Straddling the Clark Fork River, Missoula is
a far cry from its origins as Hellgate Village, founded
to service the sawmills and flour mills which located on
the river east of the present townsite. It's the largest
city in Western Montana and is a center for the forest
industry. It's home to the University of Montana which
has 9,600 students. Missoula is the take-off point for a
very scenic drive to Flathead Lake & Kalispell, and
on to Glacier National
Park. Lying just east of the long Bitterroot
Range, Missoula is a hub for wilderness adventure.
What to See & Do
The Bob Marshall Wilderness is to the north and
the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness -- in the
Deerlodge National Forest -- to the south. The Mission
Mountains begin just north of town (in the Flathead
Indian Reservation). Flathead Lake is an hour's drive
north of town.
River recreation is available in all directions. The
Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Blackfoot and Flathead rivers all
feature fishing and river rafting expeditions. Within 50
miles of the city, there are more than 200 miles of prime
floating rivers and many more miles of fishing streams.
The variety of fish available is staggering: rainbow,
cutthroat, brown & brook trout, Dolly Varden,
kokanee, whitefish, bass and northern pike. There are
many public campgrounds around the city, most of them
managed by the National Forest Service, and
private RV parks in the city as well.
The two museums are worth visiting. Fort
Missoula includes an historical museum, a forest
service lookout, and 12 historic buildings at the site of
the original fort -- on South Avenue. The Missoula
Museum of the Arts, at 335 North Pattee, presents
changing art exhibitions along with films, lectures and
concerts. A convenient day-trip north from Missoula will
take you not only to Flathead Lake but to the
National Bison Range, the home of up to 500 bison
in the Flathead Reservation, reached by taking Highway
93. This 19,000-acre range is also home to other wildlife
including whitetail and mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep,
mountain goats and pronghorn antelope. There is a visitor
center at the community of Moise.
The city features four golf courses, two of them
(Missoula Country Club and Larchmont Golf
Course) with 18 holes. There are two ski areas in the
area: Snow Bowl and Marshall. There are
wildlife refuges located north and south of town.
The Lee Metcalf Refuge (25 miles south) hosts
migratory waterfowl. Ninepipe and Pablo refuges
(north via Highway 93) are on the way to Flathead Lake
& the town of Polson. The area is a definite plus for
hot springs fans. Lolo Pass Hot Springs is west of
the city on the Montana/Idaho border. Other hot spring
operations include Sleeping Child, Lost
Trail and Medicine Hot Springs.
Missoula Hotels
xxx
Camping & Recreation
Missoula El-Mar KOA
(406) 549-0881
The largest campground in the area (36 tenting and 173 RV
sites) also features a swimming pool, hot tub and
mini-golf. Full hook-ups. Take Exit 101 off I-90 to
Reserve St.
10,000 Waves Raft & Kayak Adventures
P.O. Box 7924, Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 549-6670 -- For bookings call 800-537-8315
Rafting or kayaking on the Blackfoot River, or through
Alberton Gorge offer a true Montana experience. Since
1990, 10,000 Waves has provided thousands of visitors
with unforgettable river experiences. As specialists in
paddle rafting, they offer exciting trips on Montana
waterways, using state-of-the-art self-bailing rafts.
Kayak trips are led by ACA certified whitewater kayak
instructors, using inflatable or sit-on-top kayaks. Kayak
trips accompany scheduled raft trips on the Blackfoot and
the Alberton Gorge. Custom trips can also be arranged.
For info, go
here.
