HomeMontanaMissoula › Rattlesnake Trailhead

Rattlesnake Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 304 Google reviews · Running trail in Missoula, Montana · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Distance
6 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Rattlesnake Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Natural surface6 miOpen 24hScenicTrailhead parking

What runners say about Rattlesnake Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (304 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“Main trail is well maintained, lots of single track offshoots that looked fun.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Not a hard hike and good for all ages, my family and I loved this trail and the scenery was gorgeous.”

I really enjoyed this trail and all the raw nature that is experienced on it. After the 1st 3rd of a mile, stay right and hike side by side with the creek. This is where the best hiking is, not the larger semi paved path which is best for bikes.

★★★★★ — Christian , Aug 2022

Absolutely amazing trail. Not a hard hike and good for all ages, my family and I loved this trail and the scenery was gorgeous.

★★★★★ — Corban , Oct 2023

Awesome hiking experience, I cant wait to snowshoe and ski here come the big snow. Lots of biking, hiking, bushwacking, and pathfinding available. Great for every recreational activity you can dream of, except camping, I dont think you can do that here, maybe the other trail?

★★★★★ — Troy , Oct 2021

Beautiful area! There are tons of different trails of all difficulties. Main trail was nice and wide, with a gradual easy slope for casual hikers. There are many other trails to offer a bit of a challenge. I'm from out of town, recommend going earlier in the morning if you want to avoid crowds.

★★★★★ — Katie , Jun 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 304 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 7 mentions

“Not a hard hike and good for all ages, my family and I loved this trail and the scenery was gorgeous.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“Fun area, easy to get here, loads of parking; which is good once snow season comes, you need all the parking you can get.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

“Main trail is well maintained, lots of single track offshoots that looked fun.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+)

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Plan your run at Rattlesnake Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • Distance6 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitefs.usda.gov
  • Phone(406) 329-3750
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Rattlesnake Trailhead

Parking lot, Missoula, MT 59802

Get directions

Running trails near Missoula

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Woods Gulch trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 22 reviews

Missoula, MT

Shaded

under a mile away

Duncan Drive Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 45 reviews

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8.5 miNatural surfaceScenic

1.2 miles away

Lincolnwood Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 41 reviews

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ShadedScenicDog-friendly

1.3 miles away

Sunlight Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 18 reviews

Missoula, MT

ScenicDog-friendly

1.7 miles away

North Loop Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 52 reviews

Missoula, MT

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

1.9 miles away

Marshall Mountain

4.6 ★★★★★ 20 reviews

Missoula, MT

Dog-friendly

2.6 miles away

All running trails in Missoula, MT →

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.