Paying it forward—Hyalite Canyon style

By Mira Brody


You may have noticed a few extra people on your favorite trails in the last couple of years. As more people call Bozeman and southwest Montana home, many are enjoying what we all love most about the region: its access to outdoor recreation. Hyalite is no outlier.


Last July of 2023, one of Hyalite’s busiest months of the year, we counted over 10,000 vehicles enter the canyon, and about 90% of them went all the way to the Reservoir Day Use Area (you may noticed how crowded it gets if you’ve been there in the summer!)


With increased popularity, comes increased responsibility. Stewardship and education is a big part of the Friends of Hyalite mission and we believe now more than ever it is important to give back to Hyalite not only to increase the efforts of Leave No Trace and maintain infrastructure, but also to show others how we care about our backyard.


A great way to “pay it forward” to our beautiful canyon is to participate in Friends of Hyalite’s upcoming bi-annual Clean Up day on Saturday, May 18 from noon to 3 p.m., as well as keep an eye out for our stewardship days this coming June, July, August and September.


Spring Clean Up Day

Clean Up Data is a longstanding tradition of Friends of Hyalite. We hold one each fall and spring and use the time to clean up pallets fires, nails, trash, and sometimes projects the Custer Gallatin National Forest Service crew needs help with, such as repainting benches, setting new posts for signage  and removing old barbed wire from former grazing zones.

Volunteers helping clean up a fire ring during a clean up day.



This May 18, we’ll meet in the Day Use Area at noon and split into groups according to the tasks that need to be done. We’ll provide most tools and some work gloves, just wear work clothing and layers in case the weather is inclement. Around 3 we’ll meet back up for a pizza party lunch, generously donated by our sponsor, Bridger Brewing.



Summer Stewardship Nights

Each summer, Friends of Hyalite hosts three to four stewardship nights to tackle various projects in the canyon. We’ll release more details about these events as we get closer on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as via email if you are on our email list. In the meantime, mark your calendars!

Volunteers during an evening fence pulling.



  • June 12–6 p.m.

  • July 13—all day. This is a popular one! We’ll hike up to Emerald Lake and help tidy the fire rings and pick up any trash. Emerald Lake is heavily used by backpackers in the summer and the area very much appreciates a “Leave No Trace facelift” each year.

  • August—TBD

  • Sept. 28—noon to 3 p.m., our Fall Clean Up Day. Hyalite is heavily used in the winter months by skiers and ice climbers. Let’s care for the canyon before the snow flies!



Giving Back

Participating in one or many of these events is a fantastic way to give back. All ages are welcome (the kids have a great time with the giant nail magnet!) and remember, paying it forward doesn’t have to start and end at a Friends of Hyalite event. Be sure to practice Leave No Trace and Outside Kind principles whenever you are in our public lands—it’s contagious.

Mira Brody