Rim Country Land Institute

Directions
Please contact the office before visiting Cove Canyon Grasslands. Access may be limited due to weather or program schedule, and permission is required for all activities on property. If gate is locked, do not park on road and walk in.

From I-90

Take Exit 443 (Zoo Drive) and turn left at the off-ramp. At the intersection with Shiloh, turn right. Follow Shiloh North until it ends at Rimrock. Turn left (West) at Rimrock. Follow Rimrock past the large white LDS temple and continue until the intersection with 62nd Street West.

At 62nd Street West, the main road veers right (North). Follow the main road, which is now Molt Road. Continue on Molt Road under the railroad bridge. 2.0 miles past bridge, take a turnoff to the left at the metal gate**, just before the road turns and goes up a big hill. Go through the gate (not locked, but close behind you!) and follow the gravel road one mile. Go through and close the second gate. If event is at barn, park in marked lot. If event is at Lodge, turn left and continue another quarter of a mile to parking area there. Please only drive and park on gravel areas.

**There is a brown house and several outbuildings at the turnoff just before ours. The gate to that house has vertical bars, the gate to Cove Canyon has horizontal bars. During events and programs, there is a Rim Country flag and/or sign at the turnoff.

From Downtown

Follow 27th Street North (toward the airport), turn left on Rimrock Road. Follow Rimrock all the way to the intersection with 62nd street west (see above).

Call 406-669-8880 (phone at Lodge) or 406-238-7479 (office) if you get lost.

The map below displays the directions from Shilo Rd to Cove Canyon Grasslands. Use the tools on the map to zoom in and pan for a closer view. This can also be viewed with Google Earth

WELCOME TO THE RIM COUNTRY LAND INSTITUTE AND COVE CANYON GRASSLANDS! WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU HAVE COME TO VISIT THE PRAIRIE AND HOPE YOU HAVE A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS:

TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO EARTH, SELF AND OTHERS SO THAT ALL SPECIES MAY FLOURISH

AS A REFLECTION OF THIS MISSION AND OUR DESIRE TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS LAND, WE ASK THAT YOU COMMIT TO THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES OF RESPECT DURING YOUR VISIT HERE.

1. PARKING AND USE OF VEHICLES: Drive only on developed roadways and park in the designated parking lot East of the barn. Share rides whenever possible, and close the gates behind you.

2. WALKING ON THE LAND: There are few trails at Rim Country, as we wish to preserve the natural habitat as much as possible. Where there are trails, use them. In the absence of trails, please tread lightly. Spread out instead of walking in single file. Walk on durable surfaces (rocks, snow, dirt) when possible. Step on plentiful and durable plants (grass) instead of fragile plants and flowers.

3. COLLECTING OBJECTS (PLANTS, BONES, ROCKS, ETC.): Unless you have specific permission from Rim Country staff, please refrain from picking plants or collecting objects. If you are picking plants, please do so only when there are several of the same plant in the area so that the plant community remains sustainable.

4. WILDLIFE: Refrain from disturbing wildlife as much as possible. If the animal has to change its behavior, you are probably too close. Enjoy the view from a respectful distance.

5. TRASH: In most cases, ‘pack it in, pack it out.’ When attending a Rim Country activity, throw trash into appropriate bins—recycling for glass, plastic, paper, aluminum, and compost; trash can for all else. Keep all trash with you until you return to the barn.

6. IMMERSION: Your experience here should be one of connection. Do your best to learn about the land and encounter it openly. Give yourself time to reflect.

7. ACTION: The experience you have today does not end at the gate. Remember what you have learned and experienced and use that to inform all of your decisions. Make choices that enhance the health of both earth and human communities, and try to influence others to do the same.