Missoula Marathon
The Lowdown
A boutique, scenic marathon that starts before dawn outside Missoula and ends in the heart of the city. It’s a point-to-point course beginning in the rural community of Frenchtown and following country roads along the Clark Fork River valley, finishing in downtown Missoula at the historic Hell Gate Bridge. The first half of the course treats runners to open Big Sky country – rolling wheat fields with mountain backdrops – while the second half enters town along tree-lined roads and riverfront bike paths. The route is flat and fast (USATF certified and Boston-qualifying). There is one notable hill around the halfway point (often called “the Johnson Bell hill”), but what goes up must come down – the elevation you gain, you promptly lose on the other side. Overall elevation gain is modest (~150 feet). Missoula’s course showcases the area’s natural beauty and has a friendly downtown finish in Caras Park.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
This race qualifies for the Boston Marathon
Race Weekend
Other distances available
Notable Landmarks
Caras Park
Start and finish area on the Clark Fork River in downtown Missoula, a central gathering spot for racers and spectators
Clark Fork River Trail
Scenic riverfront trail runners follow for several miles with views of the water and surrounding mountains
University of Montana (The Oval)
Iconic tree-lined green on the UM campus that the course passes near, offering collegiate scenery
Higgins Avenue and Downtown Missoula
Historic main street lined with shops and the Wilma Theatre, giving downtown atmosphere during the race
Fort Missoula Historic District
Historic military post and park area featured along the western portion of the course
Rattlesnake Creek/Trailhead Area
Natural, wooded segment near the Rattlesnake neighborhood providing quieter, scenic running terrain
Missoula, MT, United States
US
Based on nearby accommodations
- NA
- Photo ID
- Online registration
Cancellation & Refunds
Policy details
Entry fees are non-refundable and non-deferrable. Participants can make their registration refundable by adding REGSHIELD at checkout.
Historical averages suggest ideal conditions for marathon running.
The course has a significant hill just past the halfway point.
The air is dry and the course sits at ~3,200 feet (975 m) elevation -- not high enough to cause major altitude issues for most, but if you're coming from sea level you might notice the thinness of the air a bit.
Missoula is a smaller city, so arrange travel and lodging early -- the airport is modest, and hotels can fill up with runners (many of whom return year after year).
Run Wild Missoula offers a 17-week training class tailored for the Missoula Marathon and Half Marathon, starting on March 2, 2025.
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.