Missoula County: Discover Nature, Trails and Culture
Accommodation in Missoula County
Missoula County combines river landscapes, mountain valleys, expansive parks and a remarkable variety of museums. Missoula lies at the confluence of three rivers and at the center of five mountain valleys. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Missoula County can therefore tailor their trip entirely to their own interests: active days on paths and trails, culture in museums and historic sites, or relaxed discoveries along the river and at the market.
Trails between river, mountain and wilderness
Missoula County Parks and Trails manages 91 parks as well as more than 40 miles of shared-use paths and trails. The Riverfront Trail offers a well-described way to access the landscape: the flat, paved path runs along the south side of the Clark Fork River and is suitable for walking, running, cycling and skating. Over a distance of approximately 1.5 miles, it connects Orange Street with Washington Grizzly Stadium. This makes it a clearly defined option for a stay where being active by the water plays a role.
Those wishing to include a mountain trail can find the M Trail on Mount Sentinel. It leads three-quarters of a mile to the white “M” and then continues for another mile to the summit. The trail includes 11 switchbacks and a gain in elevation of 620 feet. The 4,900-acre Blue Mountain Recreation Area offers even more space for a range of outdoor activities, with off-road trails for hikers, horseback riders, cyclists, wheelchair users and ATV riders. The Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness is a 60,000-acre wilderness complex north of Missoula; activities there include hiking, backpacking, horseback riding and cycling.
Parks with a variety of ideas for the day
Fort Missoula Regional Park is a 156-acre park and sports complex. At the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden, small paths lead through an outdoor learning space with native plants, pollinators and birds. In the Nature Adventure Garden next to the river path, boulders, hills and shrubs create a largely unstructured play area. The garden is complemented by an accessible path made of crushed granite and a sensory garden.
Marshall Mountain Park also combines several interests: its offerings include mountain bike trails, access to backcountry skiing, children's camps and hiking opportunities. The park covers 480 acres and more than 12 miles of trails. When choosing your accommodation, it may therefore be useful to consider in advance whether you are more interested in short distances within the city, a sports-focused daily schedule or plenty of time in larger natural areas.
Museums, history and experiences for different age groups
Missoula County also offers many opportunities for cultural breaks. The Montana Museum of Art & Culture is one of Montana's three state museums and holds nearly 12,000 objects spanning several thousand years of art history. Admission is free. The free Missoula Art Museum for contemporary art is located in a former Carnegie Library and has eight galleries. Its permanent collection comprises more than 2,300 objects and also includes the Contemporary American Indian Art Collection.
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula interprets the history of Missoula County, Fort Missoula and the forest products industry in western Montana. The 32-acre site contains 13 historic buildings. The Travelers' Rest State Park visitor center and museum displays replicas of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Salish culture, handicrafts by Indigenous American peoples and a historic pioneer-era Main Street. Travelers' Rest is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark.
For shared discoveries with children, spectrUM, an interactive science center in Missoula, is a good option. At the Discovery Bench, free interactive science activities are available Tuesday through Saturday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. A Carousel for Missoula is located in Caras Park in downtown Missoula and is among the first fully hand-carved carousels built in the United States since the Great Depression. The Museum of Mountain Flying preserves the historic legacy of pilots and other pioneers who brought the American West of the Rocky Mountains into the age of aviation.
Nature knowledge, regional cuisine and choosing a location
The RMEF Visitor Center combines a scenic outdoor walking path with the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Conservation Education Center. Interactive exhibits there explain the ecology and natural history of elk as well as conservation. The Montana Natural History Center covers the flora, fauna and natural history of western Montana; an exhibit on Glacial Lake Missoula also includes a map for a driving route to several Glacial Lake Missoula landmarks. More than 115 bird species have been recorded within the boundaries of Travelers' Rest State Park.
Local impressions are also part of planning a trip. Farmers' markets in Missoula offer local food, handicrafts, plants and art. Missoula's cideries press locally grown apples into various types of cider. For arrival and choosing a starting point, Interstate 90, which runs from east to west through the Missoula Valley, and Montana Highway 93, which runs north to south, are important points of reference. The Mountain Line public transit system operates daily on twelve different bus routes.
For further orientation within the destination, you can also explore Missoula, Lolo, Seeley Lake and Clinton. This allows you to combine your search for a suitable holiday apartment or holiday home with the experiences that are particularly important for your trip in Missoula County.
For the overarching travel overview: Montana.
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