Thirty five years ago next Monday, we were married at one of the group sites at the picnic area at the top of Patte Canyon. We often skied the trails In winter or hiked in summer. Fast forward to Winter 2012, we skied several times in the picnic ground trails. Super for families, those who want a quick ride from town and late afternoon skiing, beginners, and those training for racing. We had a super time skiing after 30 years. It was a great place to enjoy the out-of-doors. Fast forward again to May. Back in Missoula again, this time to hike and bike. Again, we found the same joy whether at the picnic area or on some of the other trails or just biking up from town on the road.
A lovely place for a picnic, hike or frisbee golf. Only minutes from town.
Perfect walk with the dogs on Sunday afternoon. Crazy Canyon trail goes all the way to the top of Mount Sentinel. It's a little steep right before the summit. One beautiful day, my dogs and I climbed all the way to the Summit and the hang gliders were taking off over the Valley.
Close to town. A variety of good biking and ski trails. You can bike all the way back to town on the face of Mt. Sentinel if you come down the Crooked Canyon trail.
My daughter just moved to Pattee Canyon. It is a beautiful drive through the canyon with deer everywhere. The roads are gravel so you have to be careful but the the view is beautiful. She absolutely loves it. She just moved from Alaska so she says this is a little bit like Alaska. I have to agree.
The Crazy Canyon walk is great, 10 mins from town, quiet, peaceful, uphill, great to walk the dog, no people, walk, bike, wander, picnic
Pattee Canyon is home to several places to hike, bike, folf, walk, snowshoe and cross-country ski depending on the weather. Just ten minutes from downtown Missoula you can drive or ride you bike up to the recreational areas. Most of the time we see no other bikers or hikers on the trail. Walk up the back side of Mt. Sentinel for views of the entire Missoula Valley.
Hey if your into river rafting you must go to Pattee Canyon and run it. Level 3 and 4 rapids that will knock you out of the raft and get you swimming! I loved it and recommend it to any rafting enthusiast... -David
If you looking for fun without a ton of climbing this trail network is just super fun. Route finding is a little tough at first, but if you ride it again you'll know exactly where to go.
So many different trailheads and choices of trails from easy, intermediate, and hard climbs. If anything, I wish the signage was better but the experience among the ponderosa pines and the views are SO worth the time there.