A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE LOCAL TRAILS

Summer is walking, hiking, and biking season in Missoula and there are so many beautiful trails to choose from! As physical therapists, it's our mission to keep our community moving and enjoying the outdoors. In that spirit, this week we are sharing a few of our favorite local trails around Missoula. Happy summer! 

Blue Mountain loop (25 minute)
Submission By Mary Mischke, DPT

Relatively easy hiking with some uneven terrain. Dog friendly! I walked this 25 min loop twice a week with my dog when I was pregnant (even in the winter!) so it's a nice beginner hike with great views of Missoula and lots of dogs to meet. Watch out for the occasional mountain biker zipping down the trail. 
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Park in the Blue Mountain lot and head up the middle trail (straight ahead) at the trail head. Take the first right to cut across the field. Take the next right and then head down the hill back to the lot. So easy! 

Good for kids, good for dogs, no shade, some incline and some decline. Can get muddy/slippery in the winter. 

Sousa Trail to the Barmeyer Lookout
Submission by Jess Kehoe, DPT

This trail is great if you want a short (not quite 2 miles round trip), moderate hike that gets to an awesome view.  There is some "up" but it's pretty tame as trails in Missoula go.  My kids (4 and 7) like this one a lot, a much easier approach than the Barmeyer from the Pattee Canyon parking lot!  This trail has some great wild flowers, and of course the great view at the top.  There is some shade for about 1/3 of the way.

 https://www.trailforks.com/poi/33848/

Milltown State Park
Submission by Jess Kehoe, DPT

This state park has several options for trails, from easy to more challenging.  On the North side of the River there is parking in Bonner to access a nice paved trail, and it's not very long, with a few benches along the way.  There is minimal elevation change so it would be a good place to get back to walking from an injury or surgery, you could easily have a walker or cane.  There is a lovely view of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork confluence.  This is also a great trail for kids.  My kids (4 and 7) like to ride their scoot bikes or scooters on it, and there is access at the end to an amazing river spot to throw rocks!   On the South side is the overlook and the access is from the Deer Creek road.  There is very short, paved trail to the overlook, and then a more challenging trail, primarily due to the steep grade, that provides access down to the river.  My daughter was able to do this trail at age 3, with encouragement and a hand hold.  Once at the river the walking is mainly flat and you can access up to 1.5 miles of gravel trail.  There are several benches throughout this trail system allowing frequent rest breaks.  

​https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/milltown

Montana Rail Link park
Submission by Brace Hayden, DPT

This is not a particularly rugged single-track "trail", but it is fantastic, accessible and a sweet new addition to my bike commute through the Franklin To Fort / Southgate Triangle neighborhoods. It is a relatively new 4-acre park located between North and South Avenue, Johnson Street, and the Bitterroot Rail line. It has lots of open green space, a playground, a community garden, a dog park, a multi-use pickleball/basketball court, and a pavilion. ​