The iconic “M” on Mount Sentinel that overlooks Missoula Valley and the University of Montana’s campus is hard to miss. In fact, the infamous “M” has become a symbol of Missoula and one of the most photographed and sought-after landmarks in town. With stunning views from the top and access to the larger Mount Sentinel trail system, the M trail is one of the most frequented trails in Missoula. While the M itself is super recognizable, the history and legacy of the M are a less known, though equally inspiring, tale of resilience and pride. Learn all about how the M came to be and discover why Mount Sentinel’s “M” is one of Missoula’s most beloved landmarks.
Workers on the M Trail in 1957
Today the M proudly sits on the face of Mount Sentinel overlooking the University of Montana campus, but when UM was founded in 1893, the M was not an original feature of campus life. It wasn’t until 1908 when a group of forestry students from the university decided to create a landmark that the M came to be. The original M was created using whitewashed rocks that were meticulously hauled by students and placed in formation. The M stands for–you guessed it–Montana, showcasing the pride the students felt in the flagship university of the state. However, due to visibility of the whitewashed rock, that fades in the harsh summer sun and wet winter conditions, paired with the movement of the stones in harsh weather events, the original rocks were replaced by a wooden structure in 1912. This structure could be more easily maintained and painted. After decades of trial and error, with weather events blowing away structures and erosion concerns playing a factor, in 1968 a concrete M was constructed, and this structure still sits proudly on the side of Mount Sentinel today.
According to the University of Montana, over 1,000 people make the trip daily to the iconic M, and it isn’t hard to see the appeal. The trail itself is short, steep, and sweet– hikers will traverse 620 vertical feet of elevation gain over 0.75 miles and 11 stitchbacks. Hikers benefit from nearly immediate views of Missoula Valley, with the panoramic landscape growing more stunning with each vertical foot gained. Situated at 4,475 feet in elevation, the M itself is larger than life–literally! On a clear day, the M can be viewed upwards of 7 miles away, but up close the M is a staggering 125 feet long and 100 feet tall. Hikers of all ages and abilities take to the M trail every day and are rewarded with gorgeous views of the university, the town, and the surrounding mountains. For some, the M is their final destination, though the peak of Mount Sentinel includes another 0.75 miles and 680 vertical feet of hiking, with its peak sitting at 5,158 vertical feet. The M is a gateway to a larger network of trails across Mount Sentinel and the surrounding open space. From the M, you can connect to miles of trail, including:
Summit Trail (Mount Sentinel Trail) – continues past the M to the summit
Crazy Canyon Trail – connects to the summit from the east side
Smokejumper Visitor Center Trail – for longer loops
Hellgate Ridgeline Trails – for panoramic ridge hikes
While the M was originally constructed as a symbol of pride for the University of Montana, the M has taken on a meaning larger than that over the course of its tenure. Now, the M represents not only school pride for UM, but it has come to represent the spirit of Missoula—a blend of academic tradition, outdoor adventure, and community identity. The heavy trail usage does not come without its ecological consequences: the trail to access the M is very steep, and due to the nature of the trail and the frequency of use, the trail sees consistent issues related to erosion and off-trail usage. Hikers are encouraged to stay on established trails, which are maintained by the University of Montana, and to heed all signage so that generations to come can enjoy the beauty and wonder of this Missoula icon.
