S5 Hike #12 - The M Trail - Missoula, MT

 

S5 Hike #12 - The M Trail

Starting Location: parking lot on Campus Drive across from Aber Hall

Point of Interest : The large concrete M above the University of Montana, Missoula

Distance: 3/4 mile each way

Difficulty: moderate, due to steepness, decent path with rocks to watch out for.

Bathrooms: flush toilets at base of trail at parking lot

Parking: yes, but pay attention to if you need a permit

EV Chargers: No, but some other places around campus.


We were in Missoula, helping our daughter move into student housing, and this looked like a fun, Missoula thing to do. Apparently this is a very popular hike.

The trail is in good shape. The main issue is the steepness. There are 13 switchbacks to help make the trail manageable, with plenty of places to stop and rest, including some nice benches.

While we were there, we saw runners going up and down the trail, families with small kids, and one mom carrying her young son in a backpack. There were also plenty of dogs, on leash of course.




The weather was great when we did the hike around 10am. There is no shade, however, so early morning would be best, especially on a hot day.












Eventually, we got to the top, and took our selfie with the large concrete M in the background. 

There are other trails that connect to this one, allowing one to explore the surrounding hills, but we were not ready to do that today, so we just went back down.

This is a nice hike that I recommend, You get a great view of the city and campus as well. Just be ready for the steepness.






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