Chief Black Otter Trail Billings

10/06/2022

Do not allow privatization of Montana rivers.

Madison River Private Boater Access

05/11/2022

This is a "flipping page" display that allows the viewer to flip back and forth on this informative presentation on Chief Black Otter Trail.

https://issuu.com/clark711/docs/chief_black_otter_trail_pdf_feb1_2020_signed/12

Read Chief Black Otter Trail by Clark Johnson on Issuu and browse thousands of other publications on our platform. Start here!

08/15/2020

My name is Clark Johnson. I personally created this page to help residents and visitors find Chief Black Otter Trail. It is included in the National Registry of Public Places. But the Billings Parks Department will NOT help people find it.

The scenic part of Chief Black Otter Trail is closed to vehicles, against City Council vote. The Parks Department even tries to make it look like the historic trail is closed to hikers and bikers. Parks will not change the signage to show that Chief Black Otter Trail is actually open for those.

Why? Why?

No good reason....

Once, when I was a Parks Board member, I pushed for it to be reopened. And was told that snowmobiles tear up the off trails areas.

When the weather was great, and no snow anywhere, the Parks people told me that the closed section of Trail was not safe. Based on that unsafe criteria, there's plenty of open roads in Billings that are not safe.

Frankly, the Parks Department people are just too lazy, too indifferent,

I have been removed from the Parks Board because i argue for people's rights.

See the page Centennial Shame for more information. Billings often is really a mediocre shame.

Sad shame... The Magic City is gone, apparently forever.

06/15/2020

Sometimes people live in a city but not know its scenery and history.

06/11/2020

I have asked the Billings Parks Department to replace the unfriendly locked gate with the sign on the right/bottom. We'll see.

05/05/2020

This "should" be open to vehicular public access, as stated by Billings City Council. It is NOT, for vague reasons.

But, WALK ! or RIDE (!) your bicycle past this barricade, just by the Yellowstone Kelly Interpretative Site.

Keep walking or pedaling. Carry water, go to the restroom before you do. There are interesting and beautiful views beyond this unlawfully closed gate.

Go all the way to Boothill Cemetery, and get back on pavement. Or go halfway to the Skeleton Cliff Loop and come back. It's an easy, healthy walk.

04/04/2020

Getting there....

04/03/2020

To Chief Black Otter Trail, AND Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site.

03/01/2020

In 1956 the Billings Chamber of Commerce posted 17 of these Chief Black Otter Trail markers, the two on the right below. They were subsequently all vandalized or removed. There are none left, only these fuzzy photos on the right below.

So, I created the logo on the far left, thinking it was more appropriate than the cartoonish, stereotype original logo. It is not posted anywhere. Yet.

02/29/2020

Why is Chief Black Otter Trail closed to vehicles just after the Yellowstone Kelly Interpretative Site?

Lack of interest mostly. Lack of public support, leading to lack of maintenance funding. Supposedly it was closed to prevent damage from off-road snowmobiles in winter. But it is not re-opened in summer.