Sentinel Gulch Trail Hike

Name: Sentinel Gulch Trail
Distance: 4.03 miles round trip
Time: 1 hour
Elevation Gain: 2,049 feet
Average Grade: 19
Summit: 5,133 feet
Difficulty: Moderate

Park at the ?M? trail-head at the University of Montana.  Start up the main ?M? trail.  This is the most worn trail to the right after climbing the steps from the parking area.  Climb about a tenth of a mile to the first switchback.  Instead of following the trail around to the left, go straight and cross the small gully on a smaller trail.
 
Follow this trail as it traverses above University Drive. When you come to a set of junctions around .6 mile take the one that goes straight up the hill (east). The right trail leads down to the X apartments and the left trails lead back to the upper sections of the ?M? trail just below the ?M?. Go straight up the trail to the jeep road the traverses from Pattee Canyon to the Rock outcropping overlooking the ?M?.  You should reach this at around .7 mile.
 
Once on the road go left and go through the fence maze.  You will know what I mean unless the gate is open.  Usually it is closed.  As you zigzag around the fence access head sharply around to the right an up towards the gulch between the two Sentinel mountain tops. You will hike up through the open range into the gulch.  Notice the city now as it starts to fall behind and the sounds of the city disappear.
 
Around 1.2 miles you will head into the trees to the right side of the gulch and the city disappears behind you.  Head up through the trees following the trail.  You should pass an old abandon cabin on the right.
 
At 1.8 miles or so you will come out onto the Mount Sentinel access road which is a jeep trail also known as the Crazy Canyon Trail or road. This is the road used to tote the gliders and paragliders to the top of Sentinel (North). Head to the right seemly down the mountain.  Follow only about 100 feet or so and take a trail to the right that seems to come from the left (Hellgate Canyon Trail side).
 
This trail will take you through the trees and up a short climb to the top of the South Sentinel Ridge at 2.1 miles. Head up and over the ridge and when it starts to drop down back into Missoula initially veer to the right.  It is hard to see but a slight trail goes down the ridge to the Northerly Western direction.  Don?t go down the main trail towards the South Hills.  
 
The trial becomes more pronounced and eventually you will rejoin the trail you were just on above the zigzag fence crossing.  From there just retrace the route back down to the parking area.
 
I give this hike 5 stars!