

The foundation leads the effort to improve accessibility across Montana's state park system.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

The state agency that manages Montana's fish, wildlife, and state park resources, and a partner in the statewide accessibility initiative.

University of Montana

The public research university in Missoula that partners on the statewide accessibility initiative.

The details

Crews cleared brush from the Harry Horn Trail, widened and leveled sections, and removed rocks and roots. Improvements at Spring Meadow Lake are also underway, including plans for an adaptive kayak dock, an accessible pathway, and specialized wheelchairs.

Last year, a Walk Move Audit was held at Wayfarers State Park with people with disabilities, their parents or aides, and outdoor adaptive recreation professionals.
Trail clearing and leveling work at Wayfarers was recently completed around November 2026.

Seasonal Patterns

Trail accessibility projects in Montana's parks are typically scheduled in the offseason, when crews can work without interfering with peak summer visitation. The Wayfarers work follows that pattern, with clearing and leveling completed around November.

Visitors planning trips to Wayfarers State Park can expect a trail that remains unpaved but is cleared, widened, and leveled in sections. Those with mobility needs should check current conditions before visiting, since the broader accessible route is still a goal rather than a finished feature.

The takeaway

Accessibility in Montana's state parks depends on practical, on-the-ground work tailored to each site. Visitors and advocates can follow the Wayfarers project as a test case for how the state might expand access across its 56 parks.