mission & key programs
Kaniksu Land Trust (KLT) cares for the lands and people of the Kaniksu Region, today, tomorrow, and forever. Our work aims to connect people with the land in meaningful ways and to collaborate with partners to implement innovative conservation solutions to real community challenges.
In addition to partnering with landowners on conservation agreements that protect special lands and waters, we seek conservation solutions to real community challenges by working with many partner organizations. This has been manifested in projects that address everything from food security to innovative solutions to the housing crisis. Additionally, we deliver nature-immersive education to youth in our communities and provide access to outdoor opportunities for all.
service area
Northern Idaho (Bonner and Boundary counties) and northwestern Montana (Sanders County)
unique in the central rocky mountains
It’s the water: 10% of our lands are covered by water! It all comes back to the name “Kaniksu,” an indigenous word describing our region of the Lower Clark Fork Watershed. This happens to be the impact area of Avista and the founding reason the Clark Fork Pend Oreille Conservancy (now Kaniksu Land Trust) was established in 2002. This area holds special significance to the Kalispel people, historically utilizing the expansive network of rivers and lakes. Additionally, unique wildlife migratory routes run between the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains.
Project Highlight
The skiing and sledding hill on Pine Street symbolizes a legacy of community connection, public access, and local culture for a half century.
Prior to the establishment of Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort in 1963, the “Pine Street Hill” was the place to play in the winter. The privately-owned property was generously made available to the community since the 1940s. Young skiers built and operated a make-shift ski hill complete with a tow rope. Later, it became the town sledding hill, creating memories for generations.
In 2020, the aging landowners made the difficult decision to close the hill to the public for liability reasons and shortly after passed away. When the 48-acre parcel went on the market, the community rallied to Save the Sled Hill, supporting KLT’s fundraising efforts to purchase the property adjacent to KLT’s 180-acre Pine Street Woods community forest.
Angel donors secured the property during the fundraising campaign and KLT officially purchased it in late 2024. Today, the parcel is now part of the greater Pine Street Woods, adding assets such as the fishing and skating pond, our very own lumber mill, a facility for classes and events, year-round trails, and, of course, the iconic sledding hill — now open to the public once again and forever.
“Focusing conservation and public access in both projects has not only protected such special places but has changed the lives of people in our community,” said Katie Cox, KLT Executive Director. “Conservation means something much greater to them now that they have Pine Street Woods and the Sled Hill as their backyard.”
