Sustainable travel does not mean having to sacrifice adventure and experiences, and a trip to Missoula, Montana, means getting the best of both worlds. In Missoula, green initiatives are part of the fabric of our community, so many of the choices that help protect our green spaces, waterways and support the local community also create rich and meaningful travel experiences for visitors. From touch down to takeoff, Missoula makes it easy to explore responsibly, support local and minimize your footprint while exploring and discovering all the reasons Montana is often referred to as the “Last Best Place.”
Sustainable travel does not mean having to sacrifice adventure and experiences, and a trip to Missoula, Montana, means getting the best of both worlds. In Missoula, green initiatives are part of the fabric of our community, so many of the choices that help protect our green spaces, waterways and support the local community also create rich and meaningful travel experiences for visitors. From touch down to takeoff, Missoula makes it easy to explore responsibly, support local and minimize your footprint while exploring and discovering all the reasons Montana is often referred to as the “Last Best Place.”
Once you arrive, Missoula is easy to explore without relying on a car—perfect for your carbon footprint and your travel budget. Visitors have the chance to take advantage of the city’s impressive network of transit, trails and bike-friendly routes. Missoula is an incredibly walkable (and bikeable) city, with many lodging options, restaurants, bars, breweries, museums, recreation opportunities and other attractions all in close proximity to the city center or off a commuter trail. In addition, Mountain Line, the zero-emissions and zero-fare bus line, provides transportation to many attractions, such as the Missoula Butterfly House, and Missoula neighborhoods not quickly accessible by foot from downtown. You can even plan your route with the Bus Attraction map, making exploration a breeze!
Where you stay matters, and downtown Missoula offers many great lodging options from boutique hotels to familiar chains to serve as your launching point for your Montana adventure. For those who desire a thoughtfully designed and sustainable option, The Wren in downtown Missoula is a great pick! Its central location is walkable, the cleaning products are sustainably sourced and they prioritize local coffee from Black Coffee Roasters and artwork from local artists.
Unlike many other mountain towns, you do not need a car to access popular trails and recreation opportunities. In fact, some of the most popular trails in Missoula can be accessed by foot from your downtown hotel lobby. Waterworks Hill, which sits just to the north of downtown, is a popular destination—it’s short but sweet incline provides gorgeous views of the famous M and L that adorn Missoula Mount Sentinel and Mount Jumbo, respectively. The Waterworks trail system can easily be accessed via a trailhead that is only .25 miles outside of downtown Missoula. Additionally, the famous M Trail, a steep but rewarding trail that traverses 13 switchbacks and 620 feet of elevation gain above the valley floor in less than half a mile, is a flat 1 mile walk through downtown Missoula and the University of Montana’s campus. Additionally, the River Front Trail system, including the Milwaukee, Kim Williams, and River Front trails, is all interconnected in downtown Missoula, making paved, accessible trail access a breeze.
For visitors looking to get further away from town and into the mountains without a rental car, Mountain Line provides bus service to Marshall Mountain, a publicly-owned park about 7 miles east of the city center. The Marshall Mountain Line runs daily through October with free access to Marshall Mountains hiking, biking and adaptive trails. The shuttle has room for your bikes, too and, like all Mountain Line services, is free.
Local food is a way of life in Missoula. You won’t have to look hard or long for menus that feature (and often boast) the use of locally sourced ingredients on menus ranging from fine dining to food trucks around town. Additionally, most Missoula institutions prioritize the use of compostable single-use products, and many coffee shops will allow visitors to provide their own clean travel mugs. Several restaurants in town have taken the Zero-Waste Pledge, helping reduce waste while serving up local flavors, including Basal, Green Source, Black Coffee Roasting, Sweet Peaks and Clyde Coffee. When in Missoula, don’t overlook the food trucks, either! Mountain Berry Bowls is a great example of a mobile kitchen that prioritizes local ingredients and minimizes waste. Good food tastes even better when it supports the community and reduces waste.
Recreating on the Clark Fork River is one the most beloved summertime Missoula traditions. The Clark Fork runs through town, and is home to opportunities for fishing, floating, boating, SUPing, and even river kayaking and river surfing on the manmade Brennan’s Wave in the heart of downtown. Many local outfitters allow for gear rentals and guided fishing opportunities, too, meaning you do not need a car to access the put-in points required for down-river travel. In July and August, the University of Montana’s bus service, UDASH, along with support from Mountain Line, provides the free UDASH River Service from UM’s campus just outside of downtown Missoula to two popular put-in spots up river, Sha-Ron and Milltown State Park. Additionally, the Clark Fork Yacht Club is a private service that provides not only transportation but also complementary bag and key storage and flamingo floats for customers to float free of worries (and in style). The rivers in and around Missoula are protected and sacred areas that provide homes for many species of fish, migratory birds and mammals, and we consider Missoulians and visitors as stewards of these spaces—please remember to pack out what you brought in and follow Leave No Trace principles on the water.
While in Missoula, celebrate like a local at one of the many festivals or events that prioritize green initiatives and showcase the vibrant culture of our town. The Farmers Markets are a great place to explore and familiarize yourself with Missoula’s passion for local food and the farm-to-table movement. Every Saturday from May to October, downtown Missoula plays home to two farmers markets selling everything from produce and eggs to prepared products like jams, hot sauces and honey. Food trucks, live music and local artisan vendors make it a perfect way to enjoy the best of Missoula.
The Western Montana Fair and River City Roots are both annual events who have partnered with Home ReSource and the Zero Waste Initiative and prioritize sustainable initiatives like recycling and compost, refillable water stations and carbon offsets for emissions associated with performers and other festival needs. In addition, both prioritize alternate transportation like bussing and biking and encourage visitors to bring their own reusable water bottles or cups.
Photo Courtsey of the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance
Missoula is a special place worth caring for and protecting, and visitors are often inspired by the locals’ passions to take care of this place and find themselves wanting to contribute during their stay. Whether you are planning your trip around a volunteer project or find yourself in town when the opportunity arises, there are always ways to give back while you visit. Check out the events calendar for a list of volunteer opportunities as they arise.
Missoula’s vibrant community is in large part thanks to the artist, makers and creators who call this place home, and the shops and storefronts in downtown Missoula make it easy for visitors to connect with local makers and find goods and souvenirs that are custom and locally made. Noteworthy Paper & Press, located on Missoula’s Hip Strip, sells handpressed and locally designed cards, stationary, stickers and so much more. The Missoula Makers Collective showcases products from more than 100 local makers and artisans, making it a one-stop shop for handmade Missoula goods. The Artists’ Shop is a co-op with pieces from many Montana artists, including ceramics, jewelry, paintings, leather goods and more. The Saturday Missoula Maker’s Market is a great place to browse, alongside the farmers markets, for handcrafted one-of-a-kind items from local makers and creators. Youer, a local boutique, focuses on single-batch, quality clothing and is dedicated to long-lasting that are responsibly sourced and created. And this is just a short list! Nearly every storefront in downtown Missoula will feature items that are locally made and locally loved. When you shop locally, every purchase tells a story—and the best stories are local.
With so many ways to make intentional choices that help support local businesses, protect natural resources, and strengthen the community, Missoula makes sustainable travel not only possible, but easy. Whether you are ditching the rental and relying on the bus line and walking trails, recreating without a carbon footprint, eating local flavors, giving back to the community or supporting local shops and makers, visitors have the opportunity to create memorable experiences that leave this place better than they found it.
