Missoula Marathon | Destination Missoula

You lace up your running shoes and pin on your number. You've trained hard. You're ready. The cannon booms. You're off, running the Missoula half or full marathon. The sun has yet to come up over the hills, and the chill in the air is surprising — you tell yourself to hang onto its memory as the day unfurls before you, mile by mile. You've run a lot of races but none like this. Mountains stand sentry and the river courses alongside you. Cottonwoods sway in the wind, their leaves erupting in a low chorus as you pass by. And then it hits you: You're participating in what Runner's World magazine cited as the number 1 bucket list marathon in the world. And you smile and know without question you?ll cross the finish line.

The Missoula Marathon is the brainchild of a group of local, dedicated runners who want to share the area's beauty and Missoula's unique feel with runners from all over. In addition to the traditional 26.2-mile marathon, we offer a half-marathon, a kid's marathon, and a 5k.

You won't be disappointed in the course or the surroundings. We live and run in a city of about 67,001 nestled in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana. At 3,200 feet above sea level, our summers are generally warm and sunny and our evenings are cool. Missoula, known as the Garden City, is at the confluence of five valleys and is surrounded by the Rattlesnake Wilderness and the Bitterroot and Lolo National Forests. The Clark Fork River flows through downtown and lively trout wait to test the next angler's line in the nearby Bitterroot and Blackfoot rivers. Rock Creek, an internationally known trout stream, is only minutes away from downtown.

The University of Montana lends the town its progressive vibe and its 13,600 students give Missoula a youthful pulse year-round. The city is home to more than 100 restaurants; here you can find something to satisfy every palate. Historic downtown provides a unique shopping experience and wealth of watering holes to quench your thirst after crossing the finish line. Missoula is also a launching point to some of the country's most breathtaking wild lands, including Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Flathead Lake and more.