KETCHUM, Idaho – The Wood River Land Trust has bought 100 acres in the Pioneer Mountains in central Idaho to protect wildlife habitat while assuring public access to surrounding public lands.

The land is near the headwaters of the Little Wood River along Porcupine Creek.

The Hailey-based land trust said the parcel is the last piece of private ground that must be crossed before visitors enter public land.

“We purchased the Porcupine Creek property to conserve wildlife habitat and maintain public access to surrounding public lands,” Nathan Welch, planning coordinator with the land trust, told the Idaho Mountain Express. “For generations this has been an important area for recreational access, especially for hiking and hunting, and access for trailing livestock.”

The trust said it bought the land, part of the Little Wood Headwaters Ranch, at less than full-market value from Beartooth Capital, which made a charitable donation of the remaining value.

Beartooth Capital is an investment group that specializes in acquiring and then reselling ecologically important lands.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the land trust to ensure the public will forever have access to the Porcupine Creek trailhead and the National Forest lands beyond,” said Carl Palmer of Beartooth Capital. “That part of the Pioneers is remarkably wild and beautiful.”

The land trust said the purchase was made possible by donations from individuals and foundations to the group’s open space fund.