Pipestone Roars to Life as Community Comes Together for National Public Lands Day
BUTTE, Mont. — Engines idled and neighbors grabbed trash bags and gloves as the Pipestone Off-Highway Vehicle Area came alive Sept. 19 with a shared mission to care for the place that brings this community together. Nearly 50 volunteers, partners and riders spent National Public Lands Day turning trail talk into teamwork and community pride into on‑the‑ground stewardship.
The day blended hands‑on cleanup with practical skills that make public lands safer for everyone. Freedom Four Wheel led vehicle recovery demonstrations and safety instruction, while Jefferson County Search and Rescue shared field‑tested guidance to help recreationists plan better, ride responsibly and respond to the unexpected. Participants then took those lessons to the trail, reinforcing a community habit of safe, respectful OHV use.
“Public lands are our common ground in southwest Montana and a place where we can come together, learn from one another, and leave it better than we found it,” said Lindsey Babcock, Butte Field Manager. “When partners and volunteers invest their time here, they’re strengthening local connections and assuring the landscape remains open and welcoming for years to come.”
The event’s spirit aligns with All Americans Outside, the Bureau of Land Management initiative that helps more people, regardless of ability, enjoy their public lands through four simple paths: Explore, Learn, Serve and Work. At Pipestone, attendees explored local trails, learned safety and recovery skills, served by cleaning and fencing high‑use areas, and connected to partners and opportunities that keep the site thriving. The initiative emphasizes expanding access, promoting health and wellness, increasing volunteer engagement and strengthening partnerships. All of these values came to life on the ground throughout the day.
“Pipestone brings people together in a way few places can,” said Joe Barton, owner of Freedom Four Wheel. “When riders and volunteers come out to care for the trails, they’re supporting more than recreation. They’re strengthening a community built around shared public lands.”
For many locals, the event was a chance to give back to a place that’s part of daily life.
“I’ve been riding out here for years, and days like this remind me how important public lands are to our community,” said an OHV recreationist who volunteered for the cleanup. “Helping out today felt like a small way to give back to the land that gives us so much.”
Stretching across roughly 30,000 acres with nearly 75 miles of developed riding trails, the Pipestone OHV Area is one of southwest Montana’s premier motorized recreation destinations. It’s a local hub where small businesses, volunteers and public lands users intersect. By pairing safety education with stewardship, the event underscored how partnerships protect the landscape, improve visitor experiences and support a resilient outdoor economy.
The Butte Field Office’s team helped turn that vision into a well‑run day. Kadin Weinrich, Park Ranger and Ryan Collins, Outdoor Recreation Planner, led planning, coordination and on‑site logistics, creating meaningful stewardship opportunities and ensuring a smooth experience. Brad Colin, Outdoor Recreation Planner, provided leadership and practical know‑how rooted in Pipestone’s recreation management, strengthening the educational components and reinforcing responsible OHV practices. Henry Atkinson, Outdoor Recreation Planner and Paul Rinehart, Maintenance Worker, supported field operations, assisted volunteers with fence construction and kept logistics moving throughout the day. BLM Law Enforcement also helped maintain a safe environment and emphasized responsible recreation on public lands.
National Public Lands Day’s theme, “Caring for Our Shared America,” fits the promise of All Americans Outside: Make it easier for people to find their way onto public lands, understand why a place matters, care for it as volunteers and discover career pathways that sustain the mission. Those four paths give communities clear, practical ways to connect with BLM‑managed lands year-round.
The Butte Field Office and partners will continue to blend education with stewardship at Pipestone, inviting more neighbors to explore, learn, serve and work on their public lands. Because when a community pitches in, public lands do more than host weekend rides, they strengthen the ties that hold a place together.
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