Conservation Minded Landowner and Trust for Public Land Protect Key 10.2-Acre Parcel to Expand Trails and Recreational Access in Teton County, Idaho
Victor, Idaho – Thanks to the vision and generosity of Steven and Theresa Scott and their partnership with Trust for Public Land, 10.2 acres of land along Fox Creek in Teton County, Idaho, has been preserved. Working with local non-profit partners and the community, the hope is the land will become a northern trailhead access point into existing public lands providing residents and visitors with new hiking and mountain biking opportunities within the spectacular Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands along the eastern side of Victor and Driggs, Idaho.
“In close coordination with the community, the Bureau of Land Management, and local partners, we are thrilled to protect this land to open access to miles of public trails and world-class recreation in Teton County’s backyard. With BLM as the future steward, we can ensure these lands will be protected and accessible for generations to come,” said David Weinstein, Northern Rockies Director at Trust for Public Land. “This is an amazing conservation opportunity and TPL is grateful to the Scott family for their vision and generosity.”
This new access point opens 5,000 acres of neighboring BLM land to the public, while also linking into tens of thousands of acres stretching across National Forest lands and Grand Teton National Park.
Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, (TVTAP), Mountain Bike the Tetons (MTB), and the local community have worked with the BLM for over a decade to build new trails within this portion of Teton Valley.
With the support of the community, the construction of the first phase of trails, known locally as the AJ Linnell trail, is scheduled to begin construction next summer. A phased development of the AJ Linnell trail system will open new access to up to 20 miles of new trails for hikers and mountain bikers, enabling outdoor recreation without the need to drive, and connecting residents directly to Idaho’s incredible natural landscapes.
“Having owned this land for the last 35 years, we understand and have enjoyed its natural beauty. We wanted to ensure that future generations have the same opportunity. Once we understood its potential to help unlock existing public lands and connect to the larger trails vision, we could not be happier to be donating the land towards the development of the AJ Linnell trail in Teton Valley,” said Steven and Teresa Scott.
The partnerships and support of the community will be key to the long-term success of the trails vision.
“We have been working with the BLM and the community to provide new trails along the eastern side of Teton Valley for over 10 years now. BLM’s recent approval of its new travel management plan opens the door to that happening, but the real success is the community support and partnerships that will enable the AJ Linnell trail and access points to come to reality,” says Dan Verbeten, the Executive Director of Teton Valley trails and Pathways.
The long-term owner of the land is BLM. Trust for Public Land and its partners are working to raise funds for a trailhead access point and the future phase of the AJ Linnell trail.
This initiative is part of Trust for Public Land Northern Rockies Department’s Thriving Communities Program, which integrates land protection with park and trail development. The project not only protects land from development but also unlocks recreational opportunities in a rapidly growing area, providing safe, accessible, and sustainable outdoor spaces for current and future generations.
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $111 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
