South HIlls Spur

Barmeyer Loop Trail and South Hills Spur Open Space

Trail Map (PDF)

Mount Dean Stone Project Area (PDF)

Missoulian, 6/24/18: Missoula's new Barmeyer Trail is a taste of more to come

Five Valleys Land Trust and the City of Missoula, in partnership with REI and MTB Missoula, have developed the new 3-mile Barmeyer Loop Trail, located on the foothills of Mount Dean Stone, within the City's South Hills Spur Open Space. The new trail loops through Pattee Canyon's ponderosa pine and western larch forest on land donated to the City by the Barmeyer family in 2016 and protected using open space bond funds. The trailhead is adjacent to 1355 Pattee Canyon Road.

The Barmeyer Trail and the South Hills Spur Open Space are part of the larger Mount Dean Stone Project—a multi-phased community initiative to create new protected open space and public recreation opportunities on more than 4,200 acres above Missoula's southside neighborhoods. The effort seeks to create a connected complex of open space lands between Pattee Canyon and Miller Creek.

Mount Dean Stone's 6,200-ft peak is located just south of Mount Sentinel and is easily identified by its assortment of radio towers. The timbered draws and grassy slopes of the proposed complex offers the community an opportunity to expand access to trails and outdoor recreation while protecting important wildlife habitat and mitigating the risk of wildfire close to the urban fringe. When complete, the project will create a 180-degree arc of conservation lands around Missoula.

The Mount Dean Stone project is a community partnership comprised of many organizations, agencies, and individuals, including: Five Valleys Land Trust, the City of Missoula, Missoula County, The Nature Conservancy, REI, Run Wild Missoula, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, MTB Missoula, Summit Independent Living, Hellgate Hunters and Anglers, Montana Trout Unlimited, Providence-St Patrick's Healthcare, Montana Conservation Corps, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana State Parks and Big Sky Brewing Company.

The Barmeyer Trail is pedestrian-only at this time. To learn more about the Mount Dean Stone Project, visit Five Valleys Land Trust.