On Campus
Montana Museum of Art and Culture: Free admission, Docent Tour available. Over 11,000 works of art and cultural artifacts.
Hike the M or River Trails: from campus hike up Sentinel Mountain to the “M” OR take a walk along the Kim Williams Trail (flat) next to the Clark Fork River. You can walk for miles….either toward or away from town.
Around Missoula
Splash Montana Outdoor Water Park: 3001 Bancroft Street/ Playfair Park
Fees: $5.50-$9, dependent on age
Multiple 3-story waterslides, kiddie slide, lazy river and spray features. Olympic pool with 25- yard lap swim lanes; café/snack bar, bathrooms/showers/lockers; bring a lock
Float the Clark Fork River in a Flamingo Tube Milltown to Missoula (trip ~2 – 2 ½ hours)
Open Daily Noon – 7 PM
Best Deal: Clark Fork Yacht Club $30 adults (18 y.o.+); $20 – kids, 14 – 17. Includes: Premium flamingo pink tubes with headrest & mesh butt hammock, shuttle van, outhouse and changing area; free bag & key check at office while floating.
Missoula Art Museum: 335 N. Pattee Street (downtown) Free admission, Docent Tour available.
Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium: 1075 South Ave.
Fees: Child under 3: Free; Child 3 -17 and Seniors: $8; Adult: $10
A Carousel for Missoula and Dragon Hollow Playground, downtown on river trail (walk from campus)
Beautiful hand carved ponies on a fast carousel. All Inclusive playground adjacent. Carousel rides: $1 for children 11 and younger; $2 for 12 and older.
Montana Natural History Center: 120 Hickory Street, Missoula on the River Trail
Adult and kid-friendly museum focusing on the flora, fauna, and natural history of western Montana.
Fees: kids under 4: Free; 4 –18: $2; Seniors:$4; Adults:$5. Group tour available
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula: 3400 Captain Rawn Way
Exhibits on WWII internment Camp (Japanese and Italian internees), African-American Infantry Bicycle Corps, Forestry. Free walking tour of historic buildings and small fee for entering museum ($2-$4)
Missoula Smokejumper Visitor Center: 5765 West Broadway near Airport. Free
Exhibits, short videos,1937 fire lookout tower. Guided tour takes ~ 1 hour.
Walk along Rattlesnake Creek: a cool amble along dirt paths by a mostly shaded creek; led by Bev Young. Start at Lincolnwood park about 2.5 miles north of campus and walk for about an hour. History of the creek’s use as Missoula’s water supply and the recent removal of the dam and restoration of the creek.
Near Town
Ninemile Remount Center & Historic Ranger Station: some Conscientious Objectors in WWII were stationed here and part of 1st Smoke Jumper training. Visitor Center has information about the pack animals and firefighters that worked the Northern Rockies during the 1920s and 1940s. 20 miles west of Missoula, ~5 miles off Interstate.
Garden of 1000 Buddhas: A public park, botanical garden, and Buddhist center featuring a dharmachakra path, 1,000 Buddha statues, 1,000 stupas, and a pond with prayer wheels. Free. About 45 minutes north of Missoula; 34756 White Coyote Road, Arlee, MT 59821.