Events Extra Info

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Past Event Highlights

- Magic City Trail Trek 2010
- Bike Walk Bus Week 2010
- Ales for Trails 2009
- Trail Census Results 2009
- Trail Census Results 2007

BikeNet Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Tour de Cure Montana - Saturday, September 11

Public Workshop for the Billings Area Bikeway and Trail Master Plan - Wednesday, September 15, 6-9:00 pm

Yellowstone Riverfest Mountain Bike & Canoe Races - Saturday, September 18, 9:00 am

SAVE THE DATE! Ales for Trails is September 24th

It's the 10th anniversary of Billings' favorite party and you're invited. Ales has raised more than $200,000 to help build the growing Billings Area Bikeway and Trail system. Plus it's a chance to mingle with other trail enthusiasts, sample local microbrews, listen to live music and learn about the latest trail developments. This year we'll be in Dehler Park to accommodate more people and more fun. Please join us and consider becoming a sponsor this year.

Tri-State Recreation, Parks and Trails Conference - October 6-9, 2010 in West Yellowstone

All Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana professionals, advocates, volunteers, and businesses who want to learn about the latest trends and issues in recreation are invited to attend.
Two exceptional full-day workshops will bookend the conference.  On October 6, a regional “Getting Children Outside” workshop with keynote speaker, Jack Shea of Teton Science Schools, will convey the importance of connecting people, nature, place, and education.  National experts from the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy will conduct a full-day seminar on October 9 discussing the process of preserving proposed rights-of-way for public use, sources of information on railroad abandonments, funding alternatives, and congressional action on livable communities.

Register for the conference online at  www.mtrpa.info/conference.php.  Early registration ends August 31. For more information, contact Bob Walker at (406) 933-5326 or Beth Shumate at (406) 444-4585

20th American Trails National Symposium - November 14-17, 2010, Chattanooga, TN

Recent Past Events

Magic City TRAIL TREK 2010

The fourth annual Magic City Trail Trek was held Sunday, June 6, 2010 at the Public Utilities Park along the Yellowstone River. Trail Trek, started by the “Go Play” trail campaign, promotes a healthier community by encouraging use of the trail system in Billings. Despite some rain during set up and a few additional showers during registration, it turned out to be a great event weather-wise and otherwise.

Spur of the Moment Band chased away the rain with bluegrass during registration. As the clouds lifted and the sun peeked out, everyone took off biking, walking, pushing strollers or traversing the trails in whatever manner they enjoyed. Chris and Cheryl Cook led the way on bikes with a group of kids that made it all the way to Mary’s Street before heading back.

Singing and music was provided along the way by Doug Nagel (opera singing), Ryan Kabeary and friend (guitar and singing up in the tree), Kris and Scott Prinzing, (guitar and singing by Coulson Park) and Russell Engesser (accordion at our refreshment break by the Lockwood Bridge). Mary and Walt Peet served oranges and bananas at the rest stop and everyone got a chance to watch the debris floating down the swollen Yellowstone River.

Back at the park, Bistro Enzo had hamburgers cooking on the grill and they were oh so good with all the fixings. Wendy’s chili really hit the spot too with the cool weather. We had over 170 people join us for the barbecue plus all the entertainers and even some of the volunteers on the new Billings Police Department bike patrol. Dan Page and the Barn Cats rocked out at the barbecue.

Rounding out the event was the raffle drawing for great prizes including a mountain bike from The Spoke Shop, a cruising bike from Montana Cycling and Dan Austin (Austin Lehman Adventures), a bike helmet from the Bike Shop, a gift certificate, shirt and water bottle from Time Out Sports, two pair of classy tennis shoes from the Base Camp and several gift certificates from Rocket Burritos.

We couldn’t have held the Trail Trek without the generous monetary support from our sponsors St. Vincent Healthcare, RiverStone Health, Yellowstone Surgery Center and Billings Clinic. We also appreciate the City of Billings hosting the event and providing the great park location by Public Utilities, table and chairs from the Community Center and administrative support.

Then of course, there were all our trusty volunteers who moved tables and chairs, set up tents, provided power, helped with registration and greeted participants and then took it all down again. Hope we didn’t miss anyone, but the volunteer list includes Mary & Walt Peet, Sandy & Bill Anderson, Jim Collins, Scott Krauszer, Kaitlin Hopkins, Deb Goffena, Alan Patterson, Anthony Harrington, Merry Ann Peters, Kelly Bustell, Deb Magilke, Marilyn Tapia and Dustin, Kristi Drake, Jenny McCullough, Paul and Sue Reitz, Laura Estes, Tina and Ed Whitfield, Mary Jo Johnson, Robin Hanel, and Adam Schaffe. Last but not least, a special thanks to our co-chairs of the event who planned it all …..Kathy Aragon, Stella Fong and Darlene Tussing…..Thanks to ALL.

Sunset Hike in Historic, Natural Swords Park - May 19, 2010

It was a perfect evening May 19th for a hike through Swords Park during Bike, Walk, Bus Week. Kevin Kooistra-Manning, community historian of the Western Heritage Center, and Carolyn Sevier, program director and naturalist, from Rim Country Land Institute led us through the historical and natural wonders in the park. We hiked along the roadway and trails to overlook Skeleton Cliff where Kevin read and shared with us some of the history of the Crow tribe and the young community of Billings. We also hiked up to Yellowstone Kelly’s grave to hear the stories and see from this vantage point the Yellowstone River Valley and the mountains in the horizon. Along the way, we had a lot of opportunity for Carolyn to share with us information on the formation of the land and the different types of vegetation that are common to the area. Carolyn is very knowledgeable as to how some of these plants were used by the Indians and early settlers. There were a number of wildflowers blooming which added to the beauty of the land and to our hike. Darlene Tussing also shared future plans for trail connections along the eastern portion of the park and a linkage to the new underpasses. It was a great evening to get out and walk and fill our minds with our history and natural wonders. A special thanks to Kevin and Carolyn.

DR. JEAN ELLIS SHARE THE ROAD SIGN DEDICATION
May 17, 2010 (Bike, Walk, Bus Week)

We had great weather for the start of Bike, Walk, Bus Week May 17th and celebrated with a dedication of the Share the Road signs that have been placed out along the Molt Road corridor from 54th and Rimrock to Popelka Lane.  Currently the bike trail along Rimrock starts at Shiloh and ends at 54th where the road actually narrows, so the signs are a good reminder to motorists that bicyclists may be sharing the road. 

A good crowd gathered to hear Mayor Hanel, MDT District Administrator Stefan Streeter, and Billings City Commissioner Kennedy speak about the policy and collaborative effort to sign the road. The signs were paid for by the Dr. Jean Ellis memorial fund and we were pleased that his wife and mother could join us for the event. Dr. Ellis was an avid biker and died 4 years ago from a heart attack while biking in the Billings area. Dr. Chuck Aragon who was a friend and biking companion, spoke to the crowd about Dr. Ellis and displayed the memorial sign that would be mounted on the Share the Road signs in his honor.  Afterwards, the Chamber Trail Blazers provided the official ribbon cutting and there were treats from Costco and some time to socialize. 

9th ANNUAL ALES FOR TRAILS
September 25, 2009
Billings Depot (Downtown on Montana Ave.)

The 9th Annual Ales for Trails at the Depot continued it's tradition as one of the year's best fundraising events. The weather was absolutely gorgeous so folks could hang loose outside and still hear the music and enjoy the brews without being so tightly packed inside. Regional brewers made more than 30 brews available and the crowd was fantastic. Entertainment of Ryan Parker and the Beautification Project, The Billings Caledonian Pipes and Drums, and the Firehouse Band kept things lively.
 
Rockets Gourmet Wraps and Sodas catered the event this year and the owner, Brian Thompson, donated all of his labor and the profits from the food sales back to BikeNet for the development of trails.  Brian served some great food and wraps and he got rave reviews. We look forward to his participation next year.

The trails room drew lots of interest displaying maps and information on trail development throughout the Billings community. We also had some fun competition with “Pedal” awards for the Drinker’s Choice of brews.  After all ballots were counted, Angry Hanks got the Gold, with Red Lodge Ales getting the silver and the bronze going to Montana Brewing Company. Briggs Distributing again provided a New Belgium classic fat tire bike that was raffled along with a bike from RiverStone Health, topo map programs from MyTopo and gift certificates from Rocket Gourmet Wraps and Sodas.

When all is said and done, we raised in the neighborhood of $30,000 for local trails. Along with our Co-chairs, Jenny McCullough and Paul Chinberg, we owe a special thanks to the core group of folks that helped plan the event including Bruce Chessen, Kristi Drake, Corey Jensen, Tom Weeks, Brain Mathis, Dylan Moellendorf, Laura Estes, Carolyn Jones, Lori Anderson, Spencer Stone, Bruce Larsen, Chris Miller, Nash Emrich, and Darlene Tussing. We also want to give a big thank you to our sponsors.

Speaking of sponsors, CTA Architects Engineers continues to be our Trail Leader, providing another $2,000 this year to support trails. They have been instrumental throughout the years in the success of the Ales event. Due to their generosity and the support of all our sponsors, BikeNet has been able to leverage additional funds for the trails including some of this year's projects such as the Bannister Drain Trail south of King and the Lampman Strip Park Trail located between Monad and King. 

A very special THANK YOU to all the volunteers that helped the day of the event. We wouldn’t have been so successful without your efforts.

Next year, a big 10th anniversary bash is being planned. Stay tuned for more details.

Consider becoming a sponsor yourself