Bitterroot Trail — paved Missoula branch return
Montana · Rail-trail
From the signed public Milwaukee/Bitterroot junction follow the Bitterroot branch south for up to three miles and retrace before a traffic-road gap or work barrier. This short Missoula course does not include the Hamilton–Lolo maintenance section.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Missoula · Montana
- Ride length
- Up to 6 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved designated Bitterroot shared-use path
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- Mostly gentle valley/rail corridor with local ramps, driveway crossings and an uphill return where applicable.
- Starting location
- Bitterroot Trail public junction with Milwaukee Road Path, Old Sawmill District, Missoula, MT
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Selected public named place with explicit place coordinates, not viewport or a surveyed parking stall. Use the independently documented written public start.
Bitterroot Trail — paved Missoula branch return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Bitterroot Trail public junction with Milwaukee Road Path, Old Sawmill District, Missoula, MT.
No verified dedicated trail parking at this named public access. Arrive by lawful public pedestrian/bicycle access, or independently arrange lawful visitor parking and walk to the path. Private, business and reserved lots are not assumed available.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 6 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: From the signed public Milwaukee/Bitterroot junction follow the Bitterroot branch south for up to three miles and retrace before a traffic-road gap or work barrier. This short Missoula course does not include the Hamilton–Lolo maintenance section.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved designated Bitterroot shared-use path. Mostly gentle valley/rail corridor with local ramps, driveway crossings and an uphill return where applicable.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Trail alliance confirms the paved valley corridor. MDT’s 2026 preservation notice describes incremental closures farther south between Lolo and Hamilton; a completion forecast is not treated as a reopening. Private adjoining parcels and business lots are excluded. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.