Rattlesnake National Recreation Area
Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness
A national recreation area on the northern edge of the city that leads straight into wilderness, with creekside trails for hiking and mountain biking, and deeper in, a wilderness area of alpine lakes.
The Rattlesnake National Recreation Area stretches from the northern edge of Missoula deep into the mountains, covering about 240,000 hectares including the wilderness area. It is one of the few large protected areas in the United States so close to a city. The main entrance is at the sawmill gulch at the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek. The main road from the parking lot climbs gently along the creek, where you can hike, ride mountain bikes and cross-country ski in winter. Further north, the wilderness area bans motor vehicles and bicycles and has more than 30 alpine lakes. For an easy outing, follow the creekside trail for 5–8 km round trip, which takes half a day. You can also climb Stuart Peak from here for views over the whole city. Admission is free. The area is a potential habitat for black bears and grizzly bears, so carrying bear spray is recommended. The entrance is about 8 km from downtown.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Mount Jumbo
- Missoula Farmers Market & Clark Fork Market
- Montana Snowbowl
- Mount Sentinel M Trail
- Downtown Missoula
- Missoula Art Museum
- Caras Park & Riverfront Trail
- Brennan's Wave