Missoula, Montana is a true outdoor paradise, a land of recreation areas, wilderness corridors, mountains, canyons, and rivers, as well as a multitude of many other easily accessible accoutrements. The rugged university town of Missoula is bordered by the two-million-acre Lolo National Forest and is positioned at the hub of five merging valleys.
One of the more impressive features that makes the Garden City so superlative, is that good hiking opportunities abound within the city limits; each direction offers a chance to take to the hills, stretch the calves, unwind, or get the lungs and heart thwacking.
Here are two great hikes in Missoula accessible from downtown by bike or by foot. Both are typical of what locals know as the fun, enjoyable Missoula day hike.
Mount Jumbo Recreation Area, The “L” Trail
Mighty Mount Jumbo stands to the north of Mount Sentinel crossways from Hellgate Canyon and the Clark Fork River. The 500-foot elevation, 1.5 miles round trip hike to the Loyola High School “L” in the southern portion of Mount Jumbo is open year-round. The beauty of the “L” is that it is almost always less congested than the University of Montana “M” Trail.
The hike is a succinct and sweaty one, and it’s practically over before you know it. The view from the painted white “L” is just as attractive, sweeping panoramas of the Rattlesnake Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges.
From I-90 in Missoula, take the Van Buren Street exit and head one block north to Poplar Street – turn right. Continue three blocks to the trailhead on the left at the intersection of Poplar Street and Polk Street. Parking is available on both sides of the road.
Waterworks Hill
Waterworks Hill is a beautifully immersive Missoula hike. The dog-friendly trail follows the treeless ridge with gradual elevation gains. Waterworks Hill Trail supplies a bevy of good hiking options: it can be hiked as a loop through Cherry Gulch, or followed through the open canyon to the Moon-Randolph apple homestead. The Cherry Gulch option, 450-feet elevation gain, 2.2 miles round trip, ends at the 3,865-foot summit. Waterworks Hill Trail offers superb views of Mount Jumbo, Mount Sentinel, the Rattlesnake Valley and Wilderness, and the picture postcard city of Missoula.
From Broadway Street and Madison east of downtown Missoula, drive north a couple of blocks on Madison Street, clinging to the right under I-90, onto Greenough Drive. Take the first left turn after crossing I-90. Head up the road to the signed trailhead at the end.
Brian D'Ambrosio - Brian D'Ambrosio is the author of more than 500 published articles and seven books, including From Haikus to Hatmaking: A Year in the Life ...
