If you’re looking for a short but intense hike in Montana, check out the fun M trail in Missoula! You’ll get a nice leg-burner and see great views
Last weekend we took a little trip up to Montana to take some things up to my grandma’s house and then head up to a family reunion in Missoula. Our trip up was adventurous to say the least (we almost hit some elk, lost some things out of the trailer we were hauling at 4:30 in the morning, and the tire came off the trailer later that day, then our kids got the stomach flu after we got home on Sunday).
Nothing was working out quite like we had planned on that trip and our fund were limited so we ended up making a quick trip, but all those mishaps make for entertaining stories later on! Even though the trip had it’s rough spots, we had a good time with family and even got to do a little hiking.
My cousin Season, my son Gabe and I went for a short hike on Saturday morning up M trail in Missoula. We’re doing a little fun fitness challenge where we aim to walk or run 3 miles each day, so we wanted to get our miles in Saturday morning.
Map image from the Missoulian website
The M trail is a short one, just about 3/4 mile long, but it’s a steep hike and strenuous. Definitely not a trail you can bring a stroller or bikes on. If you have little ones keep them close since the side of the mountain is very steep and it would be easy to slip off the trail.
The trail is fairly busy, it’s a popular hike and running spot for locals. It also extends all the way to the top of Sentinal Mountain, but we just stopped at the M. Not too far up the trail and you get a nice view of the university
The views from the trail are pretty amazing! And this is only about halfway up Sentinal Mountain, if you want a longer hike you can continue on up the mountain and see more
The mountainside is steep!
Gabe by the M. The M stands for University of Montana
Gabe and I – photo taken by Season M
After we hiked down the M trail, we went down the Kim Williams Nature trail next to the Clark Fork River. Beautiful walk! Also a popular trail for locals
Our hiking essentials:
- Camelbak hydration pack (I’m not sure that the one I use is for sale anymore, mine is a small one that works perfect for short hikes and bike rides)
- Takeya water bottle
- SPI belt
- Natural bug repellent
Check out other places to see and hiking in Wyoming, the Black Hills, and Montana:
- Garden Creek Falls, Casper, WY
- Crow Peak, Spearfish
- Ayres Natural Bridge
- Community Caves (Wildcat Caverns), Spearfish, SD
- The M Trail Missoula
- Devil’s Bathtub, Spearfish Canyon
- Crazy Horse Volksmarch
- Red Beds Trail, Devil’s Tower
- Trail End Museum, Sheridan
- Koltiska Pumpkin Patch, Sheridan
Sarah Jane Parker is the founder, recipe creator, and photographer behind The Fit Cookie. She’s a food allergy mom and healthy living blogger based in Wyoming. Sarah is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Certified Health Coach, Revolution Running certified running coach, and an ACE Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist