Things to Do in Missoula in June
June in Missoula means long evenings, full rivers, and a downtown that wakes up after a long winter. The short version: hit a Saturday market in the morning, find a trail or hit the river by afternoon, and end the night at Pride weekend, a porch dinner, or dance the night away at the Badlander.
Most travel guides treat Missoula like a checkbox between Glacier and Yellowstone. That's the wrong way to look at it.
June is when Missoula absolutely comes alive. Snowmelt is feeding the Clark Fork River. The hills around town are green for about three more weeks before they turn gold. People are outside until 10pm and we are absolutely living it up!
This is the guide we'd share with a friend who is visiting the Zoo for the first time. Or the one we'd hand someone who's lived here a year, was too busy with school, and hasn't figured out how to make the most of a Saturday yet. This guide is for you!
Start Saturday Morning at the Clark Fork River Market
The Clark Fork River Market runs every Saturday from 8am to 1pm, May through October, in the Riverside Parking Lot east of Caras Park, just under the Higgins Avenue bridge. Live music kicks off around 10am.
The Farmers Market is a must-see event! There are actually 3 farmers markets happening simultaneously so you can wander between three streets. The vendors lean heavily local: Western Montana farmers, ranchers, bakers, numerous coffee carts, fresh pasta makers, kombucha, honey, and unforgettable jam you'll want to eat straight from the jar (we don't judge). A trip to the farmer's market is seeing Missoula in our Sunday best.
The market supports more than 265 vendors across its indoor and outdoor seasons combined, and donates thousands of pounds of food to the Missoula Food Bank every year. It showcases our vibrant local food & creator economy of Western Montana, condensed across three streets every Saturday morning.
A few blocks away from the Clark Fork Market, the original Missoula Farmers' Market has been running since 1972 and operates Saturdays from 8am to 12:30pm at the north end of Higgins. Get your steps in while enjoying a local donut, how great is that!?
Bring cash. Bring a tote. Pick up flowers for whoever you're staying with. Grab a Badlander Seltzer or a Baddie canned cocktail for the walk back. You're on vacation, right!? Live it up, you'll find Badlander Catering nestled beneath Beartracks Bridge.
Pull Up a Stool at Funk It Coffee + Thrift
You kicked off the morning with a market stroll, and now it's time for thrifting. Funk It Coffee and Thrift has quickly become a must-see Missoula favorite. Tucked at 314 N 1st St W on the Northside, this is the coffee shop and thrift store opened by cousins Markie and Chloë Russell in late 2024. It was named Downtown Business of the Year by the Missoula Downtown Association in its first year. That doesn't really describe why it's so great, though. It's the old-school, underground Missoula vibe, inclusive and welcoming and did we mention great coffee!?
The space feels like someone's living room got a curated thrift section bolted onto it. Vintage couches, soft lighting, a disco ball, racks of second-hand clothes pulled together with actual taste. You can order a coffee and try on a 1970s denim jacket without anyone making a thing of it.
Thank you Funk It for carrying on the Missoula tradition.
June in Missoula isn't about doing everything all at once. It's about savoring the extra hours of sunlight and going where the whimsy directs you.
Climb Waterworks Hill at Sunset
If you only do one outdoor thing in town proper, do this. Waterworks Hill sits on the north side of Missoula, a short drive from downtown. The trail is rolling, mostly grassland, and you can be at the top in 20 to 30 minutes depending on pace.
The payoff is the view: the entire Missoula valley is stretched below you, the Clark Fork River cutting through it, the Bitterroots to the south and the Rattlesnake Wilderness behind your shoulder. In June, sunset holds off until close to 9pm. You'll have time to climb up after dinner.
Two notes from someone who does this often. First, bring layers. The valley warms up to the 80s in late June, but the hill gets breezy at the top. Second, bring your favorite Baddie canned cocktail and enjoy a sunset happy hour. Happy hour is so much better outdoors!
Plan Around Pride Weekend (June 19-21)
The third weekend in June is Missoula Pride, and 2026 marks the fifth annual celebration. The full event runs Friday June 19 through Sunday June 21, with the parade down Higgins Avenue and a block party on West Main Street as the centerpiece. You will also find events all around town.
If you're visiting during this window, build your trip around it. Hotels fill up. Restaurants are busy. The vibe downtown is unlike any other weekend of the year.
A few things worth knowing for 2026. The parade kicks off at noon on Saturday June 20, lining up on S. 3rd St W and proceeding north on Higgins. After that, the block party on Main runs through the evening. The full lineup has more than 50 events scheduled across three days, including the headliner Bob the Drag Queen, drag story hours, vendor markets, and live music throughout the weekend.
Reclaim: Action = Life is at The Badlander on Friday night, June 20, an 18+ burlesque, drag, and variety show presented by Violet Passion LLC. If you came to Missoula for a unique experience, then this is the event you want to attend in June! Other events run all weekend at venues across downtown, from The Old Post afternoon party to drag brunches to a community parade after-party.
A general rule for Pride weekend: Bring an open mind, be kind, tip your bartenders well, and remember it's a community event before it's a tourist event.
Get on the Blackfoot River
Cheers to whitewater season! The Blackfoot, the Clark Fork, and the Lochsa are all running high from snowmelt. The Blackfoot in particular is the river that put Montana fly fishing on the literary map, and in early summer it doubles as a favorite rafting and kayaking corridor. Water levels drop quickly on the Blackfoot so there's a sweet spot between high water and low water when the boating is wonderful.
The river runs about 132 miles before joining the Clark Fork east of Missoula, and the stretches closest to town carry the heaviest June flow. Outfitters in town run guided trips, ranging from mellow scenic floats to actual Class III whitewater on sections of the Blackfoot. If you've never rafted before, this is a fine first river. If you have rafted before, the high June water levels will still impress you.
Don't try this without checking flow conditions first. June water is fast, cold, and unforgiving. The USGS gauge data is public and easy to look up before you go. A guided trip is almost always the right call for visitors, especially in the first two weeks of the month when runoff peaks. Please, be safe on the river! Wear a PFD, appropriate footwear and invest in the guided trip.
Pro Tip: Grab Tagliare sandwiches for the cooler, Badlander Huckleberry Seltzer for the float and a Montana Mule Baddie canned cocktail to enjoy, too. You can't get enough of those river views, it's the best way to sight see.
Have People Over
The most underrated thing to do in Missoula in June is to host a few friends in your lush, green backyard. We LIVE for this time of year! The birds are chirping, the grass is green… seriously, where else would you want to be!?
Enjoy the perfect temperature, it drops to perfection around 8pm. Almost every house in town has either a porch, a backyard, or access to one within walking distance. Locals know this and use it.
A grill and a few friends is all that you need to have a great time. Don't forget about your friends who don't partake in alcohol. Non-alcoholic Badlander Seltzer is loved by everyone. Your out-of-towner friends will love both Huckleberry Seltzer and Huckleberry Baddie Canned Cocktails. You can't domesticate huckleberries but you can buy delicious canned huckleberry drinks! These magical berries only grow wild, mostly in the mountains of Western Montana and Northern Idaho, which makes the flavor a regional favorite that visitors ask about every time they arrive.
Don't overthink it. The food is whatever's local and easy. The setting does the work.
A Local's Plan for One Full Day in Missoula
If you've got one full day and you want to do it the way someone who lives here would, here's the rough shape of it.
Morning. Coffee at Funk It. Walk to the Clark Fork River Market. Wander, snack, pick up something for the cooler.
Midday. Float, fish, or raft. The Blackfoot if you've got a guide. The Clark Fork through town if you're going scenic. Pack lunch.
Late afternoon. Drive back, shower, change. Pull yourself together. Drink water.
Evening. Dinner downtown (the restaurants on Higgins and Front Street are the easy bet). Then drive up to Waterworks Hill for sunset. Catch live music after, or just sit on a porch with friends.
That's it. That's the day. No checklist hustle, no overpacked itinerary, no driving across the state. June rewards staying put.
Where to Find Us
You'll see Badlander Beverages in stores across Missoula and across the state. Baddies and Badlander Seltzer are stocked at Lucky Lil's, Magic Diamond, Town Pump, and many Montana state liquor stores. Literally every Town Pump in Montana carries non-alcoholic Badlander Seltzer water. We're also available at the Golden Rose, Badlander and many wonderful bars and restaurants across the state.
If you're visiting from out of state, grab a few cans before you leave. It's the closest thing to bottled Montana you can put in a suitcase. Better yet, we ship to 35 States!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like in Missoula in June?
Missoula in June is mild to warm, with daytime highs ranging from the upper 60s in early June to mid-80s by the end of the month. Evenings cool into the 50s, so layers are essential. Sunset stays out until close to 9:30pm at peak.
Is Missoula worth visiting in June?
June is one of the best months to visit Missoula. The rivers are running high from snowmelt, the trails are open, downtown is active without the August peak-tourist crush, and Missoula Pride brings the city to life mid-month. Most outfitters are in full swing.
What is the biggest event in Missoula in June?
Missoula Pride is the largest event, held the third weekend of June (June 19-21 in 2026). It includes a Saturday parade down Higgins Avenue, a downtown block party on Main Street, and more than 50 events across three days, drawing visitors from across the region.
How do I get to the Clark Fork River Market?
The Clark Fork River Market is in the Riverside Parking Lot at the south end of Pattee Street, just east of Caras Park and under the Higgins Avenue bridge. It runs every Saturday from 8am to 1pm from May through October. Parking is available in nearby downtown lots.
What outdoor activities should I plan in Missoula in June?
The main June activities are whitewater rafting on the Blackfoot River, hiking trails like Waterworks Hill and the Rattlesnake corridor, fly fishing the Clark Fork, and floating the rivers through town. Always check flow conditions and go with a guide for rafting in high water.
Can I drink alcohol in public places in Missoula?
Open containers are not permitted on most public streets and parks in Missoula, but licensed event areas like the Pride block party and other downtown festivals operate under temporary permits. Always check the rules at the specific event you're attending. 21+ please enjoy responsibly.
Baddies are 21+ please enjoy responsibly. Seltzer is all ages and non-alcoholic!