Petty Mountain

Petty Mountain is an uncrowded trail relatively close to Missoula, Montana. The road to the Petty Mountain Trailhead is a bumpy one. A passenger vehicle is acceptable, but make sure it has high ground clearance. There is no real parking lot, just a U-shaped bend in the road with a couple of signs, so be on the lookout when driving up the road. Cell service is spotty in this area, and there are no toilets.

The trail is well maintaned with a few steep sections and open fields. It does go up and down, so the elevation gain is deceiving. There are a lot of downed trees along the way, but they do not impact your ability to make it to the summit. The views start early and only get better the farther you go. You'll have unobstructed views of the Mission Mountains and Bitterroot Mountains. Once you get to the summit you'll have 360-degree views. There is a lot of wildlife in the area as well, so keep your eyes peeled.