Havre Trails solidifies 5K, talks trail revamp

Havre Trails continued preparations for its 5K Run/Walk slated for April 25 and discussed future projects.

Registration for the 5K begins at 9 and the race starts at 10 a.m. on April 25. The fee is $20 and free to children 12 and under. There will be T-shirts available.

The race starts at the RC Model Flying Club, which is south of 5th Avenue past the Havre Ice Dome. Take a left before the bridge.

Volunteers are needed for running the race, including people for the registration table, at the starting line and people to hand out water at the 1.5-mile turnaround point.

Prizes have been donated to the group and more are coming in. Independence Bank has donated $100 and Master Sports is donating a couple items to the event.

The ASCE Club at Montana State University-Northern presented topography work they had done for the U.S. Park Trail area and spoke of some issues on the trail that needed to be addressed. Members of the club spent eight to 12 hours working on a map and a 3D-printed representation of the area.

In their work, they noticed the trail is utilized by a fair number of people.

Havre Trails recently applied for a grant to revamp the trail and will find out whether they are to receive the money in July.

President Lindsey Bennett asked about bad washout points in the trail and ASCE suggested they seed the portion to ensure the trail is sturdy enough to withstand the flowing rain waters from the cemetery. Another person suggested that creating culverts would be simple. These options will be considered and finalized in the event Havre Trails receives the grant.

Other items discussed at the meeting were plans for future hikes in the area. An invitation-only hike up Saddle Butte, as it is on private land, will be scheduled later in the month, as well as another Beaver Creek Park hike.

The group also made plans to start a cross-country ski area committee that would take a look at possible groomed trails made specifically for skiers.

For updates on hikes and more information, follow Havre Trails’ Facebook page.