State: MT Length: 1.30 miles Surface: Concrete
The 7th Street Trail is an on-road, extra-wide shoulder specifically designed for pedestrians and cyclists. The path runs for 1.36 miles between Clements Road and Hiberta Avenue, running east–west on the south side of 7th Avenue. It links to a network of other on- and off-road trails on Missoula's west side, all of which provide a safe route for crossing town.
Rail-Trail
State: MT Length: 2.17 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Bitterroot Branch Trail currently consists of two segments along the active Montana Rail Link rail tracks that run into downtown Missoula. The southern segment is 0.68 mile and extends between McDonald Avenue and Livingston Street. To pick up the northern segment, users will have to navigate a short section of neighborhood streets. Do this by turning west on Livingston, north on Kemp, east on South, north on Johnson then east on North Avenue, where the trail begins again adjacent to the railroad tracks. The northern segment extends for 1.5 miles all the way to the 0 milepost at the intersection with the Milwaukee and Riverfront trails. The Riverfront Trail extends east along the south bank of the Clark Fork River, where it connects with the Kim Williams Trail. The Milwaukee Trail heads west for 0.5 mile to where it currently ends at Russell Street. An extension of the Milwaukee Trail to Reserve Street (1.3 miles) is under construction and due to open sometime in 2011.
State: MT Length: 0 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone
State: MT Length: 1.27 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete
The Clements Road Trail is a paved path that parallels Missoula's busy Clements Road and provides a safe alternative to riding on the shoulder. The path runs for 1.2 miles between the South Avenue Trail and 3rd Street, switching between the east and west side of Clements Avenue at Mount Street and North Avenue. The path links other of Missoula's west-side trails and offers nice views of the valley's surrounding mountains.
State: MT Length: 0.80 miles Surface: Asphalt, Dirt
The Greenough Park Trail is truly one of urban Missoula's best, making for a peaceful refuge from the city hubbub and near the downtown area. The trail makes a loop through this lush 42-acre park, not only popular for people but for bears, which often frequent the park during fall in search of food before going into hibernation. Even more appealing is pristine Rattlesnake Creek, which courses through the park's center. Cottonwoods and conifers are thick throughout, as are willows and other woody and herbaceous plants. It's a great place for bird-watching, too, and signs along the trail describe some of the species you might see—more than 100 species make their home here. The park was donated to the city by the Greenough family, one of the area's well-to-do in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their Victorian mansion used to sit at the south end of what is now the park but was moved in the 1970s to make way for Interstate 90. The house was moved across town into the South Hills, where it served as a restaurant for many years. Sadly it burned to the ground in the 1990s in a mysterious electrical fire in the middle of the night. Some attributed the fire to a Greenough daughter who allegedly had haunted the house for many years. Another restaurant was built in its place (see Mansion Heights Trail). Greenough Park has plenty of benches, a large picnic shelter for rent with a small playground nearby, and porta potties at both parking areas. Several dirt paths wind through the trees and along Rattlesnake Creek (for pedestrians only). You can make a loop by taking Monroe Street. Between Jackson and Locust streets there isn't much traffic.
State: MT Length: 4.20 miles Surface: Asphalt, Dirt, Gravel
The Kim Williams Nature Trail meanders alongside the Clark Fork River in downtown Missoula. It connects to the Riverfront Trail, giving users an uninterrupted 4 miles of trail from which to enjoy the river or access Missoula's neighborhoods, commercials areas, parks, and the university. The unimproved surface of original ballast is compact and wonderful for family rides. The Kim Williams Nature Trail lies on the corridor of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroad, commonly known as the Milwaukee Road. The portions in Montana were built between 1906 and 1909. Having more than 656 miles of electrified track, the Milwaukee Road was ground breaking in terms of long distance electrification. In addition, this line supported both freight and passenger trains, including high-speed intercity trains, such as the steam-powered Hiawatha. In 1980, more than 1,000 miles were abandoned from Miles City, Montana to Maple Valley, Washington. Other rail-trails on the Milwaukee Road include the Route of the Hiawatha, the Milwaukee Road Rail-Trail in Idaho, and the John Wayne Trail in Iron Horse State Park. For more information please contact the Missoula Parks and Recreation Department at (406) 721-7275
State: MT Length: 0.50 miles Surface: Asphalt
The Larmont Trail is a paved path that parallels Missoula's busy Reserve Street (US 93) and provides a safe alternative to riding on the road. The path runs for only a little more than 0.5 mile between Dearborn Avenue and where Reserve Street meets Clark Street (across from University Motors). The path runs along the west side of Reserve Street, paralleling Larchmont Golf Course. When you reach the south end of the Larchmont Trail, go right on Clark Street then right again on Post Siding Road to access Fort Missoula. You can safely ride or walk along the road here into the fort grounds. Continue toward the other end to visit the Historical Society Museum and also to pick up the South Avenue Trail, which then links to other trails on Missoula's west side. You can also get to the Bitterroot River from there.
State: MT Length: 0.60 miles Surface: Asphalt, Gravel
The Mansion Heights Trail passes along the northern end of a neighborhood development of the same name toward the top of Missoula's South Hills. The homes here are quite beautiful and they match the views of the valley below. The trail is short and it's separated from the road by a steep rise. A bench here and there offers a nice place to sit and take in the scenery below.
State: MT Length: 1.80 miles Surface: Asphalt
This isn't one of Missoula's more scenic trails, but nevertheless it's a great connector from downtown to the western edges of suburbia. The trail was completed in 2011 and zigzags along an asphalt corridor with occassional on-road segments. The short, on-road segments are widened shoulders separated from traffic with flagged markings, making for a highly visible route on which cars are not permitted. This part of town is undergoing changes, so you'll find dismantled light industrial areas, vacant lots and a few not-so-attactive back yards. But the trail is well marked with excellent at-grade road crossings...and Missoula drivers tend to be polite, stopping to let you cross. On the east end, the trail begins at a hub just south of McCormick Park and Ogren Field, where the city's baseball team plays. At the hub the Bitterroot Branch Trail heads south and the Riverfront Trail heads north and east (both going toward downtown Missoula).
State: MT Length: 1 miles Surface:
The North Avenue–Humble Road Trail is a short, Y-shaped link joining two other of Missoula's west-side trails: South Avenue Trail and Clements Road Trail. The on-road trail is nicely widened bike lane purpose-built to allow pedestrians and cyclists traveling in opposing directions to pass safely without either having to veer into the road. The path will take you west along North Avenue from Clements Road across the Bitterroot River on River Pines Road, perfect for accessing Blue Mountain Recreation Area.
State: MT Length: 3.50 miles Surface: Asphalt, Ballast, Gravel
Missoula's Riverfront Trail follows both the north and south sides of the Clark Fork River through city parks downtown and near the university campus. Though it's not quite clear where the Riverfront Trail on the south side of the river ends and where the Kim Williams Trail begins, it doesn't matter to locals—nor should it to you. The important thing is the trail is part of a larger city-wide system that links the east side of the valley at the University of Montana to west-side neighborhoods. Another thing you'll like are the beautiful river views and easy, non-motorized accessed to campus, neighborhoods, parks, shopping, restaurants and a host of other attractions in this awesome city. The Riverfront Trail follows an abandoned right-of-way along the old Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroad, commonly known as the Milwaukee Road. The portions in Montana were built between 1906 and 1909, serving as both a freight and passenger line. With more than 656 miles of electrified track, the Milwaukee Road was ground-breaking in terms of long distance electrification. Though extent tracks on the north side of the river still carry freight, passenger service to Missoula ended in the 1970s.
State: MT Length: 2.20 miles Surface: Asphalt
The South Avenue Trail is a paved path that parallels Missoula's busy South Avenue and provides a safe alternative to riding in the road. The path runs for a little more than 2 miles between Old Fort Road just west of US 93/Reserve Street and Humble Road. The path runs east-west on the south side of the road. It links to a network of other on- and off-road trails on Missoula's west side, all of which provide a safe route for crossing town. At Target Range School, the path actually veers into the parking lot in front of the school then picks up again on the other side. At the east end of the trail, head south onto the Fort Missoula property (well signed at the CCC Rd./Guardsman Ln.) to visit the Historical Society Museum and grounds at Fort Missoula.
State: MT Length: 0.80 miles Surface: Concrete
The Spurgin–Humble Road Trail runs just under 1 mile between the Clements Road Trail and the Kelly Island access path at the end of Humble Road. The on-road trail is nicely widened bike lane purpose-built to allow pedestrians and cyclists traveling in opposing directions to pass safely without either having to veer into the road. The path is part of a network of on- and off-road trails on Missoula's west-side.
State: MT Length: 17.30 miles Surface: Asphalt
The U.S. 93 south pedestrian/bike path is a paved path separated from U.S. 93. It is located along the west side of the highway. It begins just south of the U.S. 93/U.S. 12 intersection in Lolo and ends just south of the S. Kootenai Creek Rd./U.S. 93 intersection. It goes through the small town of Florence. A rail corridor runs along the east side of U.S. 93. The path's distance from the highway varies, and grades are gentle. To the west one can view the Bitterroot Mountains, and to the east are the Sapphire Mountains. There is a pair of tunnels under the highway between Lolo and Florence that allows one to ride for a few miles along the east side of the highway. Several park and ride lots can be used for leaving a vehicle. When complete, the path will extend all the way from Lolo south to Hamilton.