University Mountain with an adjoining lower non-SOTA summit, Mount Sentinel overlooks the city of Missoula. Access is by three main routes, a road (closed to motor vehicles) or two trails. It is a communication site for several Agency repeaters and a popular summit in summer and winter for hikers, mountain bikers and cross-country skiers. The subordinate summit to the west is a launch site for hang gliders. Visitors can be expected on any of your SOTA activations here.
From upper Pattee Canyon Recreation Area. Road miles (open for administrative use only): 4.5
Trail miles: 2.5
Elevation gain: 1600’
Water: no water is available along the trail routes.
Permits: The summit is within Montana State Land and as with access to most Montana State Lands a required Montana Conservation Permit is advised. This license is available from sporting goods stores where hunting and fishing licenses are sold or at Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks or Department of Natural Resource offices.
Dominant views are of the Rattlesnake National Recreation and Wilderness Area, the Pattee Canyon Recreation area, the communities of Missoula, East Missoula, Milltown and Bonner and the Clark Fork and Big Blackfoot Rivers. Distance views are Frenchtown and the north end of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness.
