On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Forest Service authorized the East Crazy Mountains & Inspiration Divide Land Exchange, consolidating over 5,200 acres of public and private lands in Montana’s Crazy Mountains. The agreement creates a contiguous block of protected land, restores public access through a new 22-mile trail system, and resolves decades of access disputes that divided the community.
Led by previous TCA grantee, the Park County Environmental Council, this milestone reflects years of collaboration among conservation partners, local landowners, and the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation, for whom the range, Awaxaawippíia, or “Ominous Mountains”, holds deep cultural significance. The project protects critical habitat for species like wolverine, lynx, and mountain goat, while building a stronger foundation for equitable, community-led conservation in the Northern Rockies.