Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness. Travel north four miles on Van Buren Street and Rattlesnake Drive to the sign for the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area. Go one-half mile farther to Sawmill Gulch Road. Drive one-quarter mile west on the paved road to the trailhead.

Blue Mountain Recreation Area. Two miles southwest of Missoula on U.S. Highway 93 South; turn right on Blue Mountain Road. Follow the road to the parking lot at the end of the pavement. You’ll find expansive meadows and great views of the Missoula Valley, including a self-guided nature trail. Travel and shooting restrictions exist. Contact MAVIS, 329-3814, for information. There are trails available for hikers, bicycles, horses, motorcycles, ATVs and four-wheel drives. There is an interpretive trail at Maclay Flat for hikers, runners, and people with disabilities, along with access to the Bitterroot River for floaters. Maclay Flat is closed to horses, bicycles and motorized vehicles, but is open to skiers in winter.

Pattee Canyon Recreation Area. Follow Pattee Canyon Road for four miles from Missoula to the end of the pavement parking area. Hike, ski or bike on the loop ski trails on either side of the road. There are many old logging roads to explore in the area. No vehicles and no shooting allowed. People can hike up Crazy Canyon (motorized road use is restricted year-round except for hang- glider aficionados who use this route to get to the top of Mount Sentinel).

Ninemile Ranger District. Reservation Divide trails, wildlife, photo opportunities, a self-guided tour, an accessible nature trail and more await you in and near the Ninemile Ranger Station. Tour the historic Ninemile Remount Depot and Ranger Station or visit Grand Menard, Kreis Pond, Squaw Peak or Petty Creek for hiking and other recreation. Call the Ninemile Ranger Station for more information, 626-5201.