Jefferson River Chapter
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
EIN: 27-3668054

About the Chapter
      The Jefferson River Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (LCTHF) brings together supporters from near and far who are passionate about conservation, recreation, and history on the Jefferson River segment of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. We are an inclusive group with diverse interests in canoeing, kayaking, camping, fishing, walking, birding, and mushrooming along the Jefferson River. As a chapter of the Montana Region of LCTHF, we join a nationwide network of people devoted to telling the story of the Corps of Discovery and preserving and connecting elements of the trail.

Our Mission
      The Jefferson River Chapter of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation seeks to preserve the land and history of the Jefferson River and neighboring segments of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, including, but not limited to:

- Establishing a public canoe trail with campsites along the river
- Preserving the undeveloped character of the landscape as Lewis and Clark would have found it
- Improving public access, trails, and camping opportunities along the river
- Protecting the natural biodiversity of this landscape
- Promoting public awareness and interest in the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Land Acknowledgement
      The Jefferson River, Missouri headwaters, and much of southwest Montana was historically a crossroads frequented by the Bannock, Newe (Shoshone), Niimiipuu (Nez Perce), Seliš (Salish), Ktunaxa (Kootenai), Qlispé (Kalispel / Pend Orielle), Piikani (Blackfeet), A'aninin (Gros Ventre), Néhinaw (Cree), Apsáalooke (Crow), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne), Hinono'eino (Arapaho), Nakota (Assiniboine), OčhéthiŠakówi (Lakota and Dakota), and Hiraacá (Hidatsa) tribes. Although southwest Montana is far from established reservations today, multiple tribes and many individuals maintain a deep connection to this landscape.

      As the Jefferson River Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, we gratefully acknowledge Native Peoples and their dedication to the land and their communities that runs deep within the hearts of those past, present, and future. We seek perspective, guidance, and collaboration with those who know this land most intimately and whom might have unique insights to help conserve the best of southwest Montana for future generations.

Backstory: Group History
      Our organization was originally founded as the nonprofit 3Rivers Park in 2002, envisioning the entirety of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers as one regional park encompassing all public and private lands bordering the rivers. The concept park included all fishing access sites and other state and federal lands bordering the rivers, plus any other formal or informal access points.

      By envisioning and managing the area as a whole, we could better seek to fill in critical gaps where campsites or other public access was needed, and we could advocate for conservation easements to protect adjacent lands from development within the viewshed of the rivers. The scope of the vision was bold, and more than we could realistically manage.

      In 2004 we narrowed our vision to the Jefferson River, and initiated creation of the Jefferson River Canoe Trail as an essential segment of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The Lewis and Clark story provided a theme for the water trail, named here as a "canoe trail" in homage to the dugout canoes of the famed explorers. We identified and named isolated fragments of public lands along the river as designated campsites on the Jefferson River Canoe Trail and shortly afterwards published our first set of Canoe Trail Maps.

      In 2007 we abandoned the 3Rivers Park name and reorganized as the nonprofit Jefferson River Canoe Trail Association. Paperwork associated with filing and maintaining a 501(c)(3) proved to be a significant drain on group energy we had intended to apply towards conservation efforts.

      Given the Lewis and Clark theme of our signature project, we reorganized again in 2009, this time becoming the Jefferson River Canoe Trail Chapter of the 501(c)(3) Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, thus giving us a connection with the broader Lewis and Clark story and our sister chapters nationwide, while significantly reducing our required paperwork.

      Acquiring campsites as a small nonprofit organization with limited resources proved a persistent challenge, but in 2014 we successfully raised funds and acquired a grant to purchase the 5-acre Shoshone Landing near Three Forks, adding our first new campsite to the Jefferson River Canoe Trail. Our group has planted trees, installed fire rings and a historical sign, fixed fences, and installed gates, hosting work parties, potlucks, campouts, and paddle days in relation to the property.

      Success builds on success, and in 2017 we acquired the 30-acre property for Lost Tomahawk, thanks to many generous donors and grantors that helped us pay for the property in just six months. Here we have also worked on property improvement projects and made the site a popular destination for paddlers, campers, and day-users who come to fish, walk their dog, or look for mushrooms.

      We later removed "Canoe Trail" from our chapter name, relabeling our group as the slightly less unwieldy "Jefferson River Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation," or simply "Jefferson River Chapter LCTHF."

      The Jefferson River Canoe Trail remains the primary project and focus of our group. We continue updating the Canoe Trail Maps, and we host several meetings, potlucks, work parties, and paddle days each year. We are presently looking for additional properties for new campsites to fill in the remaining gaps along the river.

Chapter Charter | By-Laws

The Jefferson River Canoe Trail is a
Paddle America Club (#22025545 )
of the American Canoe Association

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