10 Best Day Trips in Western Montana to Take With Your Dog!
Our home state of Montana is a beautiful one.
With plenty of places to explore however, not all of these spots are dog-friendly (and some less dog friendly than others!) Within a day’s drive of Missoula, there are countless options to hike and recreate with your pup. We’ve done a little digging and curated a list just for you. We have a good feeling you’ll be adding these to your bucket list!
Photo source: Jeff Hitchcock, https://www.flickr.com/photos/91281489@N00/19063668631
1. McDonald Creek Bike Path, Glacier National Park, MT
Glacier National Park is the Crown Jewel of the United States’ park system, and with more than 2.3 million visitors annually, who wouldn’t want to visit. Accessing the park with a dog however, can limit your options to explore, as the park has adopted the following official pet policy:
“Pets are not allowed on any park trails. Pets are only allowed in drive-in campgrounds, along park roads open to motor vehicles, and in picnic areas. Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet and under physical restraint or caged. They may not be left unattended for any length of time.”
The only pet-friendly trail in the park is the McDonald Creek Bike Path, which runs from Apgar Village to West Glacier. While this 2.5 mile trail includes opportunities to grab ice cream and hit the souvenir shop, it likely won’t satisfy those hoping to have some quality time away from the hordes of tourists in West Glacier.
Photo source: Dagmara Mach, http://dagmaramach.com/stanton-lake-the-great-bear-wilderness/
2. Stanton Lakes, Flathead National Forest, MT
This national forest offers more than 2,249 miles of trails to mountain peaks, serene lakes, and stunning vistas where the pup is more than welcome to attend. One of the prettiest (and slightly shorter!) hikes near Glacier is Stanton Lakes, which is a 3 mile round-trip hike in Essex. There are some steep inclines for short bouts that make this a moderate hike, but it will ensure your pup is well-exercised and will likely sleep like a baby at night. This hike is best done June through October.
Photo source: The Outbound, https://www.theoutbound.com/montana/hiking/hike-to-summit-of-mount-aeneas
3. Mount Aeneas, Flathead National Forest, MT
About 30 miles to the south in the bustling villa of Bigfork you can enjoy Mount Aeneas’ dog friendly hike. This hike puts in at Camp Misery, which is accessible in the summer, with a good-high clearance vehicle. In the winter, folks can also drive as far as they can up the snow-covered road and snowshoe or ski the trail. The trial has a substantial elevation gain that takes you to the top of the Flathead Valley with stunning views into the Bob Marshall and Swan Valleys.
The heavenly views are coupled with the good chance of a mountain goat sighting! If your dog is a goat chaser, maybe keep him or her off this trail. The Flathead Forest website has a list of its hikes with notes about accessibility for dozens of trails.
Photo source: Pixabay, https://pixabay.com/
4. Flathead Lake, Flathead National Forest, MT
The largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi is a stunning sight. The beautiful crystal blue waters are the source of much internet click bait, but the beauty is real. There are seven Montana State Parks located in and around the lake, and the following ones allow dogs, on a leash: Big Arm, West Shore, Finley Point, and Wayfarers.
In Polson, you can peruse town with your pup, hit the local cheese factory, and the charming shops, and take the pup down to Travis Dolphin Dog Park for some off-leash fun. As you travel the east shore of the lake up Highway 35, beautiful vineyards and orchards offer tons of opportunities in late August to snag some Flathead cherries, peaches or other goods. In the fall the changing leaves make the drive a gorgeous experience, while springtime cherry blossoms coat the landscape in a lovely pink shade.
Stop in at the Raven in Woods Bay during the summer. Pups are allowed in the patio dining area and the bar is the place to be in the summer for live music, good brews and great food. If you are really adventurous, you and your pooch can make the Polar Plunge. More than 200 folks jump in the freezing waters of Flathead every year there on New Year’s.
Jacob’s Island Bark Park
Photo source: DogGoes, http://www.doggoes.com/parks/montana/jacobs-island-dog-park
5. Missoula County, MT
If you are looking for an off-leash experience in the wild near Missoula, there are several options in the area: Jacob’s Island Bark Park, Fort Missoula Canine Campus, Blue Mountain Recreation Area, and Pattee Canyon Recreation Area all offer picnicking, hiking, and recreating opportunities that can be experienced with a dog off-leash.
Photo source: Motorhome.com, http://www.motorhome.com/motorhome-travel/spelunking-in-southwest-montana/
6. Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Jefferson County, MT
A lot of people who stop in at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park with animals think that they can’t experience the underground beauty if they have a pet in tow -- they are wrong! Patrons can leave their dogs in open-air, shaded, free kennels for the entirety of their two-hour tour. Service animals are also permitted in the state’s most spectacular show cavern, but sometimes it’s still not the best idea: dogs sometimes get freaked out by dark small spaces!
Photo source: OnlyInYourState.com, http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/montana/awesome-corn-mazes-mt/
7. Applestem Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch - Vaughn, MT
From September to the end of October every year a field in Vaughn, Montana is home to an autumn-wonderland that opens its arms to on-leash dogs.
The Applestem Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is open September 23 to October 29, and includes a 20-acre corn maze open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. The cost of the maze is $9 for anybody over the age of nine. If the winding puzzle isn’t enough for you, there is also a pumpking patch on site where you can pose with the pup and family or purchase a pumpkin. The maze is also haunted later in the season for a Halloween experience. The patch is a 2.5 hour drive from Missoula, so plan for a full-day experience.
Photo source: Pixabay, https://pixabay.com/
8. Garnet Road and Lubrecht Ski Trails - Greenough, MT
Most cross-country ski trails ask that you leave your pup at home, but there are a few areas near Missoula where you can take your furry pal along. Garnet Road and Lubrecht Ski Trails near Greenough in the Swan Valley, Crazy Canyon Trailhead in Pattee Canyon, and Blue Mountain Trailhead in the Blue Mountain Recreation Area are all good options.
Photo source: Big Dipper Ice Cream, www.bigdippericecream.com
9. The Big Dipper + The M Trail at UMT - Missoula, MT
Don’t want to go far, but want to wallow in some sweet deliciousness with your pup? Big Dipper Ice Cream right off the University of Montana campus offers a special doggie-cone that is delicious. Need to burn it off? Visit the opposite end of campus and hike the iconic M trail for a stunning view of Missoula.
Photo source: Tamarack Brewing, https://www.instagram.com/tamarackbrewing/
10. Tamarack Brewing - Missoula, MT
Want to unwind after a long day or just spend a Saturday lounging around? You can take your pup to Tamarack Brewing on Front Street in Missoula, where you and Fido can drink and hang on the lower patio while sipping some local-made brews. If drinking isn’t your thing, the Notorious P.I.G. has been voted as the best BBQ in Missoula multiple times, and they allow pups on the patio!
There you have it - our top 10 favorite places in Missoula and the surrounding areas! Did you make it through our list without adding just one? If so, we’re impressed. Drop us a line below and tell us which spots in the area are you favorite!