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City in Montana, United States
Photo: Missoulian, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Missoula is a medium-sized city in Western Montana with a population of about 73,000 (2020). The hub of five valleys in the northwest region of the state, or Glacier Country, the town boasts the University of Montana, the Rattlesnake Recreation Area, and a multitude of recreational opportunities, along with an active and colorful downtown.
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The park is a hub of city festivities and intimate concerts, with brick plazas, restrooms and a pavilion. It is on land reclaimed when the Higgins Avenue Bridge was widened in 1962. Next to the park is A Carousel for Missoula, a wooden, hand-carved and volunteer-built carousel.
Explore the 32-acre park and museum showcasing Missoula area history. Museum features rotating exhibits. Over 20 preserved historic buildings of the fort and World War II internment camp. Walking tour of the fort always available and free. Come in late April for the annual forestry day to watch professional competitors in timber sports like log rolling and speed climbing. If you've never watched these lumberjack events, they are incredibly fun spectator sports.
Worth a visit. Knowing that it could never outbid its big-city counterparts for works by famous artists, the museum has instead hosts regularly-rotated exhibits of Western art and works closely with community arts groups. Furthermore, the price is right for visitors, as demonstrated by its slogan: Free Expression, Free Admission.
This historic courthouse building has eight original murals by E.S. Paxson.
Rotating permanent collection and outside artwork. Website has a campus artwalk map. The collections held in several buildings, check website for current locations.
This former depot built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad is used by the Boone & Crockett Club.
This former depot is used as office space by local businesses and home of the Missoula Farmer's Market during the summer months.
Find art galleries open to strolling passersby with music and food offered for free.
City owned waterpark. Three 3-story waterslides, lazy river, play structures plus Olympic sized pool. Café and grill.
Enjoy a Pioneer League baseball game at Orgren Park at Allegiance Field.
Lit at night and featuring a cradle, Built by Grindline.
18 holes of disc golf on a very hilly, wooded course. Cross the street to take the Maclay Flat Nature Trail. For a beginner course try Meadow Hill Middle School (4210 S Reserve St).
City park and sport complex. There are tennis courts, pickleball courts, outdoor fitness center, lawn volleyball, disc golf at this 156-acre park. Plus 3 playgrounds and a dog park.
Extensive trail system covering 27 miles is open to any non-motorized use. Used by cross-country skiers in winter. Nearby disc golf course. Picnic area with vault toilets, but no water, at trailhead.
This trail is an easy way to appreciate the Clark Fork River.
Mt. Sentinel offers a scenic trail system. A trail starting at the University of Montana leads 700 feet up the mountainside to the "M," which offers great views of the city. More adventurous hikers may continue another 1400 feet to the peak of Mount Sentinel, which offers great views of the city, the Rattlesnake Wilderness to the north, and Mount Jumbo to the north. Those with binoculars may perceive the ancient shoreline of Lake Missoula on Mount Jumbo, marking the edge of an enormous ice-age lake. One can also take the trail off the backside of Mt. Sentinel, which zig-zags down crossing the parasailing jeep road a few times to a sign which shows the lovely trail down thru forest on Sentinel's north side that ends at the old railroad tracks, now the Kim Williams hike/bike trail, and then back to the parking lot at the "M" trails base. Doing the loop in reverse is also very pleasant.
Rattlesnake Wilderness
There are more than 73 miles of hiking trails in the recreation area, many of which are also open to horseback riders, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers.
950 lift-served acres at , a great place to ski that is very affordable.
Run by a Greek family, #1 Gyros can be quite crowded around lunch time. Tasty french fries.
Unusual pizzas sold by the slice.
Another excellent burrito restaurant. The only burrito shop in town that cooks their meat fresh.
Missoula's answer to Whole Foods. Sells natural, organic, and specialty foods in its grocery store and includes a small deli serving prepared meals.
Modern restaurant with good American food that turns into a popular sports bar at night.
Great food, great microbrews, great live music, and terrible lighting--this place has "atmosphere" written all over it. Excellent vegan and vegetarian dishes. Try the weekend brunch. The lunch-only "Reccession Special" is a local favorite.
Diner style food in a business continuously open for so long that it prides itself on having lost its keys. Friendly staff, live poker, and cheap drinks. The chicken fried steak with JJ's gravy is amazing. Those looking for an authentic Missoula experience should check out this place.
Large burritos. Where many locals grab a quick bite.
Locally owned burrito shop, good combination of value and quality. Dubbed Taco Sysco, after the name of the food distribution company the restaurant gets its frozen meat from.
Full-service deli, coffee, wine, and groceries. Missoula's first grocery store, Wordens opened in 1883 and has been a Missoula staple ever since. Wicked Philly is a local favorite.
Organic coffee from around the globe. Roasted locally.
Baker making items in-house. Locally roasted coffee. Has second location at 1000 E Broadway.
A very unique all-beverage store and organic coffee shop with a one-of-a-kind 10 foot high wooden globe that houses wine.
A fun, delicious hip restaurant in an art-filled brick dining room. The roof patio is a cool and pleasant retreat on hot days. An extensive list of wines by the glass. Good vegetarian options.
Specializes in German lagers. Edelweiss Bistro offers food on-site.
Distributes to multiple states. Their most famous brew is called "Moose Drool", but all are good. Visit the taproom for specialty brews not distributed elsewhere.
With outdoor seating, balcony views. Large space. Southern inspired food menu.
Fresh beers and curated wine list. 8 flagship beers. Rotating food trucks or bring in food from wherever. Live events.
Local brewery making mostly ales. Also has rootbeer and ginger ale. Brewing is done right behind the main bar so patrons can watch. Has patio and features local bands.
Outdoor seating right by Grant Creek. 12 craft beers on tap, live music, pizza.
A much smaller neighborhood brewery, with excellent beers as well. Their Cold Smoke Scotch Ale can be found in most Montana bars.
A local favorite.
Located on the banks of the Clark Fork River. Missoula's oldest, and original B & B. Original 1910 home, saved from demolition in 1989 and fully restored. Full breakfast, Wi-Fi, cable. Three Diamond AAA rating, member Montana B and B Association.
Bed and breakfast, nestled on the mountainside among Ponderosa Pines and meditative water gardens.
On the Clark Fork River with a view of the mountains. Contains a restaurant, the Finn and Porter, which serves fresh steaks, seafood, and chops.
As a full-service hotel, HI Missoula offers an indoor pool, fitness center, and on-site restaurant.
Missoula's only hostel. Kitchen, on-site storage, free Wi-Fi, and guest computer available.
One of the best places to buy obscure, diverse, and a wide variety of beer.
This is a local curio store, selling a wide variety of gifts and souvenirs including vinyl records and CDs, handmade jewelry, clothing and gag gifts.
The Sports Exchange Missoula is a long-trusted purveyor of quality second-hand sporting goods.
Missoula's only indoor shopping center, Southgate Mall is home to many great shops and local restaurants. Games, shopping, and great food can all be found here.
By car
There are five exits from Interstate 90 (I-90), Airways Blvd (Exit #99); the Grant Creek Blvd exit (Exit #101); Orange St (Exit #104); Van Buren St (Exit #105); , and East Missoula (Exit #307).
By bus
The #11 bus and the #2 bus connect the bus station with the downtown Lewis & Clark Transit Center. Only the #11 (northbound on Broadway) goes up to the airport.
Visitors to Missoula often remark that the city is hard to get around in by car, a fact Missoulians famously owe to conflicting city engineers at the turn of the century.
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Missoula · Regional · MSO
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