East of Missoula, the Whitaker Bridge Rail Trail is an easy stroll along the Blackfoot River. The well-packed gravel trail follows an old railroad grade, passing under ponderosa pines and cliffs cut by both the river and the railroad. After half a mile, a series of gravel bars and shallow bends in the river provide a great place to spend a lazy afternoon. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the sunshine and shallow water, or turn around and enjoy the return trip to the trailhead - there’s no wrong option in a place so pretty.
Photo by Kassia Randzio
