Montana / Missoula County / Missoula

Pattee Canyon Picnic Area

Closed — Open year-round for day use from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. From November 1 to June 14, vehicle access is closed and the area is walk-in only; group sites are first-come, first-served during this period. From June 15 to October 31, the gates are open for vehicle access and group sites require reservations.

About

Set in a wooded canyon east of Missoula at 4,100 feet elevation, Pattee Canyon Picnic Area provides a convenient escape for locals and visitors within the larger 3,200-acre Pattee Canyon Recreation Area. The picnic area sits beneath large ponderosa pine trees and offers 14 individual picnic sites available for free, along with three group picnic sites that can be reserved from mid-June through October. Paved loop roads make the area accessible, and amenities include picnic tables, fire rings, grills, garbage receptacles, and accessible toilets, though no potable water is available. The recreation area serves as a hub for year-round outdoor activities with 27 miles of non-motorized system trails connecting to the University of Montana and Clark Fork River areas. Popular activities include day hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, and cross-country skiing on groomed Nordic trails maintained by Missoula's Nordic Ski Club during winter months. Multiple trailheads provide access throughout the area including the main Pattee Canyon Trailhead, Crazy Canyon Trailhead, and trails from the picnic area itself. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leashes less than 6 feet. This is strictly a day-use area with no overnight camping permitted.

Directions

From I-90 in Missoula, take the Orange Street exit #104 and travel south. Turn left onto West Front Street and go 0.2 miles to South Higgins Avenue, then turn right. Continue on South Higgins Avenue for about 2.7 miles to Pattee Canyon Road, then turn left. Travel 4 miles east up the canyon and look for the Pattee Canyon Picnic Area sign and entrance.

Nearby Campgrounds