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Fishing/Floating/Swimming/Kayaking
There are three rivers within 5 miles of Missoula.  The Clark Fork River runs through the center of town and is popular with fly fishers and kayakers.  Brennan’s Wave was created near Caras Park downtown to provide kayakers with a place to practice and play.  The Blackfoot River is the destination for swimming and floating.  You can rent inner tubes from Army Navy downtown if you would like to float the river.  The Bitterroot River is a very popular place to fish and canoe.

There is a public swimming pool in Missoula.  Splash Montana is very popular in the summer.  Splash Montana is open 11 to 7:30 Monday through Friday and from 11 to 6:00 on Saturday and Sunday.  There are three waterslides and river float at Splash Montana. 

Farmers’ Markets
Every Saturday morning and Tuesday evening during the summer the various farmers’ markets provide Missoulians with a place to buy local produce, meat, and cheese.  From 8:30 am to noon on Saturday check out the Missoula Farmers’ Market at the end of Higgins Avenue (downtown).  This market also takes place on Tuesday evenings from 5:45 pm to 7:15 pm.  There is also a Peoples’ Market on Saturday from 9 am to 1:00 pm on Pine Street right off of Higgins Avenue downtown.  Local artisans and craftsmen display and sell their art and products.  There is also the Clark Fork River Market that takes place on Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm near Caras Park.  You will find meat, cheeses, produce, and pastries at this market.  No matter where you go downtown Saturday morning you will certainly find something to do.

Hiking/Walking/Biking
It seems that everyone who visits Missoula hikes the M at some point.  This is a relatively easy hike up Mount Sentinel, which form the eastern border of the UM campus.  This hike will provide you with a great view of Missoula.

There are also a number of other popular hiking areas in and near Missoula.  The Rattlesnake Recreation Area is one of the most popular hiking/biking areas around.  Located just 4.5 miles north of Campus, you will enjoy the Rattlesnake Creek and a wide easy path.  For more information, check out the Lolo National Forest’s website.

That same website will also provide you information on Blue Mountain Recreation Area.  Located about 2 miles south of Missoula off of US 93, Blue Mountain is popular with hikers and dog owners. 

Pattee Canyon is another popular hiking area.  Located to the south of Campus, you can walk, bike and hike this forested area.  It is also home to an 18-hole folf course.  More information can be found at the above website.

Greenough Park is a beautiful park centered around Rattlesnake Creek and is less than a mile north of campus.  Take a walk through the deciduous forest that makes up this park.  There is a paved trail that circumscribes the park along with many primitive trails that weave in and out of the forest. 

If you would like to bike about Missoula and didn’t bring a bike, don’t worry.  The DASANI “Blue Bikes” community bicycle program gives people free use of 20 new Trek Cruiser Classic bicycles for use on Missoula’s streets and trails.  DASANI “Blue Bikes” are housed in storage lockers, located next to Currents Aquatics Center in McCormick Park, giving residents free access during Currents hours.  Stop by Currents for more information or phone 406-721-PARK. (7275).  You can also check out this website.

Now that you have a bike, or even if you don’t, you can check out the Kim Williams/Riverfront Trail which runs along the Clark Fork River.  This trail system is only open to non-motorized traffic.  It is a great way to get some exercise and to walk from Campus to the Downtown area without breathing in smelly car fumes.  Check out the map found on the website for the Blue Bikes above.

Golf
Missoula is home to six golf courses, not counting the Country Club which is open only to members.  The closest course is the University’s own course, located at 515 South Avenue West.  This is a 9-hole course with a jpar of 34.  The Highlands Golf Course is another 9-hole course that is located in the South Hills of Missoula at 102 Ben Hogan Drive.  Linda Vista Golf Course is also 9-holes and is located at 4915 Lower Miller Creek Road.  For 18-holes, you can try Larchmont Golf Course at 3200 Old Fort Road, Canyon River Golf Club in East Missoula at 1268 Bandmann Trail.  A little farther out on the west side of Missoula is The Ranch Club Golf Course at 8501 Ranch Club Road.  

Baseball
Missoula is home to the Minor League Baseball team the Osprey.  There are three home games during the conference.  They play at 7:05 p.m. on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th.  The Ogren Park at Allegiance Field is located at 700 Cregg Lane, just south of downtown.  Check out their website for more information on ticket prices and promotions. 

Flathead Lake
Created by Ice Age glaciers, almost thirty miles long and fifteen miles across at it's widest point, Flathead lake is the largest natural lake in western U.S.  A 160 mile shoreline and water covers nearly two-hundred square miles of Montana - and at 300 feet deep, you'd better restring your fishing reel with some extra line. Flathead Lake lies in the shadows of Glacier National Park and Whitefish Mountain ski resort to the north. Two scenic highways parallel the lake. On the west side, US Highway 93, and Route 35 on the east wind along the curving shorelines offering majestic views of the lake, mountains and the scenery that made Montana famous.   Flathead Lake is a great place to swim, boat, fish, and relax.  There are a number of websites to look at, but here is one that may help.

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 500 bison.  Over 200 species of birds also call this home including eagles, hawks, meadowlarks, bluebirds, ducks, and geese.  The Range is located between Pablo and Missoula, just west of St. Ignatius.  For more information, check out their website.

Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge
The Refuge is located on Tribal Trust Lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.   Lands within the boundary were first withdrawn for an irrigation reservoir as part of the Flathead Project in 1910.   The Refuge was established in 1921 by Executive Order on this same land, subject to reservoir uses at the request of the Tribes. The refuge is operated as an A easement @ refuge, meaning only rights pertaining to management of wildlife and their habitat were purchased. The Tribes retained those other uses which are compatible with the purpose of the refuge. A 1948 Act of Congress reimbursed the Tribes $400,000 for all past and future uses of certain reservation lands for physical works and facilities of the Flathead project irrigation and power systems and for national wildlife refuges. The payment included $50,644 for the permanent easement at Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is operated by the Fish and Wildlife Service under agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Flathead Irrigation Project and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. For more information, check out their website. 

Cherry/berry picking
Montana has everything from huckleberries to cherries.  There are at least two places where you can pick your own fruit.  The Common Ground Farm in Arlee has raspberries and strawberries.  They are located at 72664 Heart View Lane, Arlee, Montana and their phone number is 406-726-2900.  There is also Fat Robin Orchard and Farm near Polson, Montana.  Fat Robin has aplles and cherries to pick.   You can find them at 34126 S Finley Point Road, Polson, Montana or call them at 406-887-2869.

Flathead Reservation
Location Information
What to do in Flathead Reservation

 

There are many things to do in Montana, but we only have so much room to list them.  Most of the places that are listed here take at least 2 to 3 days, or more, to take in so plan accordingly. 

The two most obvious choices are Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.  These parks are beautiful and popular.  Information about them can be found at www.nps.gov.

For those of you who like to backpack and camp, check out the Jewel Basin Hiking Area and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.  These are pristine wilderness areas that are good for a 2 to 10 day hike.  Information on both of these areas can be found at this website.   Remember, Montana is bear country and you should learn about hiking and camping in bear country before embarking on any adventures.

The Lewis and Clark Caverns are very popular and contain stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helicitites that date back through time.  Escape the heat and head underground to check out theses unusual geological features.  More information can be found here.

Phillipsburg, Montana, is a quaint little town south of Missoula that is a great day trip.  You can mine for sapphires or head over to the Sweet Palace for some homemade fudge and taffy.  A day in Phillipsburg is a treat, but don’t go on Saturdays, as the Sweet Palace is closed that day and you don’t want to miss out on a mercantile filled with candy.  Plan your visit by checking out this webpage.

These are just a few things to do in Montana.  There are many wonderful areas to visit that are filled with friendly people.  Enjoy your stay here.