Missoula Outdoor Activities &
Regional Area Attractions

Things to do in Missoula, Montana

Interactive City Map of Missoula, Montana
Missoula Discovery Map please click here

Places to Hike

Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness
Travel north on Van Buren Street and Rattlesnake Drive to the sign for the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area. Go '/2 mile farther to Sawmill Gulch Road. Drive VA mile west on the paved road to the trailhead. The area has opportunities for short hikes and cross-country skiing, but there are restrictions on dogs. Contact the Missoula Ranger District office, 329-3814, for more details.

Blue Mountain Recreation Area
Travel two miles southwest of Missoula on US Highway 93 South; turn right on Blue Mountain Road. Follow the road to the parking lot at the end of the pavement. You'll find expansive meadows and great views of the Missoula Valley, including a self-guided nature trail. Trails are available for hikers, bicycles, horses, motorcycles, ATVs and four-wheel drives. There is an interpretive trail at Maclay Flat for hikers, runners and people for disabilities, along with access to the Bitterroot River for floaters. Maclay Flat is closed to horses, bicycles and motorized vehicles, but is open to skiers in winter. Contact MAVIS, 329-3814, for more information.

Pattee Canyon Recreation Area
Follow Pattee Canyon Road for four miles from Missoula to the end of paved parking area. Hike, ski or bike the loop ski trails on either side of the road. There are many old logging roads to explore in the area. No vehicles and no shooting allowed. People can hike up to Crazy Canyon from the recreation area.

Ninemile Ranger District
Reservation divide trails, wildlife, photo opportunities, a self-guided tour, an accessible nature trail and more await you in and near the Ninemile Ranger Station. Tour the historic Ninemile Remount Depot and Ranger Station or visit Grand Menard, Kreis Pond, Squaw Peak or Petty Creek for hiking and other recreation. Call the Ninemile Ranger Station for more information, 626-5201.

Kim Williams Nature Trail
The Kim Williams Nature Trail is named in remembrance of Missoula's naturalist Kim Williams. This is a good example of a 'Rails to Trails' project. The trail uses the old Milwaukee Railroad grade which is 2.5 miles long and goes through a 134-acre natural area. Having a wide flat pathway, the trail has a variety of uses and can accommodate people with small children. Without any elevation gain this a great trail for those with health problems.
There are two other trails that can be accessed from this trail, the 'M' trailhead and the Hellgate Canyon Trail. Both trails go up to Mount Sentinel and on into Pattee Canyon.

Missoula and Regional Area Attractions

Smokejumper Visitor Center
The Smokejumper Visitor Center is the largest active smokejumper base in the nation. The visitor center is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Take a guided tour, visit the Wildland Firefighters Memorial, or stop in the visitor center. As you walk through the center you will visit the National Smokejumper Memorial, go inside a replica of a 1930's lookout tower, and a tour of the smokejumper loft, where the smokejumpers work when they are not fighting fires. Also tour the ready room and load masters room where the smokejumpers prepare for fire calls. The Smokejumper Visitor Center is a unique opportunity to learn about this unusual, demanding and dramatic occupation. Tours of the base run hourly; learn how and where the jumpers pack parachutes, repair gear, suit up and load onto planes. New exhibits in the visitor center include fire ecology and behavior, current wildland firefighting technology and gear and a video on smoke jumping and aircraft in fighting wildland fire. Located 6.5 miles west of Missoula on Highway 10, next to the Missoula Airport. Hours are 8:30am to 5pm. During the off season, call 329-4000 for tours.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Wildlife Visitor Center
Located at 2291 W. Broadway in Missoula. The visitor center features a collection of world-record elk, life-size mounts of many North American animals and educational displays about elk and other wildlife. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is an international nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of elk and other wildlife by conserving, restoring and enhancing natural habitats. Admission is free. The center is open year-round. Winter hours are 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday, and 10am-4pm on Saturday. Summer hours are 8am-6pm Monday through Friday, and 9am-6pm on weekends beginning Memorial Day weekend and running through Labor Day weekend. Call 523-4545 for more information or click here for more information from Visit Montana's Wildlife Visitor Center .

A Carousel for Missoula
Located in Caras Park in downtown Missoula. Open daily. Rides on the hand carved wooden carousel, created by volunteers, are $1 for adults, 50 cents for children and seniors. Completely accessible. For more information, call 549-8382.

Dragon Hollow
Located in Caras Park next to the carousel. A community-built play area featuring a three-headed dragon guarding a castle, a tot land for younger children, a celebration pavilion and a giant swing set. More than 3,000 volunteers built Dragon Hollow in just nine days during the spring of 2001, and many left their mark with special "Missoula touches". For more information, call 549-8382.

Traveler's Rest State Park
Located at a historic and contemporary crossroads, Travelers' Rest State Park is a place where visitors can say with certainty that they are walking in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. The park is believed to be at the core of a campsite used by the Corps of Discovery from September 9-11,1805 and again from June 30 - July 3, 1806. Travelers' Rest was listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the "Eleven Most Endangered Historic Sites" in 1999. In 2001, The Conservation Fund purchased the 15-acre property believed to contain the heart of the famous campsite and donated the parcel to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The park opened to the public in May of 2002 and is currently under development. Site and interpretive development is underway that will make Travelers' Rest State Park a destination for travelers and residents alike. The park is being created with an eye toward developing a hands-on and imaginative interpretive experience, while also preserving the integrity of this historic area, located in the midst of one of the fastest growing rural areas in the United States. The park's official address is 6550 Mormon Creek Road, just south of Lolo and west of US 93. Phone 273-4253 for more information and hours.

Garnet Ghost Town
Garnet is a historic mining ghost town located in west central Montana and sits at an elevation of about 6,000 feet at the head of First Chance Creek. It was named after the brown garnet rock which was used as an abrasive and a semi-precious stone found in the area. The town dates back to 1895 and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Garnet Preservation Association, a nonprofit citizens group. More than.30 buildings have
been preserved. Visitors to the ghost town will find a Visitor Center, interpretive signs and self-guided trails, as well as books, cards and other memorabilia. Leashed pets are permitted. The town is open to visitors all year. The road is closed to wheeled vehicles from January 1 st
to April 30th. In winter Garnet is a popular snowmobile and cross-country ski trip. Winter cabin rentals are available. The ghost town may be reached by Montana Highway 200. Turn south on the Garnet Range Road located between mile markers 21 and 22, the turnoff is marked by a BLM sign.

Ninemile Remount Depot and Ranger Station
Located 22 miles west of Missoula on 1-90 and four miles north of Exit 82. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places for it's unique role as a Forest Service remount depot and it's Cape Cod architecture, the center is open daily for self-guided tours. From 1930 until 1953 the depot provided experienced packers and pack animals for fighting forest fires and back-country work projects. The Ninemile visitors center opens Memorial Day weekend. The center has interpretive displays and artifacts. Hours are 9am-5pm through Labor Day. Call 626-5201 for more information or a guided tour.

National Bison Range
The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest wildlife refuges in the nation. A large portion of the 18,500-acre Range consists of native Palouse Prairie. Forests, wetlands and streams are also found here providing a wide range of habitats for wildlife. Elk, deer, pronghorn, black bear, coyote, and ground squirrels are just some of the mammals that share the area with 350 to 450 bison. More than 200 species of birds also call this home and include eagles, hawks, meadowlarks, bluebirds, ducks, and geese. Other nearby areas administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service include Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and Pablo National Wildlife Refuge. These areas contain irrigation reservoirs located on Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal lands. There are excellent opportunities to view waterfowl, bald eagles, herons, cormorants, and a wide variety of song birds.
Admittance Rates: $4.00 day pass per vehicle; $10.00 annual Bison Range pass; $10 Golden Age (Senior) Federal Pass; $65.00 Golden Eagle Annual Federal Pass; $15.00 annual Federal Migratory Bird Stamp (good at all National Wildlife Refuges). Effective dates: mid-May to end of October. Call 644-2211 for more information.

Frenchtown Pond State Park
About 16 miles west of Missoula on 1-90. The pond is open to fishing and swimming from 9am-9pm. Daily use fee is $2 per person, or $30 for a Parks Passport for season. Day use only.

Art Museum of Missoula
(406) 728-0447 335 North Pattee Street / Hours: 10am-7pm Tues-Fri 10am-4pm Sat
The Art Museum is committed to educating the community through art and to developing and conserving the Art Museum Collection in order to preserve and make accessible our cultural heritage. The Art Museum develops and hosts 12 to 16 exhibits annually in three galleries located in the Carnegie Library building, built in 1903. Free admission.

Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
(406) 728-3476 Fort Missoula / Hours: 12pm-5pm Daily
Established in 1975, the museum collects, preserves and interprets the history of Missoula County and western Montana. The museum has an estimated 22,000 objects in it's collection, including 13 historic structures. The museum consists of two parts: indoor galleries, with permanent and changing exhibits that cover the period of early exploration through modern times; and outdoor interpretive areas, comprised of original and relocated historic structures that show the life and culture of the region. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors & $1 for students.

Museum of Mountain Flying
(406)721-3644 Missoula International Airport, East side / Hours: 10am-5pm Daily
The museum was established in 1993 to offer aviation-education programs, as well as to preserve the legends, lore and historical legacy of pilots and others whose pioneering aviation exploits helped bring America's Rocky Mountain West into the air age. The museum contains various artifacts and several restored antique airplanes. Admission charged.

Glacier National Park
Among the greatest treasures of the northern Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park is known for it's glorious scenery, grizzly bear population, brilliant wildflowers, forests, wildlife, fishing and waterfalls. Going-to-the-Sun Road is a spectacular 50-mile drive that crosses the Continental Divide at Logon Pass and traverses the towering Garden Wall. Numerous horses and campgrounds are open to park visitors during summer months. For more information, call 888-7800.

St. Ignatius Mission
The St. Ignatius Mission was built in the early 1890's. This Catholic Church is unique because its walls and ceilings have 61 original paintings by Brother Joseph Carignano, SJ. on them. The Mission Mountain Range is a beautiful backdrop of scenery behind the Mission Church. The church is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Inside are two very special paintings of the Salish Lord and Lord's mother (in Native American form) that are located in the back of the Mission. A museum and gift shop that displays Mission and Indian artifacts and sells religious items is adjacent to the mission. We also have the log home which was the original Sisters' residence when they first arrived. The Mission is open daily for tourists and for those who wish to worship privately from 9:00am - 8:00pm in the summer. 9:00am - 5:00pm in the winter. Sunday Mass is at 9:15am.
The mission is located approximately fifty miles north of Missoula, just off Highway 93 in St. Ignatius. St. Ignatius Mission is located approximately 2 blocks off Highway 93. Signs are on the highway, and you can see the Mission from the highway.

University of Montana Museums of Art & Culture
(406)243-2019 Henry Mailoy Gallery & Paxon Gallery
DM Campus-Performing Arts & Radio/Television Center Hours: 11 am-3pm Tue-Sat
The museum organizes rotating and traveling exhibits that change frequently and maintains a permanent collection (begun in 1894) of more than 9,500 American, Native American, Asian & European historical and contemporary works. Please see the campus map located in the map section of the area information guide for the exact location of galleries. Free admission.

Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History
(406)549-5346 Fort Missoula, Buildings T310 &T316 Hours: 12pm-5pm Daily
The museum promotes the commemoration and study of the U.S. armed forces, from the frontier period to the present, drawing upon a collection of military artifacts and documents. Housed in the 1910 Commanding Officers Quarters, the museum offers a variety of programs and exhibits on wars and military conflicts - World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm - as well as peacetime service. The museum will soon house the vehicle collection of the Northwest National Military Foundation and rare World War I items of the National Doughboy Historical Society. Ongoing exhibits: 'America's Knighthood: The Medal of Honor', and 'War Comes to the Northern Rockies' Admission is free and open to the public; donations welcome.