The Triangle area, generally defined as the area between Bozeman, Four Corners, and Belgrade, is experiencing significant change as a direct result of this growth. In 2016, Gallatin County, the City of Belgrade, and the City of Bozeman created the Planning Coordination Committee (PCC) to address issues and opportunities within the Triangle. The PCC was established through a Memorandum of Agreement outlining the need for coordination between all three jurisdictions to support growth and development patterns in the Gallatin Valley.

In 2019, the PCC developed the Triangle Community Plan to coordinate land use patterns, deliver community services and infrastructure, and protect important environmental resources in a manner consistent with community values and rapid growth pressures. Building on that foundation, the Triangle Trails Plan guides the development of non-motorized pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in future developments across the Triangle area.

While Belgrade and Bozeman each have existing trail connectivity plans, the rapidly growing Triangle area lacked a guiding document to ensure future trail development and connectivity. The Triangle Trails Plan serves as an extension of the Belgrade Parks and Trails Master Plan and a complement to the City of Bozeman Parks, Recreation, and Active Transportation Plan (PRAT). It takes a hierarchical approach to trail building, creating an interconnected network throughout the Triangle area with a waypoint system similar to road signs and mile markers. Gallatin County Commission adopted the plan in January 2022.