Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge

Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge is a nature reserve in Montana featuring wetlands, streams, native intermountain prairie, and forests spread across 38,052 acres. The property connects different landscape types that support a wide range of plant and animal communities.

The refuge was established in 1999 as a mitigation effort to restore wetlands that were lost due to Kerr Dam operations affecting Flathead Lake. This compensation project aimed to replace ecological value that had been diminished elsewhere.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages this land in collaboration with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to protect essential wildlife corridors.

The refuge is located west of Kalispell along Highway 2, then accessed via Pleasant Valley Road. Early morning and late evening visits offer the best chances to observe wildlife in their natural patterns.

The refuge was developed collaboratively by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes working together. This partnership created critical migration routes for large predators such as grizzly bears, Canada lynx, and wolverines moving between distant mountain ranges.

Location: Flathead County

Operator: US Fish and Wildlife Service

GPS coordinates: 48.17741,-114.89300

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:42