Last checked October 2026. Hours and conditions change; links go to the people who run each place.
Blue Mountain rises just southwest of Missoula, and its recreation area packs hiking, horse trails, motorcycle and ATV trails, a nature trail and a working fire lookout into one place a few minutes past the edge of town. The Lolo National Forest splits the mountain into zones so those uses can share it. Here is how it fits together and what is open in fall 2026.
Who runs it and how big it is
The Blue Mountain Recreation Area is part of the Lolo National Forest, managed by the Missoula Ranger District. It covers about 4,900 acres with 41 miles of system trails, and the Forest Service lists it as open year-round. The Forest Service lists no fee for the area.
The area has two halves. On the Forest Service's Blue Mountain map, the East Area prohibits camping, campfires and discharging firearms, air rifles or gas guns. The West Area allows hunting, camping and campfires. The Blue Mountain brochure says rifle hunting, camping and campfires are allowed only in the west area, beginning 4.5 miles up the mountain, west of Road 365.
The East Area is day use only and closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Paintball and fireworks are prohibited.
Getting there
From Interstate 90, take the U.S. Highway 93 exit (Exit 101) and head south through Missoula. South of town, U.S. 93 reaches a signaled T intersection with Blue Mountain Road. Turn right and head west to the main trailhead, which has a large parking area near where the road makes a 90-degree turn, per the Forest Service.
There is no drinking water at the recreation area, so bring what you need.
The lookout road
Road 365 climbs the mountain to the Blue Mountain Lookout, 11 miles up. The Forest Service map lists Gate 1 at one mile, Gate 2 at 3.1 miles and Gate 3 at nine miles up Road 365, measured from Road 559.
The lookout is a working Forest Service fire lookout. During fire season it is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and three visitors at a time can climb the 50-foot tower for a personal tour, according to the brochure. The Forest Service does not post the lookout's fall schedule, so in October call the ranger district before you drive up expecting a tour.
Road 365 closes for the winter at the gate one mile up, and the brochure gives Dec. 1 as the closing date. Above that gate, the road becomes a snowmobile route in winter. Snowmobiling is prohibited below the lower gate.
Trails for hikers
The Blue Mountain National Recreation Trail, No. 3.01, runs 9.1 miles. The 7.8 miles of it north of Road 365 are closed to motorized vehicles and mountain bikes, which makes that stretch the quiet option for walkers and riders on horseback.
For a short outing, a quarter-mile nature trail sits 1.7 miles up Road 365.
Down on the river, Maclay Flat has parking, restrooms, trailside picnic tables, interpretive signs and two connected hiking loops of 1.25 and 1.75 miles along the Bitterroot River. The Forest Service describes the Maclay Flat Nature Trail as a good place to birdwatch or take a quiet walk.
Blue Mountain also has a disc golf course. The brochure calls it the 18-hole folf course, established in 1992.
Motorcycle, ATV and bike trails
A motorcycle trailhead sits 3.1 miles up Road 365 and opens onto 14.5 miles of motorcycle trails, 3.8 miles of which are open to ATVs, per the brochure. Riders need an OHV decal, available at the Missoula County Courthouse, and motorcycles and ATVs driven on public roads must be street-legal.
Mountain bikes, motorcycles and ATVs are prohibited north of Road 365 and off designated open trails. The Forest Service's free Motor Vehicle Use Map shows which roads and trails are open to which vehicles.
Horses
The lower Blue Mountain Trailhead has parking, horse unloading facilities and a restroom, according to the brochure. Equestrian parking is south of the main trailhead. Hay and mulch brought onto national forest land must be certified weed-free under a Northern Region order.
Dogs
Dogs must be leashed at Maclay Flat, and the brochure asks everyone to control their pets and pack out their dog's waste throughout the area. Elsewhere on the mountain, keep your dog close around horses and motorized trail users.
Seasons on Blue Mountain
The recreation area stays open all year, but it changes with the calendar:
- A food and wildlife attractant storage order runs April 1 to Dec. 1. Store food in a vehicle, hang it, or use a bear-resistant container when it is unattended or overnight.
- Road 365 closes at the lower gate on Dec. 1 and becomes a snowmobile route above it.
- The Forest Service lists cross-country skiing and snowshoeing among Blue Mountain's winter activities.
- Hunting is allowed in the West Area during established seasons, so wear bright colors in the fall.
As of Oct. 10, the Lolo National Forest alerts page lists no closures for Blue Mountain. Questions go to the Missoula Ranger Station at 406-329-3814, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Quick answers
How far is the Blue Mountain Lookout?
The lookout is 11 miles up Road 365. It is staffed during fire season, when visitors can tour it from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., three at a time.
When does Blue Mountain Road close?
Road 365 closes at the gate one mile up on Dec. 1 for the winter, and the road above becomes a snowmobile route.
Are dogs allowed at Blue Mountain?
Yes. Dogs must be leashed at Maclay Flat, and owners need to control their dogs and pack out waste everywhere in the area.
Can you ride ATVs or dirt bikes at Blue Mountain?
Yes, on 14.5 miles of designated motorcycle trails, 3.8 miles of which are open to ATVs. Riders need an OHV decal from the Missoula County Courthouse.
Can you camp at Blue Mountain?
Only in the West Area, beginning 4.5 miles up the mountain west of Road 365. Camping and campfires are prohibited in the East Area.
For more places to go around town, see all of the Missoula Commons visitor guides.
