You feel like youre so far away from town and out in the middle of it. Really though youre pretty close and its easily accessible.

Beautiful walk, however the river is high and there are several areas inundated with water. Makeshift paths are around to help you navigate the entire trail. Otherwise, the short loop from the parking lot is always an option.

Pretty nice area to walk in. Many people go in the early afternoon, so if youre like me and enjoy more seclusion and serenity on your walks/hikes, Id visit around 1800 or later, but most likely before sundown.

Fantastic flat easy trails. The perfect put in for a float down the bitterroot. The parking fills up fast so plan on arriving around noon.

Beautiful place to get your feet wet and bring a pet. The water is very close to the where you park so no need to do major hiking before enjoying the water

Beautiful place to take a walk and get some fresh air! Flat, established trails make it easy to follow and allow you to take in the scenery and wildlife. Great spot for bird watching and has a great view of the Bitterroot River.

Nice little walk and a great place to put the paddle board in the river. Just make sure you have bug spray.

It really is flat. Lots of mosquitoes, come prepared for that. Nice walk for all ages and abilities.

Very comfortable walk in beautiful western Montana!

Great place for an easy walkabout. Great views of the Clarkfork and surrounding area. However if youre visiting in the spring and early summer months watch out for mosquitoes as they run rampit along most the trail.

Nice easy flat hike for rest days. A couple of good spots to dip in the river too. Only bummer is dogs have to be on leash.

Wonderful place to walk, beautiful views, and benches to contemplate life. It was flooded in areas, but there was a beaten path around the water. I had to turn around while walking the longer loop as it was impassable about halfway around, but still great views and birds, so well worth the trek.

Great place for everyone, solo or family style! It offers plenty of shade on a hot summer stroll.

Great little hike on a summer day, bring a swim suit, the river is nice too. Bug spray is a must!

We floated this river in mid August. It was a lovely lazy float. We were visiting with our 5 year old. It was a first time float for her and it was perfect. This was a warm, slightly breezy, clear river that I want to visit again and again. We may have caught it on a good day but I couldnt have asked for anything better.

Childfriendly walk for parents with young children, dogs allowed. #awaytodayblog

Minimal Bugs! Its a rare statement when visiting this excellent recreation spot. In the past Ive come away with 60 plus mosquito bites. This place is a blast, whether youre visiting the Bitterroot River or the Blue Mtn folf course. Parking could always be improved.

So lovely place to walking

Wonderful place to hang out, kayak, tube, collect rocks, swim, etc........

Though 2019 is not over, it was another good year for finding wildlife at Maclay Flat here in Missoula, Montana. Maclay Flat (U.S. Forest Service property) is one of the best all-around wildlife watching places for birds, butterflies, dragonflies, lichen, mushrooms and wildflowers in western Montana. Of course, success in finding each of the plant and animal groups is dependent on time-of-year and time-of-day you visit. The longest distance loop trail is 1.8 miles of gravel, soil over level terrain. It passes through conifer forest, grassland and wetland habitat. It is open year round and is day use only. The most difficult time of year to traverse the trail is early spring due to compacted snow/ice and occasional flooding by the Bitterroot River. Even then it is still used extensively by the public just like the rest of the year. Your wildlife watching for the most part will not be negatively affected by the traffic. I find it fun to share sightings with passersby...nothing like pointing out a nectaring two-tailed swallowtail butterfly (one of the largest butterfly species in North America). Or if you are a birder, 180 species have been recorded here. The holy grail of birds - great gray owl, can usually be found here in winter. Winter is also a good time for lichen viewing as the colors and forms stand out boldly in the sometimes white/mostly brown landscape. A single pine branch can have six lichen species on it! Also look down for not only other lichen species, but mushrooms in spring and late summer/fall. These fungi come in a variety of shapes and colors replacing not-in-bloom wildflowers’ role of beautification. Some of my favorite wildflowers here include: sulfur buckwheat, cutleaf daisy and hairy goldenaster. And yes, mosquitos can be pesky at times because of the available wetland habitat that is conducive for them. But, excellent dragonfly diversity (dominated by eight species of meadowhawk and four spreadwing species) and number assists in keeping them in check. This site is compact making it is easy to cover the diversity of habitat on any visit. As such, chances are very good for finding an interesting plant or animal especially for a one-time visitor or even a veteran user. Enjoy your wildlife adventure here.

Wonderful walk, perfect for dogs.

Nice, though it seems to get pretty busy with people, harder to clear head solo if youre into that sort of thing. Overall great though.

I absolutely love this beautiful loop hike, stay on the path and you will come out but avoid in the evening the mosquitos are horrible like bad bad

I walked the 2 mile path on a rainy day. It was so beautiful and peaceful

One of my favorite walks in the Missoula area. Please note: dogs are required to be leashed on this walk and officers check it very often.

This is a beautiful place. Take some time and enjoy it.

Great place for an easy fun walk with a 14 year old dog and my son... Loved that we could check out the river, skip rocks, get some exercise, read about the area habitat as we were walking....

Really nice bike path, easy, and nice waterfront walking access. Good parking and spots for resting. Benches along the river. You can swim around and fish there I suppose. Love this spot!

Nice for hiking/biking.

Its a really easy trail but lots of mosquitos.

Beautiful!! Saw a young bull moose!!

Nice spot to swim and fish

There is a small trail along the river. Very pretty. There is a loop trail that is easy to follow and loops you around back to the parking lot

Nice, flat nature trail along the river! Come prepared for mosquitoes. There is river access if you want to take a swim or let your dog jump in the water. Lots of birds around the area too!

Gorgeous, plenty of room to not be crowded and let your dogs snorfle around, waters clear, always a perfectly framed sunset... yes please

This is a great place for an easy hike. Its very flat so its really easy for small kids to handle.

So beautiful with snow and sections of frozen river.

Excellent level walking trail

Its a lovely stroll.

Beautiful trails and a safe place to hang out . Great place to bring your out of town guests!

Great spots to walk the dogs and for them to get wet in the Bitterroot. And, good birding spot - saw 33 species this morning.

Beautiful and serene place. ️

Nice beach! Plenty of parking. Good put in or pull out.

Awesome time.

Peaceful trail along the river & close to town. Not overcrowded.

Good trail for running/walking with interpretive signs. Its a short walk to a nice sandy beach for swimming or putting in for a float. Also a great meadow for finding bugs and birdwatching. Just watch out for the mosquitoes, bug spray is a MUST. Trail to the river may be flooded in spring/early summer. Has pit toilets/outhouses.

Its a beautiful place for an easy walk.

Pure ice today, but beautiful.

Beautiful forest and river

Easy walk, but we had a hard time to pass some points which was cover with water

Easy access to the river and great place to walk with the family.

Nice quiet spot that lets you have a short run or easy walk. Your pets can have some bonding time, with an opportunity to see local wild life

Amazing place to take a walk, go swimming or just up the hill go folfing

Nice and easy walk with 2 dogs. Lots of dogs on trail. Saw hawks, and lots of birds.

Nice easy hike or walk with lots of plants and wildlife to view! Gets crowded in the summer so parking can be a problem

Places that Are from our childhood!I feel more at home here than at my present home...lol. Pack it in Paci it OUT please!

Just gorgeous! 5 mins, from my home

Nice and relaxing trail, I was able to go for a long walk in the Forrest without feeling like Im on a hike.

Had to go there for a school trip we wrote poetry by the river and had lunch.

Water was great. Beach was Rocky

Beautiful level trail. Summertime gets rough with mosquitoes and spring we have had flooding during the spring but overall in missoula one of my FAVORITE trails. Perfect for strollers.

Great take out for floating!

Fun place too visit blackfoot river. Too COOL OFF ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.

Great adventure

Good place, secluded. Not so much traffic considering how close to town it is...

Great nature walk, but mosquito Haven in the spring so beware!

Great place for a walk to the river

Beautiful area, well travelled and maintained. Great place to take a walk or hike.

Gorgeous walk just outside of town. Take the little ones or the puppies out for a leg stretch and gorgeous views of the river.

Dont forget the damn bug spray

Gorgeous!

I love this place so much, that as I was driving home from work early one morning, I saw trash in the parking lot, so I pulled in, put on my gloves and cleaned the whole lot. My park. Our Park.

Really nice hiking trails and a great place to get to the river!!

Easy walking spot good for kids, inexperienced hikers or just a quick outing.

Great hike for kids. Beautiful scenery.

Wonderful trail for anyone. Easy and calming hike

Very nice walk as long as its not to busy

Very very nice

This place is an awesome way to spend an afternoon or a day on the river, or just swimming, fishing, having a picnic, etc. Its convenient to say the least, the parking is more than ample, the river is crystal clear...whats not to like?

Nice easy little hike, great for those who have little kids.

Love. Quiet, full of nature. If you are quiet you may see a moose.

Great place to take the kids to the beach, or to pick-up or put-in for tubing, not the greatest for larger boats due to long walk to beach area, (1/5 mile)great place to take dogs

Id recommend bringing some mosquito spray with you!

Nice flat dirt loop great for running. River access as well

Great outdoor walk by the river. Just long enough

Beautiful just buggy during the summer

Beautiful and easy walk around this educational nature trail.

Absolutely beautiful

Very pretty beautiful walk.

Nice quiet trail. Close to the creek.

Nice flat foresty pave to walk

Good

Trails well keep, bathroom clean

One of our favorite walks... we have even seen a Mama Moose with her baby.

Gorgeous

Walk with river access

Noice

Nice place for a quiet walk

Peaceful and clean.

Always beautiful and peaceful