Fifty-eight days from today, on December 1, most of Mount Jumbo closes to all recreation. That covers hiking, biking and dogs. The mountain stays closed while roughly 120 elk come down from higher ground to feed on its lower slopes. What usually gets left out is the reopening. The mountain opens again in two stages, about six weeks apart, and the half that reopens last is the one Run Wild Missoula's only organized Jumbo race runs through on November 7.
From a Phase 8 townhome on the east edge of Missoula, Jumbo is the ridge above the I-90 corridor. Its winter calendar decides a lot about the next five months of walks, runs and dog outings. The rest of this post is about planning around the mountain's split schedule.
The Saddle Road splits the mountain in two
The city divides Jumbo into two zones at the Saddle Road, which starts at the north end of Lincoln Hills Drive. Both zones close on the same day. They don't reopen together.
- December 1. Most of both the North Zone and the South Zone close to recreational use. A few year-round trails and short sections stay open.
- March 15. The South Zone, from the Saddle Road down to I-90, is scheduled to reopen.
- May 1 or later. The North Zone, from the Saddle Road north, reopens. KPAX reported this spring that the North Zone stays closed "until May 1 or later" so the elk can move back toward the Rattlesnake.
That puts the South Zone at about three and a half months closed. The North Zone is closed for five months, and longer if the elk are slow to move. If you have a favorite loop on the north side, your last chance before next May is sometime in the next eight weeks.
These dates come from the city's most recent detailed closure announcement, which covered the 2025–26 season. Missoula Parks and Recreation hadn't posted a 2026–27 notice when this was written. Run Wild Missoula's race page, updated in August, does repeat the December 1 start. Check the city's Conservation Lands Closures page for the current map before you head out in late November.
November 7 is the last organized day in the North Zone
The Mount Jumbo Elk Ramble 15K runs entirely on the North Zone, the side that stays closed into May. Run Wild Missoula calls it the only organized trail race on Mt. Jumbo. The organizers present it as a chance to "welcome the wildlife herds back to Jumbo" before the December closure.
What to know before you sign up:
- Start and finish: Hellgate Soccer Fields, 1630 Lincoln Hills Drive, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7.
- Course: About 9.5 miles with 1,382 feet of climbing. Aid stations at miles 1.75, 4 and 8.25 have water, gels and porta potties.
- Time limit: The course is open for three hours, from the 10:00 start until 1:00 p.m.
- Price: $45 through October 7, then $55 from October 8 through race day. Run Wild Missoula members get $3 off.
- Field size: Capped at 300 in-person runners, with no wait list.
- Bib pickup: Friday, November 6, from 3:00 to 5:45 p.m. at Run Wild Missoula's headquarters, 125 E Main St. Or race morning from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. at the soccer fields. Pickup ends at 9:50.
- Dogs: Not allowed, except ADA service animals.
The race is also cupless. Bring a handheld bottle or a hydration pack, or bring your own cup to fill. The aid stations won't have disposable cups. Finishers get a collectible Elk Ramble dog tag and a post-race baked potato and cheddar roll from Texas Roadhouse. The race benefits Five Valleys Land Trust, and donations go toward area trail development and permanent open-space protection.
The race page asks runners to carpool or bike to the start. Street parking along Lincoln Hills Drive fills quickly when 300 runners arrive at once.
The early price ends in three days. After October 7, entry goes up by $10.
What East Missoula keeps through the winter
The December closure doesn't shut every trail on the mountain. Several short pieces stay open all year, and two of them start on the East Missoula side.
The city's closure announcement lists them. Short trail sections beginning at Hidden Trail in East Missoula and at Marshall Canyon stay open, along with the road connecting Upper Lincoln Hills Drive to Tamarack Street and the 40 acres below that road. The city's trailhead data lists both Hidden Trail and Marshall as Jumbo access points with on-street parking.
On the downtown side, the U.S. West road above I-90 and the lower L trail up to the L stay open year-round. Both start at the Cherry Street trailhead. These are the only Jumbo trails a downtown visitor is likely to find in January.
Three rules apply on every open section in winter:
- Keep dogs leashed.
- Pick up after your dog.
- Stay on the trail. The city says off-trail hiking and skiing are "strictly prohibited" because avalanches can develop on Jumbo's steeper slopes.
The open sections near East Missoula are short. They work for a daily dog walk or a quick climb with a view of the valley. If you want a longer winter outing, the city lists other areas that stay open all year: the North Hills, Mount Sentinel, the Rattlesnake Greenway, and the Pattee Canyon, Blue Mountain and Rattlesnake recreation areas.
Last winter's mild weather brought tighter enforcement
The rules didn't change last winter, but enforcement did. The cause was a lack of snow.
In January 2026, Missoula Parks and Recreation posted an update about "rampant trespassing" in the closure areas. The city linked it to the mild winter and said Missoula Police officers would patrol the area and write trespass citations. Missoula Municipal Code 12.40 bans entering the wildlife closure, with fines of up to $500. In April, KPAX reported that the North Zone was still closed and that dry, sunny weather was keeping the trails tempting. A Missoula Police Department spokesperson told the station the department investigates every report it receives.
The city explains why the closure holds even in a dry year. Elk that lose their fear of people may wander into nearby neighborhoods. People and loose dogs on the winter range could push the herd to leave it for somewhere that might not support them through a hard winter. When people or dogs chase elk in the cold, the elk burn energy they need, which the city says puts the next spring's calves at risk.
So a bare, sunny Saturday in February doesn't change anything. The closure runs on the calendar, and the weather doesn't shorten it. A snowless slope is still the winter range.
Reopening dates can move
The March 15 and May 1 dates are targets. In March 2025, KPAX reported that the city had pushed the South Zone's reopening past its planned March 15 date. The North Zone's "May 1 or later" wording leaves the same room. Closing day is fixed, and reopening depends on where the elk are.
For the next eight weeks, the schedule looks like this:
October 7: Last day for $45 Elk Ramble registration. November 7: Elk Ramble 15K across the North Zone, 10:00 a.m., Hellgate Soccer Fields. December 1: North and South Zones close. Hidden Trail, Marshall Canyon, the Lincoln Hills–Tamarack road and the Cherry Street trails stay open.
If you'd like to help during the closure, the city's 2025–26 notice asked for volunteers for its Elk Spotters program and pointed people to 406-721-PARK for details.
Living on Missoula's east edge means the elk winter range is part of the view from home. If you're thinking about a Phase 8 townhome and want to know how the Hidden Trail and Marshall Canyon access points fit a daily routine, the team at Stephanie Nelson can walk you through it before the snow arrives. Start Your Canyon River Story.
