— The Missoula City Fire Department has reopened the M Trail after a fire burned a part of Mount Sentinel on Thursday evening. This demanding course gains 1,970 feet in only 1.6 miles, beginning from the ‘M’ trail parking lot and finishing on the proud summit of Mount Sentinel. It is the most used trail in Missoula. 6,942 were here. If you would like to support UM’s efforts to work with the broader Missoula community in providing stewardship and maintenance of Mt Sentinel’s much-loved and much-used trails, please consider making a donation in any amount to the Friends of the M Trail. Mount Sentinel via Hellgate Ridgeline is a 3.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Missoula, Montana that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The Mount Sentinel Trail, often referred to as the “M” trail, sits behind the University of Montana on its namesake, Mount Sentinel. Mount Sentinel is one of the most iconic hikes in Missoula. Miles: 3/4 mile to “M”; 1 3/4 miles to top of Mount Sentinel. Trailhead: Behind the University of Montana football stadium on Campus Drive. Add Your Trails. More Mount Sentinel South Side is a 3.1 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Missoula, Montana that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. The M Trail on Mount Sentinel is still closed at this time as three people are in need of medical attention. From here the view is spectacular, but if you want to continue up the Mount Sentinel Trail to the summit, it is another mile up the mountain with fewer switchbacks. Soda Butte, Yellowstone National Park. Give us a follow if you want to be kept up to date about what’s happening! Entrance to Mt Sentinel and the "M" Trail Switchbacks Let's imagine it is Sunday and race day is here. The University of Montana … Benches are provided every couple of switch-backs. It is a steep ¾ mile hike to the M, and over 1,000 people make the trip most days. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and bird watching. In the summer it can be very hot, so make sure to bring enough water, the trail may be short but it is steep. A woman reported a rape Tuesday afternoon on the Mount Sentinel "M" trail and was assisted off the mountain by emergency services. East Missoula, MT 1 1.4 mi 2.2 km #2 University Ridge Trail #302.2. There are benches along the way in case you or someone in your group needs to rest. Contacts. The M Trail Project is a two-year plan to repair the trail. The M Trail was established in 1908 when UM students built the original M out of whitewashed rocks. The grassy face of Mt Sentinel is comprised of 1000 acres of native prairie, of which 500 acres are part of the City of Missoula Open Space Program (Parks and Recreation) and 500 acres are part of the UM Campus. Hiked this when we visited Missoula. "M" Trail, Missoula, MT. The Sentinel Fire Road is also a popular trail for hikers and walkers. Steep, switch-backs with 620 ft elevation gain. Not recommended for strollers. There is ample parking and a restroom at the trailhead, but no water source. From the M, hikers and runners can connect to miles of trails on adjacent Forest Service land, and can find many loop routes that tie in with the City Park trail system. The parking area is on the left and is well marked by a brown sign on the right hand side of the road. The current M was installed in 1968, and is 125 long and 100 feet high. Catherine Cole from University Montana's President office updated MTN News of … If it is snowy, crampons are recommended on the trail, which has probably turned into a slab of ice from all the use. It was originally created in 1908 by the school’s Forestry Club. West face of Mount Sentinel landmark since 1908. 5. Trail Distance: 3/4 mile to 'M' and 1 and 3/4 miles to top of Mount Sentinel The 'M' on the west face of Mount Sentinel has been a Missoula landmark since 1908, when Forestry Club members forged a zigzag trail up the mountain and students carried up stones to shape the symbol of the University of Montana. Flora & Fauna Primarily only birds, wildflowers in the warm months. The trail to Mount Sentinel begins on the University of Montana's campus. Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Connect with travelers planning a visit to Missoula Montana. MISSOULA — A grass fire that spread across Mount Sentinel on Thursday evening and forced the popular M Trail to close is now contained. Trailforks scans ridelogs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. It sits above 13 switchbacks and provides a panoramic view of the entire Missoula Valley. Land Manager: City of Missoula - Parks & Recreation. Intermediate. Spectral Fusion Designs 2015. The fire department asks the public to stay away from the burn area. Elevation … Canoeing on Kidney Pond with Mt. The best known symbol of both UM and the City of Missoula is the giant concrete “M” on Mt Sentinel. Difficult. The first 1/3 of the climb follows the ‘M’ trail while the remainder follows the Northwest ridge trail to the summit. Sentinel. Typically, it's windy at the top where you can enjoy stunning views in all directions. Branch off on the uphill Hellgate Canyon Trail if you feel like conquering Sentinel?s summit. There you can stash your canoe and connect with the Sentinel Mountain Trail. You woke up your in own bed (nice), ate a light breakfast, put on your lucky race day gear, rode your bike to the start (awesome) and RD Mike Foote, who hates Sentinel repeats, is barking instructions at you. You have more than 1300ft to go to reach the top of Mt. Breathtaking views from the “M” and the summit. Mount Sentinel: The "M" Trail. Sandwiched between the Clark Fork and Mount Sentinel, the Kim Williams Trail continues on for two and a half more miles. The M Trail was established in 1908 when UM students built the original M out of whitewashed rocks. Fun hike, wear sturdy shoes as there is loose rock on the trail-especially on the way downhill. Registration Fees: $20 The prairies bloom every spring with arrowleaf balsamroot , lupine, paintbrush, shooting stars and more. Mount Sentinel's "M" Trail The Sentinel (or Mt Sentinel) is an impressive peak on a knife-edge ridge just off the rolling hills of the Main Range of the Snowy Mountains. Missoula from the Mount Sentinel “M” Trail. Vesper sparrows nest on the ground under bunchgrasses, a fox dens near the trailhead, and dozens of migratory song birds arrive every summer. M Trail The best known symbol of both UM and the City of Missoula is the giant concrete “M” on Mt Sentinel. Brett Davis/Flickr. The rest of Mount Sentinel remains closed due to mop up operations. 2.5 mi 4.0 km #1 Hellgate Canyon Trail #11. It sits above 13 switchbacks and provides a panoramic view of the entire Missoula Valley. To hike the entire Hellgate Ridgeline Trail, continue past the "M" for a few hundred feet then look up. Friends of the M Trail (via UM Foundation), Phone: (406) 544-7189. Benches are provided every couple of switch-backs. Take a right on E. Broadway and a left on Madison St. Cross the Madison St. Bridge, here Madison turns into Arthur Ave. Continue straight on Arthur for one block and take a left on 6th St E. Go straight until you dead end, it will look like you are driving into a parking lot. A little under a mile from the trailhead you will reach the gigantic concrete “M,” a fixture in the community since 1908. The trailhead is at the base of Mount Sentinel on Campus Drive. This large dormant hot springs cone sits next to Soda Butte Creek and is … The forests on the top and back of Mt Sentinel are Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. The rest of Mount Sentinel remains closed due to mop up operations. Because the M Trail receives to much use, erosion is a constant management issue. Many people don't realize that the M Trail is part of the UM campus. Take a left on S. Van Buren and then a right at the stop sign, Campus Dr. This demanding course gains 1,970 feet in only 1.6 miles, beginning from the ‘M’ trail parking lot and finishing on the proud summit of Mount Sentinel. MISSOULA, Mont. According to court documents filed Monday, Jared Robert Kuntz allegedly began a rampage along the M trail by assaulting a woman hiking with her 13-year-old son, which put the woman into the hospital with a fractured skull and sent her son into shock. The trail does become slippery in the winter. This trail is steep but well traveled and can be slippery in spots. We implore hikers to stay on well-established trails. Mount Sentinel is so much more than the M Trail! This will swing you behind campus, the trailhead will be on the left. If you love the M Trail, you can support our work by making a donation of any amount to the Friends of the M Trail (via UM Foundation). This will shave off .5 miles of hiking each way. Your donation is tax-deductible. Length3.1 miElevation gain633 ftRoute typeLoop Site customized and supported by At the far east end (by UM), the Riverfront Trail changes to gravel and becomes the Kim Williams Trail. The "M" Trail is a switchback trail that runs from the base of Mount Sentinel at the University of Montana campus up to the famous "M". 2. The trail is frequented by a range of people. The paddle is a nice way to get views of the surrounding peaks as well as to spot wildlife (e.g. Follow this switchbacking trail from the end of the M Trail to reach the peak of Mt. the ubiquitous loons, as well as moose and beavers). Sentinel. The first 1/3 of the climb follows the ‘M’ trail while the remainder follows the Northwest ridge trail to the summit. West face of Mount Sentinel landmark since 1908. jemartin03/Flickr. Friends of the “M” Trail: The Sentinel Hill Climb is conducted solely on U of M land. The Missoula City Fire Department has reopened the M Trail after a fire burned a part of Mount Sentinel on Thursday evening. 1 review of Crazy Canyon Trail to Mount Sentinel "The trailhead is located 3.1 miles up Pattee Canyon Road. Owned by the city of Missoula and open to the public, this road runs from the end of the Mo Z Trail up to the "M". Think of this as a heatmap, more rides = more kinetic energy = warmer colors. 1 1/2 total miles rt if you are hiking to the 'M' only. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. 3/4 of a mile to the “M” or 1 and 3/4 mile to the summit. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Shared By: McCaide Wooten. Climbing 620 feet, 3/4 mile to the "M" and 1 3/4 miles to the top of Mount Sentinel. Mount Sentinel "M" Trail: The trailhead is located on the University of Montana campus. Worth it … Full Details. Trails in Mount Sentinel/Patee Canyon - 38. Marty Ludemann, chief of UM Police, said a rape was reported between 4 and 4:30 p.m. Three witnesses found the victim stumbling and bleeding from her head on the trail. East Missoula, MT Intermediate. A sort of big brother to the L Trail, the M Trail is marked by a giant concrete M, the symbol of the University of Montana. It is 3/4 mile to the "M" and 1 3/4 miles to the very top of Mount Sentinel. Mount Sentinel Trail is a quick day hike. If you’re looking for even more of a challenge, then head to Mount Sentinel for the M Trail. While the M Trail is most known for its recreational uses, natural history buffs can tell you that the trail cuts through beautiful native prairie plants. This short, but steep switch-back up the mountain can be a bit strenuous, but not unmanageable depending on your pace. In order to keep the trail in good working order, some major improvements are necessary to control erosion and improve access for users. From I-90 west take the Van Buren exit and take a left. M Trail Missoula. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until November. From the summit, the view stretches far and wide with Hellgate Canyon and the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area to the east, the Missoula Valley below and the Bitterroot Mountains to the south. The Mount Sentinel Trail, often referred to as the “M” trail, sits behind the University of Montana on its namesake, Mount Sentinel. It’s a steep series of switchbacks, but the 1 mile trail is smooth gravel — great for … This is certainly the steepest part of the UM main campus! The victim was not a student, according to UMPD. UM’s iconic M Trail, which starts at the base of Mount Sentinel on the eastern edge of campus, serves up to 1,000 hikers daily on sunny weekends. There are benches on the end of a few of the switchbacks if you need to stop and rest. This is the best spot to watch the sun set over the city. The “M” on the west face of Mount Sentinel has been a Missoula landmark since 1908, when Forestry Club members forged a zigzag trail up the mountain and students carried up … The moments we live for in Montana. You will begin winding your way up the switchbacks below the M, a giant white letter situated on the side of Mount Sentinel. This short, but steep switch-back up the mountain can be a bit strenuous, but not unmanageable depending on your pace. Katahdin in the background. 411 likes. Once you reach the M, continue on the trail for a few more switchbacks until you reach a fire Some mostly easy, but exposed, scrambling is required to reach the peak, so the walk is not advisable in bad weather. 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