The notebook of Missoula et Bitterroot Valley
Walk toward a clearer light.
University town, rivers and wooded mountains in western Montana.
At your own pace
Identity summary
3 to 6 days
Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Recommended car
City · River · Mountain · Forest
Good accessibility
Modular rhythm
General presentation
Missoula et Bitterroot Valley
University town, rivers and wooded mountains in western Montana.
The discovery of Missoula and Bitterroot Valley is based on A Carousel for Missoula, Mount Sentinel and Rattlesnake National Recreation Area. The stay thus alternates between urban life, riverscapes, mountain reliefs and forests, giving a concrete picture of the destination beyond its only best known site.
See all
For a stay of 3 to 6 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: conditions to be checked according to the season. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. The main sites are generally easy to access.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- A Carousel for Missoula
- Mount Sentinel
- Rattlesnake National Recreation Area
Before you choose
- Car often useful
- Conditions to be checked by season
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Place indismissible
A Carousel for Missoula
A Carousel for Missoula tells a very local story: hand carved horses, a project carried by volunteers and a park atmosphere on the Clark Fork. The nearby carousel of Dragon Hollow is pleasing to families, but also to those who like to see how a city turns a popular object into a collective memory.
Nature and panorama
Mount Sentinel
Mount Sentinel dominates Missoula right behind the university, recognizable by its large white M on the slope. The climb gives quickly altitude: along the path, the Clark Fork, the city centre and the mountains around the valley are revealed, especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset.
Place indismissible
Rattlesnake National Recreation Area
A few minutes north of Missoula, Rattlesnake National Recreation Area is moving from the city to coniferous forests, cold streams and paths up to the nearby wilderness. The routes are suitable for a walk along the creek as well as for a long hike to the wilder slopes.
Nature and landscape
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
Along the Bitterroot River, Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge protects wetlands, riparian woods and grasslands where migratory birds are often the first to attract attention. The trails and observation platforms are suitable for a slow, twin-handed visit, especially in spring and autumn.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
To go further
More activities
Restaurants, walks, culture, leisure and outings to search without leaving the destination card.
The nearest destinations
The closest ideas on the map, to extend your trip.
Similar destinations
Same landscapes and the same pace of travel, elsewhere in the world.
Escaped to discover
Corner Brook et vallée Humber
Newfoundland and Labrador, 🇨🇦 Canada
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