Mount Sentinel M Trail (Missoula)

The Mount Sentinel M Trail in Missoula, Montana, is the city's most iconic hike, beginning at the University of Montana campus on South Avenue and climbing 620 feet in 0.85 miles to the white concrete "M" maintained by the university—a landmark visible from much of downtown Missoula and the Clark Fork Valley. For those continuing beyond the M, the full round trip to the summit is approximately 5 miles with 1,680 feet of elevation gain.

The trailhead is located on South Avenue adjacent to the University of Montana campus, within easy walking distance of downtown Missoula. Street parking is available on South Avenue near Adams Center, though spaces fill quickly during university events. No permit is required and no fee is charged; the trail crosses university land and City of Missoula open space.

The climb to the M follows a series of concrete switchbacks that gain 620 feet in under a mile—a route many Missoula residents use as a fitness circuit. The surface is well-maintained concrete with gravel infill, suitable for athletic shoes in dry conditions. At the M, benches and an open viewpoint deliver sweeping panoramas of the Clark Fork River, downtown Missoula, and the surrounding valley framed by the Rattlesnake Wilderness to the north and the Reservation Divide to the west.

Hikers continuing to the summit follow a dirt and rock trail from the M, transitioning through open grassland and rocky slopes that characterize the east face of Mount Sentinel. The summit at approximately 5,158 feet offers 360-degree views of the Missoula Valley, the Bitterroot Range to the south, and the Mission Mountains on the northern horizon. The M is lit at night and attracts evening visitors year-round; the upper summit trail is unlit and should not be attempted in the dark without a headlamp. Microspikes are advisable on the upper trail from October through April when snow and ice accumulate.