Hiking Montana: Missoula
Information on great Montana hikes and guides around Missoula
The mountains around Missoula offer terrific Montana hiking vacations, with all the amenities of Missoula, including great restaurants and hotels at your finger tips. Around Missoula, you’ll have the chance to view Montana wildlife such as bears, deer, elk and moose, see mountain lakes and waterfalls, and do some great fishing along the way.
The Rattlesnake offers terrific Montana wilderness.
Here’s a few of the great hiking areas around Missoula, and some guides to help you get around and get the most out of your Montana vacation.
Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness: With it’s main access trail just 4.5 miles north of Missoula, this 61,000 acres is one of the most spectacular wildernesses in Montana. The U-shaped basin is fed over 50 creeks. In the Rattlesnake, you’ll find thirty high mountain lakes (if you give yourself lots of time to look for them), with crystal clear water that cascades from waterfalls to into valleys separated by sheer mountains and beautiful forests. All of Montana’s most famous wildlife is here, including grizzly bears wolves.
Blue Mountain Recreation Area: This area is open to a variety of uses, including ATV and motorcycle trails, horse trails, and foot-only trails, mountain biking areas, and more. It’s a great place for day hiking with the family, and provides lots of fun short hikes and plenty of opportunities for fun and for viewing Montana birds and wildlife.
Pattee Canyon Recreation Area: This wooded canyon near Missoula is another great family find, with individual family picnic sites available for free. The area is well known around Missoula for great day hikes and mountain biking. It was named after David Pattee, an early Montana settler who filed a homestead claim for land in the canyon. The Forest Service acquired the 1,600 acre timber reserve established here in the late 1920s and in the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps members constructed the first picnic area.
Lolo National Forest: The forest is abundant with great day hikes on 9 trails ranging from a 1/4 mile loop to 6 1/2 mile loop that take you through dense vegetation, narrow canyons, ridges, glaciers, trout-filled streams and brilliant blue lakes. Most of the area is open all year long.
Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures: The owners of this Missoula guide company founded it in 1989 and have a deep knowledge of hiking and other activities in the area. Along with some of the best guides in the area, they provide top-quality gear and food to make sure you enjoy your time in Montana to the fullest. This team has guided some discerning travelers, including Stephen Ambrose and family. Call 800-366-6246.
Related posts:
- Hiking Glacier National Park in the Montana Rockies
- Montana Maps: Missoula
- Montana Campgrounds: Missoula
- Montana Hot Springs: Missoula, Montana
- Missoula, Montana Vacations
