Normal Street Bridge Ribbon Cutting

Ribbon Cutting to Reopen Dillon’s Normal Street Bridge Set for Friday, October 10 at 1:00 p.m.

The Beaverhead Trails Coalition (BTC), in partnership with the City of Dillon, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of the Normal Street Bridge on Friday, October 10 at 1:00 p.m. (MT). Community members, partners, and the media are invited to attend on site at the bridge on Normal Street between Washington and Pacific Streets. The new span restores a vital walking and biking connection across the Dillon Canal. 

The Normal Street Bridge has long served residents on Dillon’s southwest side and is a key link in a safe walk/bike route that connects historic neighborhoods, the University of Montana Western campus, and the hospital. After years of deferred maintenance, the previous bridge was deemed unsafe and removed in the winter of 2022–23; the new structure reestablishes that connection and advances BTC’s vision of a community with easy access to active transportation. 

Event Details

  • What: Normal Street Bridge Ribbon Cutting

  • When: Friday, October 10, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. (MT)

  • Where: Normal Street Bridge (Normal St. between Washington & Pacific), Dillon, Montana

  • Who: Beaverhead Trails Coalition, City of Dillon, partners, and community members

  • Media Ops: Brief remarks, ribbon cutting, and photo opportunities on site

About the Normal Street Bridge Project

BTC partnered with the City of Dillon to replace the removed bridge with a new span across the Dillon Canal, improving accessibility on both sides and strengthening a planned network of safe, enjoyable walking and biking routes throughout town. 

About Beaverhead Trails Coalition

Beaverhead Trails Coalition is a local nonprofit that provides the community with walking and bicycling trails, parks, and programs—pursuing a vision of a community with easy access to walking, bicycling, and horseback riding.  More information at www.beaverheadtrails.org

2025 Pronghorn Pursuit Results

The Beaverhead Trails Coalition and BCHS Cross Country team hosted the annual Pronghorn Pursuit Trail Run on June 7, 2025.  This year saw the largest number of participants with 28 racers in the 15k and 38 racers in the 5k.  The striking hot pink paintbrush super bloom and perfect weather provided an ideal setting.  We can’t wait to do it again next year!  Thank you to our financial sponsors- Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan, Stockman Bank, and Suenram & Bergeson; our prize donors- REI, Patagonia, Duckworth, Dillon Liquor Store, Beaverhead Brewing, BCHS XC; and all the volunteers- including Orthopedic Rehab, Beaverhead Ski Patrol, and Montana Youth Challenge.  We couldn’t do this event celebrating National Trails Day without you!


15K Men’s

First- Dylan Zitzer

Second- Jake Iverson

Third- Joshua Thornton


15K Women’s

First- Jessie Salix

Second- Arica Crootof

Third- Alexis Ziebleman


5k Men’s

First- Joel Smith

Second- Benjamin Smith

Third- Jaron Laws


5k Women’s

First- Tiffany Hendrickson

Second- Katie Christensen

Third- Kherington Adams


5k Kids Under 10

First- Kaenan Adams

Second- Scottie Rose


Explore New Trails

Have you had a chance to hike the recently opened Land Bridge Trail that connects the Northwest Passage Trail to the BLM Land to the North? We were able to open this trail last winter after generous donations from The Wilderness Society and the Kendeda Fund for fencing costs.

If you have let us know and send a picture to beaverheadtrails@gmail.com

Happy Hiking!

Trails Closures

PSA: We will be having some arial drone spraying occurring this Friday- Saturday (6/21-22) in the Back Valley between the Northwest Passage and West Traverse. Some trails will be closed for a couple of days during and after the spraying for safety reasons. There will be signs on the trails indicating the closures. We will announce when the trails are back open for public use.

If you have any concerns, please email beaverheadtrails@gmail.com

Pronghorn Pursuit and National Trails Day Event Success

The Beaverhead Trails Coalition hosted the 5th annual Pronghorn Pursuit Trail Run and 1st annual National Trails Day Celebration on June 1st at the Dillon Town Overlook Trailhead. A total of 86 runners were present across the 15k, 5k, 5k youth, and 2.5k fun run. The 15k 1st place finishers were Dallas Eborn (1:19:36) and Ali Wolpern (1:35:54). The 5k 1st place finishers were Taylor Grover (28:48) and Corrick Connors (27:14) and 1st place in the 5k youth division went to Kaenan Adams with a time of 42:05. The 2.5k fun run had a special twist of 25 hidden Chamber Treasure glass mushrooms provided generously from the Beaverhead County Chamber of Commerce and the University of Montana Western Glass Club.

In addition to the trail run, there were booths with kids’ activities and games throughout the afternoon from the Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County, Concierge OT, Wild Montana, and Patagonia outlet Dillon.

In total we estimated at 140+ people in attendance at the events throughout the day.

The BTC would like to thank all of our sponsors and partners that made this event possible: Patagonia Outlet Dillon, Stockman Bank, Bank of Commerce, Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan, High Peaks Federal Credit Union, Ortho Rehab, Town and Country Foods, Concierge OT, Dillon Liquor Store, The Andrus Hotel, Angler Village Inn, the Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County, Beaverhead County Chamber of Commerce, Wild Montana, LMNT, Beaverhead County High School Cross Country Team, University of Montana Western Glass Club, and the Butte Running Club. Thanks to the many volunteers that helped with planning and implementing the event and a special thanks to Joyce Connors and Betty Iverson for their tireless commitment to making this event happen year after year.

Noble Avenue Dedication

 

The Beaverhead Trails Coalition dedicated the recently completed Noble Avenue Trail on Friday May 3rd. Approximately 30 people attended the dedication, including Mayor McGinley who performed the ribbon cutting. Planning for the trail began nearly 7 years ago with construction completed in three phases. Sources recognized on the trailhead sign provided funding of nearly $140,000. The trail is an important piece in a larger system of connected pedestrian and bicyclist routes and trails in the community. The Beaverhead Trails Coalition would like to thank our partners that made this trail possible. Our partners include, in no particular order, City of Dillon, Montana F.W.P., LOR Foundation, Union Pacific Foundation, Kendeda Fund, Patagonia, Steele-Reese Foundation, United Way of Beaverhead County, Dillon Rotary Club, R.E. Miller and Sons, Great Harvest Co., and Individual Contributors.

 

-Brandon Parker

Executive Director

Beaverhead Trails Coalition