Missoula trail ambassadors return to help hikers

Missoula, Mont. — Hikers around Missoula will once again start seeing Trail Ambassadors at local trailheads.

The volunteer program connects people with guidance on trail etiquette and helps them plan a smoother trip. Missoula Parks and Recreation runs the effort with several local agencies and groups.

Peter Whitney, a conservation lands program specialist with Missoula Parks and Recreation, said the ambassadors offer help for both new and longtime trail users.

“If you run into a trail ambassador, you can expect to learn about whatever's blooming right now or look at different resources. They've got tons of information about the different trail options, what a good loop might be, what sort of difficulty or distance that you're looking at or how much elevation gain,” Whitney said.

The program entered its fifth year in Missoula. Organizers said it also gave land managers a quicker way to hear what people were noticing on the trails.

“It allows members of the public to share real time feedback or observations from out on the trails with these ambassadors and let that information go straight to the land managers,” said Ben Horan, the associate director of Five Valleys Land Trust.

Whitney said even people who know a trail well could still pick up something new by talking with an ambassador.

“We hear about people visiting a trail for years and after they talked to a trail ambassador, they might learn something new about this area that they already know and love,” Whitney said.

People who want to volunteer still had time to sign up through Missoula Parks and Recreation’s Get Involved page.