Flathead County GIS offers online trails map

A new comprehensive and interactive Online Trails Map is now available through the office of Flathead County Geographic Information Systems.

The map is a product of the Flathead County Trails Plan update by the PATHS Advisory Committee.

The Flathead County Trails Plan, the People, Athletics, Travel, Health and Safety (PATHS) Advisory Committee worked with the Flathead County GIS Department to develop the new comprehensive online map of county trails. The map shows both existing and proposed trails and allows users to search for a trail by using the search function or to select a trail to reveal the trail’s name and its use restrictions. The trails data has been compiled from many public and private sources and contributors and accommodate many users including hikers, bikers, equestrians, cross country skiers, ATVs, and snowmobilers. The trail descriptions will become more detailed as map users give feedback to the GIS Department.

“This trails database, maintained by our office, serves as a comprehensive repository for all the players to come together and a mechanism to make the data available and useful to the public via mobile devices and computers,” said Ron Schlagenhaufer of the Flathead County GIS Department.

“It is an important tool that the PATHS Advisory Committee wanted to see as an outcome of the trail plan update and we are happy to that it is now available to the public,” said Ryan Hunter of Flathead Land Trust and a member of the PATHS Advisory Committee.

The online trails map can be found on the GIS Department’s webpage http://flathead.mt.gov/gis/ and then by selecting the “GIS Applications” link. The “Trails in Flathead Valley” link is in alphabetical order toward the bottom of the page.