Montana’s Blacktail/Wild Bill National Recreation Trail has been granted a donation from BFGoodrich Tires, citing its status as one of the nation’s foremost “Outstanding Trails” for off-roading. More than 75 off-road enthusiasts and members of the Skyliners Four Wheel Drive club were in attendance as Goodrich executives presented a grant to the club’s president. The funds will be used to preserve the trail and continue conservation efforts for “one of America’s picture-perfect areas for off-roading.” “The Blacktail/Wild Bill National Recreation Trail is unique in the world of off-roading because it has the perfect combination of obstacles and spectacular views, making it a special fit for the 2008 Outstanding Trails program,” says Joe Mazur, manager of Goodrich’s light truck tire category. “We’re honored to partner with the Skyliners Four Wheel Drive Club to help in the conservation efforts for this amazing off-road trail.” “We are very pleased that this grant money can be used for the future of preserving this trail for everyone,” says Skyliners’ President Ivan Carpenter. “This trail is unique in that it was one of the first trails to become a national recreational trail. Secondly, it is one of the few trails that also offers opportunities for dirt bikes, ATV’s, snowmobiles and mountain bikes.” Skyliners’ is a non-profit, family oriented organization that supports Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) recreation within the spirit of Tread Lightly. The club works in conjunction with other area groups to assist in the maintenance and preservation of existing 4WD OHV opportunities and the creation of new sites where possible. Goodrich is also working in conjunction with Tread Lightly and the United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) on the project, which stretches 13 miles through the Flathead National Forest. Both Tread Lightly and the UFWDA are non-profit organizations dedicated to responsible and ethical outdoor recreation. Goodrich collaborates with these two groups to select the finest off-road trails, and will continue to work toward developing restoration and educational initiatives, according to the company. Launched in 2006, the BFGoodrich Tires Outstanding Trails program is dedicated to the responsible use and preservation of off-road trails while providing aid in the trails’ conservation efforts. Over the past two years, the program has recognized 11 off-road trails in nine states and one in Canada. The program has also given $42,000 in grants to clubs and hosted more than 1,700 participants in trail events. The following five sites have also been selected as 2008 Outstanding Trails:
• BlackCat Trail, located on Superstition Mountain near San Diego, Calif.
• Iron Range OHV Recreational Area in Gilbert, Minn.
• Quinn Trail, leading to Quinn Lake in Ottawa, Canada.
• Pritchett Canyon in Moab, Utah.
• Beasley Knob OHV trail, located near Blairsville, Ga. For more information, visit www.bfgoodrichtires.com/outstandingtrails or www.ufwda.org. | 
