Mount Sentinel Land Acquisition

Generation after generation in the Missoula Valley have enjoyed the luxury of having wild and open lands just out the front door. Since the days of the first white settlement, and for the Native Peoples who were already here, the open slopes and timbered mountains that surround us, and the clear flowing rivers that connect us have generously given of their natural wealth for our sustenance and enjoyment.

For more than a century, the grassy, sun-drenched slopes of Mount Sentinel and the shadowy groves and meadows of Pattee Canyon have provided much to feed our bodies and our souls. That’s why a proud and happy group of citizens, agency officials and politicians gathered at the Pattee Canyon Recreation Area on July 12, 2003 to celebrate the protection and transfer to public ownership of one of the most important parcels in the Mount Sentinel-Pattee Canyon complex.

When the last signatures were safely in place, and the ink had dried, the Lolo National Forest and the City of Missoula took title to 475 acres on the south slopes of Mount Sentinel, filling a critical link between the City and Forest Service, State, and University lands, and ensuring that future generations will continue to enjoy the beauty and opportunity that have graced our community for so long.

Truly one of Missoula’s open space gems the whole of Mount Sentinel has been designated a “Cornerstone” in the 1995 “Urban Open Space Plan.” The land’s gently sloping meadows are covered with native grasses, wildflowers and stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, providing habitat for a diverse wildlife population including white-tailed deer, marmot, mountain lion, black bear, red-tailed hawks, harriers, and a variety of songbirds.

The acreage overlooks the mouth of Pattee Canyon and the site of one of the Missoula Valley’s first farming operations. David Pattee began farming there in 1871, and soon augmented the farm with flour and sawmill operations. Timber for the mill came from the thick stands of old-growth thriving on the slopes of Mount Sentinel, Dean Stone Mountain and Pattee Canyon much of which was later set aside for military use as the Fort Missoula Timber Reserve. With the coming of the National Forest system, the upper reaches of the canyon became one of Montana’s earliest and most popular designated recreation areas. At one time, it was even hoped that a ski area could be established in the canyon. Lack of sufficient snow eventually stymied the effort. However, lack of snow did not deter those who were determined to secure broad protection for the abundant natural and public values that those lands held for Missoulians.

As with all good things, the acquisition of these Mount Sentinel lands took time.

In 1998, Five Valleys Land Trust initiated discussions about protecting the property with the family of longtime owners, Walter and Evelyn Cox. The City of Missoula came in early as a partner, and in 2000 purchased 475 acres on the face of Mount Sentinel using $175,000 of open space bond funds.

The focus then shifted to the backside of the mountain, where in 2001, with help from The Trust for Public Lands, an option to purchase the remaining lands was secured. The City of Missoula again came forward with a $100,000 commitment toward the acquisition and broad support from the public, the City of Missoula and the Missoula County Commissioners caught the attention of the Montana Congressional delegation. Led by Sen. Conrad Burns, the delegation secured federal Land and Water Conservation funding for the remaining $800,000 needed to purchase the property. On July 8, 2003 the Lolo National Forest used those funds to complete the purchase.

It was another in the long and proud tradition of private-public partnerships that has succeeded in helping to protect those things we value so highly about living here, a sentiment echoed by Sen. Burns in his remarks to the crowd gathered on July 12 to celebrate this successful project.

"Montana's open spaces play a huge role in what we all know and love about our state. The ‘big sky’ is one of the things that makes Montana so special, and I am happy to have been a part of making this Mount Sentinel land acquisition possible.  It is situations like these, where we can work together to make decisions that are in the best interest of the land and in the best interest of the community, where everyone benefits,” Sen. Burns said.

Mount Sentinel is one of Missoula’s most spectacular open space treasures. Now, thanks to the vision and generosity of the Cox family, the support of our local governments, state and federal agencies, our Congressional delegation, and to the hard work of so many Missoulians who cherish it, the mountain will always remain open and wild for us all to enjoy.
Five Valleys is proud of its role in protecting Mount Sentinel.