Please wear blaze orange while recreating in Cedar Flats during hunting season.
Building 25 miles of multi-use, non-motorized trails north of Columbia Falls
The Cedar Flats project involves the planned construction of 25 miles of non-motorized, multi-use trails north of Columbia Falls in partnership with the Flathead National Forest. To date, we have successfully applied for and received over $300,000 in grant funds for trail development - including funds for a vault toilet and designated parking area. We have also created a proposal with input from the community of Columbia Falls, and local hikers, runners, bikers, backcountry horsemen, and other recreationists. The proposed trail plan was included in the recommended action as part of a larger Forest Service project in this area.
We broke ground on this project in October 2021 and have built over 10 miles to date!
-In the fall of 2021 our contractor successfully built roughly a mile of trail with a mini excavator while a Montana Conservation Corps crew helped clear the trail corridor ahead of the machine.
-In 2022 we built an additional 4+ miles of trail and have begun hosting monthly Run, Ride, and Walk events to tour the trails with anyone interested.
-In 2023 we worked on Phase 2 of the project, building an additional 6.5 miles of trail and beginning to develop the 4th Avenue Trailhead. We broke ground on TR05 in July and it was completed in October.
-In 2024 we finished Phase II of construction, completed the 4th Ave trailhead (including a vault toilet, kiosk, and signage), installed vital mapping and directional signage thanks to a generous Round Uo for Safety grant, and begin construction on the Cedar Ridge trailhead.
-In 2025 we have plans to finalize our main trailhead at Cedar Ridge, as well as begin work on Phase III of construction.
This project began years ago when a group of individuals inquired with the Forest Service about expanded and improved trails in the Cedar Flats area north of Columbia Falls. We formed a committee and drafted a proposal for increased non-motorized, multi-use trails in the area and our trail plan was approved as part of a timber thinning fuels reduction project in 2019.
Learn more about the project on the Flathead National Forest’s Crystal Cedar Project Page.
Click here to donate to this project.
How to access Cedar Flats Trails
4th AVE TH: In Columbia Falls, take 2nd ave WN across the railroad tracks and turn left onto 4th St WN. Follow 4th until it ends at a T (turns into Barnett Rd. on Google Maps). Parking for the trailhead is on the right in a large dirt parking area. Please be respectful as you drive through the residential area toward the trailhead. The residents of Barnett Rd. personally fund maintenance for the road.
Waving Bear pullout: From Columbia Falls, take the North Fork Rd. north and turn left onto Cedar Flats Rd. The Waving Bear pullout is the first large pullout on the right side of the road with a Forest Service kiosk. Snowberry trail (non-motorized) is accessible directly across from the pullout, and the motorized Waving Bear Trail that connected to Cedar Ridge Rd. is directly accessed from this pullout.
TR04 - Cedar Flats Rd.: Follow the directions above but continue down the road until you come to the small car pullout on the left side of the road at the entrance to the motorized Turkey Trot trail. TR04 (non-motorized) is located directly across the road from the pullout.
TR04/TR05 - Cedar Ridge Rd.: Follow the directions above but continue further along the North Fork and turn left onto Cedar Ridge Rd. Follow the road until you reach a small pullout on the left side. TR04 is accessed directly next to the pullout and TR05 is directly across the road.
Find us on Trailforks
Check out the map below or click here to explore Cedar Flats
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