Kim Williams Nature Trail: gravel river return
Montana · Rail-trail
Reach the signed Kim Williams rail-trail at the Van Buren Street footbridge area and follow it east for up to one mile, then retrace. Walk any uncomfortable bridge or access transition.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Missoula · Montana
- Ride length
- Up to 2 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Gravel rail-corridor path, mapped about eight feet wide; use when firm and dry
- Road crossings
- Designated separated shared path only. Stop at street/driveway crossings; no ordinary-road detour.
- Elevation
- River rail corridor with local slopes, loose gravel and bridge approaches. No surveyed maximum grade or assurance of smoothness after rain; wider hybrid tires are preferable.
- Starting location
- Kim Williams Trail public access near Van Buren Street footbridge, Van Buren Street Footbridge, Missoula, MT 59801
Conservative selected distance cap; turn at half the listed return distance or earlier. Not a GPS measurement; parking walks are extra.
Western endpoint of city trail feature 219, not a parking entrance. Use the named public footbridge access and posted route signs.
Trailhead
Kim Williams Trail public access near Van Buren Street footbridgeVan Buren Street Footbridge, Missoula, MT 59801
The state visitor listing identifies Van Buren/Fifth Street access. This guide uses the named public footbridge area, not the nearby visitor-center address as parking permission. No dedicated parking entrance or numbered arrival address is verified. Use legal signed public parking and walk to the path.
Address source ↗Kim Williams Nature Trail: gravel river return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-11-06. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A short shared-path outing from Missoula, with a flexible turnaround for a relaxed recreational ride.
Start and parking
Start: Kim Williams Trail public access near Van Buren Street footbridge, Van Buren Street Footbridge, Missoula, MT 59801.
The state visitor listing identifies Van Buren/Fifth Street access. This guide uses the named public footbridge area, not the nearby visitor-center address as parking permission. No dedicated parking entrance or numbered arrival address is verified. Use legal signed public parking and walk to the path.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 2 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: Reach the signed Kim Williams rail-trail at the Van Buren Street footbridge area and follow it east for up to one mile, then retrace. Walk any uncomfortable bridge or access transition.
Use the maintained wide gravel rail corridor. Natural hillside branches, the separate Kim Williams Connection, mountain routes and traffic-road detours are excluded. This is distinct from the existing paved Milwaukee Road west-side outing.
Conservative selected distance cap; turn at half the listed return distance or earlier. Not a GPS measurement; parking walks are extra. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Gravel rail-corridor path, mapped about eight feet wide; use when firm and dry. River rail corridor with local slopes, loose gravel and bridge approaches. No surveyed maximum grade or assurance of smoothness after rain; wider hybrid tires are preferable.
Yield to walkers, slow for blind bends and stop at every street, driveway and parking crossing. Wet boardwalks, loose gravel, flooding, debris and ice can change suitability. Turn back rather than bypass a closure or enter motor traffic.
Hours, costs and access
City GIS lists the corridor open all year; daily gate hours are not established. Use daylight and obey current signs and closures. No specific trail fee established; public parking rules or charges may apply.
Reviewed November 6, 2026. Public path access and bicycle use are supported by the cited sources. No same-day condition clearance or universal e-bike class permission is claimed. Follow current signs and manager notices.
Map and Directions
The map is a published facility or corridor reference, not a surveyed parking entrance. Directions use the named public street destination above. The parking entrance and individual stalls have not been independently checked.