Like the foliage, Missoula springs to life during summer. With big, sunny skies, rivers, mountains, city amenities, delicious food and good vibes, there’s never a lack of things to do. Check out this list of 20 summer bucket list activities in Missoula:
1. Take a Hike!
Missoula is a mountain playground- which means we boast about our abundant hiking spots. Whether you’re a seasoned or beginner hiker, there are hiking trails out there for you… with stunning views to boot! Want a good place to start? Check out the “M” trail at the back door of campus – the most popular hiking trail in Montana!
Read More: Take a Hike! Hiking Trails in Missoula (UM Blog)
2. Float the River
Who needs a lazy river when you can hop on a tube and cruise on down the Clark Fork River right next to campus. Choose from the different swaths of river you can float along and relax! Bonus points if you take the free River Shuttle.
Read More: Tips for Floating the River (Destination Missoula)
3. Go “Out to Lunch”
Head to Caras Park on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for the summer Out to Lunch series, hosted by downtown Missoula. Food trucks featuring all sorts of flavors complement the live music, people watching and that chill Missoula atmosphere you can’t get anywhere else.
Read More: Out to Lunch (Downtown Missoula)
4. Dine at “Downtown Tonight”
Out to Lunch’s sister event- Downtown Tonight- goes on every Thursday from 5-9 p.m. in Caras Park. Eat yummy food, listen to music and feel the community coming together to have a good time. All ages are welcome to this family-friendly event!
Read More: Downtown Tonight (Downtown Missoula)
5. Cool Off at a Lake
Live your best lake life in Missoula with big, beautiful bodies of water surrounded by mountains, trees and big skies. The most prominent lake near Missoula is Flathead Lake, which sits at nearly 30 miles long! Other lakes near Missoula include Seeley, Georgetown and Whitefish- lakes. Whether fishing, swimming or boating, this area has you covered!
Read More: Lakes near Missoula (Destination Missoula)
6. Catch Some Live Music
There’s never a lack of live music in Missoula. Bars, concerts and festivals ensure live music daily. Be sure to put River City Roots on your calendar for early September, when this free music festival takes over the downtown streets.
Read More: Best Music Venues On and Off Campus (UM Blog)
7. Visit a National Park
While not in Missoula, two BIG National Parks sit right in our backyard. Only a few hours away is Glacier National Park and its clear rivers, Going-to-the-Sun road, Lake McDonald and gorgeous hikes. A handful of hours south finds you at Yellowstone National Park, where you can see otherworldly geothermal features and the timely Old Faithful geyser.
8. Run the Missoula Marathon
The Missoula Marathon, a Boston qualifier race, occurs at the end of June. It began as a way to share Missoula’s beauty with everyone and has grown to become one of the biggest events in town! Additional distances are available, including a half-marathon, 5K, and a three-mile beer run!
Official Site: Missoula Marathon
9. Enjoy Food, Rodeos and Rides at the Missoula County Fair
Thousands flock to the Missoula County Fairgrounds every August for fun events, rodeos, food, amusements, animals and art. There’s much to do in the warm August sun, so be sure to check out the schedule and support the Missoula community by showing up!
Official Site: Missoula County Fair
10. Look to the Sky at the UM Observatory or Planetarium
Interested in stargazing or watching a show at the Planetarium? Check out the Blue Mountain Observatory schedule and join UM Astronomers to see the stars up close and personal! You can also check out the Planetarium show schedule and head over to the PNAC on campus for an out-of-this-world experience!
11. Cheer on the Missoula Paddleheads Baseball Team
You’re killin’ me, Smalls! Baseball fan or not, you must attend a PaddleHeads baseball game. Who wouldn’t want to appreciate warm nights and ballpark food surrounded by the community? Show your support for this Missoula team and make sure you find yourself at the PaddleHeads stadium sometime this summer. Bonus points if you catch a fireworks game.
Official Site: Missoula Paddleheads Baseball
12. Big Dipper Ice Cream, Anyone?
Since 1995, Big Dipper has been slinging THE BEST ice cream for the community, and there’s nothing better than a cold ice cream on a hot day! Walk, bike or ride over to one of the two Big Dipper locations and choose from their vast menu- huckleberry, espresso, mint oreo… ah! Too many flavors to choose from.
Official Site: Big Dipper Ice Cream
13. Visit Campus
The University of Montana offers campus tours daily throughout year! No matter where you are in your college journey, you can join a tour and learn more about UM. We hope to see you ‘round campus!
Read More: Learn More About Visiting Campus
14. Peruse the Missoula Farmers Market
Find your fill of fresh veggies, hot food, live music and community building every Saturday throughout the summer at the downtown Missoula Farmer’s Market. This lively event takes over downtown streets and also includes the Missoula Makers Market, featuring hand-made wares from local artisans.
Official Site: Missoula Farmers Market
15. Tune into the Stadium Cinema Movie Night
Join UM as they host movie night in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Enjoy the nice weather and big screen at this family-friendly event where children under the age of 16 get a free pass. Movies are chosen via a fan vote on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Buy Tickets: Go Griz – Stadium Cinema Movie Night
16. Surf Brennan’s Wave
Who knew you could go surfing in ZooTown? Grab your kayak or surfboard and head to Caras Park to access Brennan’s Wave – Missoula’s very own artificial surf wave. The wave was constructed in memory of a world-class Missoula kayaker and is just as much fun to spectate as it is to jump into the action.
Read More: Brennan’s Wave (Destination Missoula)
17. Bike the Route of the Hiawatha Trail Scenic Bike Trail
The “Crown Jewel” of Rail-to-Trail Adventures is just a short drive west from Missoula toward the Idaho border. This 15-mile trail is all downhill (with shuttles to the top) and passes through 10 large historic train tunnels (not used for trains anymore) and across 7 sky-high trestles.
Official Site: Route of the Hiawatha
18. Road Trip to a Ghost Town
Garnet Ghost Town, circa 1870s, is a short drive from Missoula and offers an amazing view of Montana’s not-so-distant past. Today, Garnet is a well-known tourist attraction with plaques, pathways and scheduled activities throughout the summer.
Official Site: Garnet Ghost Town
19. Visit the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, headquartered in Missoula, has a mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and a hunting heritage. Visit their headquarters and Visitor Center for an in-depth look at this game-saving institution and all the good work they’re doing in Montana and beyond.
Official Site: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
20. Take a Summer Class
Enroll in summer courses! Current students, incoming freshmen and the general public are welcome! Whether you’re on campus or out of state, you can find a summer class for you. UM also offers a Summer Exploration Program for high school students to dip their toes into the college experience.
Read More: Maximize Your Break – Take Summer Classes (UM Blog)
Anna Weishaar graduated from the University of Montana in 2018 with a degree in Creative Writing. She currently works as the Marketing Coordinator for the MCEE department. She enjoys walking her dogs around campus, finding healthy options for lunch in the UC Market, and going to events offered by UM to learn something new.
