University Mountain — Local services in East Missoula

Yeah, you could just go up Mount Sentinel and call it good. But what about when you need a little more than that? This is just so convenient. You start this hike/run/whatever from UM and by the time you get up here it feels like you’ve gotten quite a distance away from town. Mix and match: go up the “M” then Sentinel and University and back down smokejumper trail to make a loop, or in some other order. It’s great, never gets old. Beautiful scenery. From the “M” parking lot this one was just shy of 3000 vertical feet. Took me ~2 hours round trip, mostly by trying to keep up with a friend who’s in better shape than I am. I felt a deep, burning peer pressure to keep up with my friend, even though he said nothing. It must be in my head I suppose. Temperature was about 21 degrees farenheight and there was a cold wind in my face most of the way up. There are rocks and other tripping hazards. There are cell towers and antennas and such up at the top. There is no water, and I carried way too much with me. My round trip distance...

Not really a mountain in the classica sense, more a series of connected foothills but still very beautiful and fun to hike. Very easy so you can bring almost anyone, with options of trails for difficulty. Dog friendly. The view at the top is wonderful! A required destination for anyone...

This offers a nice perspective on East Missoula as well as into the Rattlesnake. Unlike other reviewers, I was unable to clear my mind up here but I did enjoy this...