A local favorite, the short scramble up Mount Sentinel takes you, courtesy of 13 switchbacks, 620 feet above the valley floor in less than half a mile, giving you a bird's-eye view of the entire Missoula valley and surrounding mountains. Originally constructed in 1908 out of whitewashed rocks and later concreted in place, the M is a landmark worth the trek.
Access to the trailhead starts at the parking lot across from Aber Hall on Campus Drive at the University of Montana. It is 3/4 mile to the "M" and 1 3/4 miles to the very top of Mount Sentinel.
