Western Montana

The primary focus of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is Elk, of course, and the Visitor Center features an amazing display of mounted elk, many with antlers that are world records. The Elk Foundation considers loss of habitat to be the most serious threat to the future of wild places and wildlife. The Foundation now counts 150,000 members, with 550 chapters in the USA and 10,000 volunteer workers who assist with conservation, education, and preservation projects around the country.

Considered by many the “Town Square” of Missoula, Caras Park offers entertainment for the entire family under the big sky. Located right downtown and alongside the Clark Fork River, this mekka of community gatherings, seasonal events, and just good ol’ daily fun is popular for visitors and locals alike.

Perhaps no landmark is more closely associated with the City of Missoula than the big, white, concrete “M” on the side of Mount Sentinel. This highly visible and recognizable icon of the University of Montana stands 125 feet tall and 100 feet wide, and sits 620 feet above the heads of new freshmen. A well-used trail leads to the “M,” and hiking to the “M” has, for years, been a tradition for incoming university freshmen and for visitors to Missoula as well.

Hiking trails can get busy come spring in Western Montana, and if you’re looking to get away from the crowd and see a land in it’s most pristine and unspoiled state, the beauty of the backcountry is where you should be headed. Off of Hwy 93, whether coming from Missoula or Darby, there are numerous drainages to be discovered that lead into the Bitterroot Mountain Range. Being a person who is inspired by exploration and adventure, I wanted to choose a location I had never been to, so I picked one right from the pages of my Montana Atlas and Gazetteer: The Big Creek Trail.