Missoula

A former company town at the confluence of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers, Bonner-West Riverside is a quiet community about 6 miles east of Missoula. “It’s a mix of urban and rural development. It gives you access within minutes of Missoula and the university ,” says Mike Hyde, the CEO of Hyde and Associates with Keller Williams Western Montana and Missoula resident since 1994. “There are several different river and fishing access points, and Canyon River Golf Course is right there. And you’re right on the I-90 corridor.” The neighborhood developed in the early 1900s with the arrival of a lumber mill and the Milltown Dam. Those industries have since left, with the mill changing hands multiple times before shutting down in 2008 and the dam removed in the late 2000s to allow for river restoration. Situated in the Lolo National Forest between the Sapphire Mountains, Rattlesnake Mountains and Garnet Range, Bonner-West Riverside is a Missoula suburb known today for its outdoor recreation options and proximity to the city, without the busyness of city life. The location on the confluence of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers gives Bonner-West Riverside residents plenty of recreational options. Milltown State Park is a nearly 635-acre site with several miles of river frontage. Residents can start their visit at the park’s overlook, which offers panoramic views of the rivers. From there, three miles of trails lead down to the river. The park is popular for bird watching, wildlife viewing and fishing. This area is one of the newest state parks in Montana and was made possible by removing the Milltown Dam. Just west of the neighborhood, Canyon River Golf Club offers a scenic spot for a round of golf. The 18-hole, par-72 course is surrounded by the Clark Fork River on three sides and has challenging sand traps and water hazards. The club offers daily rates and season passes, making it a popular option for golfers of all levels. Bonner-West Riverside is home to one of the most popular music venues in the area. KettleHouse Amphitheater is a large outdoor venue on the banks of the Blackfoot River, drawing some of the biggest names in music. “They’re pulling in some great artists that come through because we’re in the I-90 corridor, so any artists that are traveling from Seattle east have to drive down I-90," says Hyde. "It’s right on the Blackfoot River, and you have bald eagles flying over top of you. It’s a great experience to see a band there.” The amphitheater draws in artists across all genres, including classic rock, country, reggae and jam bands. Right next to the venue, KettleHouse Brewing Co. is an independent craft brewery that has been producing local beer since 1995. Many of the homes in Bonner-West Riverside are from the early 1900s and include modest cottages and Craftsman-style houses. Other styles in the community include ranch-style and manufactured homes. The area has a mix of urban and rural streets, with some houses built close together and some having acres between neighboring properties. Mature trees are scattered throughout the neighborhood, offering plenty of shade during the summer. Manufactured homes in the neighborhood typically cost between $60,000 and $250,000. Other houses cost between $300,000 and $550,000. Buyers should be aware of an elevated risk of wildfires in the neighborhood due to its location near the Lolo National Forest. Bonner-West Riverside residents have to travel into Missoula for most shopping and dining, but the neighborhood has a few options. River City Grill is a local restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The restaurant is popular for its classic diner food in a rustic interior with exposed brick. A Town Pump truck stop next door offers some grocery and convenience items. The closest full-service grocery store is the Albertsons on Broadway Street in Missoula, about 5 miles west along I-90 or Montana Highway 200. Students in Bonner-West Riverside will likely attend Bonner School for elementary and middle school, which receives a C-minus from Niche. Hellgate High School serves the neighborhood and gets an A-minus rating. The school is about 7 miles west of the community. Hellgate High has approximately 1,300 students and offers several academic programs, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma program, which allows students to graduate with up to 30 college credits. Students can also take electives in agriculture, industrial technology and family and consumer science. Interstate 90 makes it easy for residents to get around the Missoula area. Downtown Missoula is just 6.5 miles west, while Missoula Montana Airport is about 12 miles from the community. Providence St. Patrick Hospital is approximately 7 miles west along the Interstate. For those who prefer public transit, Route 4 of the Mountain Line bus system has multiple stops in the neighborhood and takes riders to downtown Missoula. While the lumber mill in Bonner-West Riverside closed in 2008, there is plenty of activity on its former site. Today, it is known as the Bonner Mill Industrial Park and is home to several businesses, including the Aluminum Company of Maine, Northwest Factory Finishes and Planetary Design. The site is on Montana Highway 200, south of the Blackfoot River, giving residents convenient access to local jobs.

On the western edge of Missoula, Captain John Mullan—known simply as Mullan to locals—boasts a mix of city conveniences and Montana country living. “Mullan has a variety of positive criteria when searching for a home. Let’s start with the fact that you are a five-minute drive from town,” says Brittni Hertz, a sales associate with the Hertz Team at ERA Lambros and Captain John Mullan resident. “So, it’s really quick, but you can feel like you’re in the country. However, you don’t have to take a country drive to get back to town. It does give you that true Montana feel.” Reserve Street on the eastern edge allows residents to easily access popular chain restaurants and national retailers. As Mullan Road winds westward through the countryside, suburban homes give way to properties with lots of acreage and ranches raising goats and other livestock. Hertz says there might be a bit of culture shock for people moving from out of town who aren’t familiar with farm terminology. “There was a sign when I was driving past the ranch that said, ‘Kids for Sale’ and I thought ‘That’s not going to go over well with the non-locals.’ The HOA must have gotten after them and changed it, so you have to say baby goats for sale.” Hertz says. Homebuyers can find a wide range of options in Captain John Mullan. The neighborhood’s east side is home to suburban communities near the city, offering a convenient lifestyle close to neighbors. These homes are often new traditional houses of contemporary Craftsmans with spacious built-in garages. They sit on streets lined with sidewalks and well-cared-for lawns. These suburban homes usually cost between $500,000 and $750,000. Further west, buyers will find ranch-style and modern farmhouses on larger lots. Many of these properties back up against open land, allowing residents to enjoy views of the Rattlesnake Mountains to the north and local wildlife in the neighborhood. “You see an abundance of wildlife out there, from elk to coyotes to foxes and the occasional moose. There are tons of birds, specifically osprey, the golden eagle and the bald eagle,” Hertz says. “I’ve seen a wolverine back there and honey badgers. The elks and deer are as common as dogs.” Homes in the neighborhood’s more rural parts can cost between $800,000 and $1.4 million. Students in Captain John Mullan might attend Hellgate Elementary School, a kindergarten through grade 8 school on Flynn Lane that is separate from Missoula County Public Schools. The school is rated a B-plus by Niche and operates as its own district, serving approximately 1,500 students. It traces its history back to 1869 when it opened as a one-room schoolhouse to serve local farm children. Today, the school sits on 43 acres and has multiple buildings. High schoolers might attend Big Sky High School, which is rated a C and is part of the Missoula County school district. Big Sky offers several academies to prepare students for college or careers, including agriculture, architecture, business and health programs. Mullan Road provides residents with an easy drive into Missoula for everyday essentials. Popular shopping and dining destinations on Reserve Street are about 2 miles from the center of the neighborhood. The drive to Missoula Montana Airport is about 4.5 miles from the neighborhood’s center using Flynn Lane and Broadway Street. Despite the airport’s location just north of the community, Hertz says plane noise doesn’t bother locals. The closest hospital is Providence St. Patrick Hospital, about 4 miles east along Mullan Road and Broadway Street. One bus route from the Mountain Line bus system offers public transit through the area. The Route 11 bus passes through some of the subdivisions on the neighborhood’s eastern edge and heads northwest to the airport. There is a walking trail along much of Mullan Road, but the distance between popular destinations means that most residents will drive to wherever they’re going. Reserve Street is home to many shopping and dining destinations. Residents can dine on Mexican dishes like tacos and burritos at Café Rio Fresh Modern Mexican, a casual chain restaurant in the area. Famous Daves Bar-B-Que is popular for its burnt ends and mac and cheese in a rustic, mountain lodge-themed dining area. Ranch Club Golf Course members can enjoy a meal at the club’s restaurant. Groceries are available at Walmart or Albertsons along Reserve Street. Other popular chain stores in the area include Target, Best Buy, Costco and REI. A few parks in the area offer room for residents to enjoy the scenery of the Montana countryside. Pleasant View Park is in the Pleasant View subdivision and has a playground, picnic tables and large open space for soccer or other outdoor games. The 44 Ranch subdivision has a small park with a playground, jogging trail and sports fields. Golf lovers can join the Ranch Club Golf Course, which is popular for its views of the mountains and its course that is ideal for beginners and experienced golfers. The par-72 course also has a resort-style swimming pool, a fitness facility and an event space.

Situated on the hillside high above the Missoula Valley, Farviews-Pattee Canyon allows homeowners to enjoy sweeping views of the area from the comfort of their backyard. "Each lot has its own specific view, so no matter where you're positioned, you're getting a phenomenal view of the valley," says Brittni Hertz, a sales associate with the Hertz Team at ERA Lambros who has experience in the neighborhood. "It also backs up to hiking trails and all kinds of recreation. It sits next to a large ranch, so there won't be any development for the foreseeable future. It'll be open land." That's good news for buyers in the neighborhood, as Hertz adds that the seclusion and proximity to natural scenery are some of the main appeals in the community. If cabin fever ever does set in, though, homeowners in Farviews-Pattee Canyon are just 3 miles from downtown Missoula. Residents in this southeastern Missoula neighborhood have access to some of the city's most popular recreational sites, including the namesake section of the national forest. Pattee Canyon Recreation Area is a 3,200-acre spot with 27 miles of trails for visitors to explore. The area is popular year-round, with room for hiking, mountain biking, jogging and cross-country skiing. There is also a disc golf course that is open from July through November. Hertz says this area is also a local favorite for picking wild huckleberries. The recreation area is just 4.5 miles southeast of the neighborhood along Pattee Canyon Road. Closer to home, residents can enjoy a hike at the Mount Sentinel South trailhead, which leads up the mountain's south side and connects to several more trails, including the popular M trail near the summit. Golf lovers will enjoy playing the Highlands Golf Club, a nine-hole, par-34 course on Ben Hogan Drive. "It's a nice golf course. A lot of people in this area are either up here for the golf course or the views. Or both," says Hertz. The course offers nine-hole or 18-hole rates, allowing residents to get a quick game in or play a full round by playing the course twice. Whitaker Park is a local city park in the neighborhood, with a basketball court, playground and picnic areas. Homes in Farviews-Pattee Canyon typically vary depending on which part of the neighborhood buyers are looking. The northern section of the community features many ranch-style homes and raised ranches. These houses are surrounded by tall pines and often have built-in garages. These typically cost between $500,000 and $650,000. Further up the mountain, the homes include modern Craftsman and log cabin homes. Hertz says these are large properties, with the smallest buildings typically around 3,000 square feet and the largest around 10,000 square feet. There are some contemporary modern homes in this area as well, with large windows that offer pristine views of the Missoula Valley from any room in the house.  These houses can cost anywhere from $800,000 to $1.7 million. Buyers should be aware of the increased risk of wildfires in the neighborhood due to the location on the edge of the forest. Farviews-Pattee Canyon is on the southeastern edge of Missoula, but residents are still close to popular shopping and dining areas. The Keep is an acclaimed fine dining restaurant in the neighborhood on Ben Hogan Drive, as famous for its cuisine as its décor. "That's actually one of the oldest restaurants in Missoula. It started out as a family mansion in the Lower Rattlesnake area and was moved up here and became a restaurant," says Loren Mostad, a Missoula native and Realtor with Windermere Real Estate. Locals enjoy dining on the restaurant's patio, enjoying dishes like calamari and rack of lamb as they take in the views of the city. At the bottom of the mountain, Romeo's Italian Kitchen serves fresh, authentic Italian dishes in a casual spot on Higgins Avenue. Local groceries are available at Pattee Creek Market, which has been serving the community since 1946. There is also an Albertsons on Russell Street for more grocery options. For more local shops and restaurants, downtown is just a 3-mile drive north on Higgins Avenue. Students in Farviews-Pattee Creek will likely attend Lewis and Clark Elementary School, Washington Middle School and Sentinel High School, each receiving a B-plus rating from Niche. The schools are all between 1.5 and 2 miles north of the neighborhood. Sentinel High School serves nearly 1,400 students and has the highest attendance of all Missoula County high schools. Students can take electives in agriculture, computer science and health science. The school also offers several clubs, including chemistry club, robotics club and ski and snowboard club. Despite its relative seclusion, the neighborhood is connected to the rest of Missoula through major roads and public transit routes. The Mountain Line bus system's Route 12 has stops on Whitaker Drive and High Park Way and can take riders north to downtown or west to the Moose Can Gully neighborhood. Although many streets in the area have sidewalks, walkability is not a common option due to the distance it would take to get downtown or other locations. Higgins Avenue gives residents a straight shot north to downtown Missoula, while Missoula Montana Airport is about 9 miles away using Russell Street and Broadway Street.

With a very literal name, Franklin to the Fort tells homebuyers exactly what they can expect from this urban neighborhood: a residential community encompassing much of central Missoula, spanning from Franklin Park in the north to Fort Missoula in the southwest. "There's a warm sense of community there. It's conveniently located in central Missoula and is an easy distance from schools, shopping and entertainment," says Kevin Noland, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Western Montana and Missoula resident. "There's a lot of parks and a trail system that goes through there that can give you access to everything that Missoula offers." In addition to the nearby parks and shopping, residents enjoy events like an annual community block party. Neighbors constantly find ways to get involved and improve the quality of life through neighborhood clean-ups and other community outings. One of the neighborhood’s namesake parks—Franklin Park—is located in the heart of the community. This small green space has a baseball field and basketball courts. Families enjoy bringing their kids here to play on the playground or splash pad during the summer. Fort Missoula Regional Park is a156-acre green space jointly operated by the city and Missoula County. The park is a popular spot for sports, with seven softball fields, 10 multi-purpose fields, eight tennis courts and 22 pickleball courts. History buffs will also enjoy visiting the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, which details the area's history and the history of the former army fort, from its founding in 1877 to its role in World War II. The Bitterroot Trail runs along the neighborhood's east side and gives residents a way to walk or bike north into downtown Missoula or south to other nearby cities. "If you look on a map, you could ride your bike to Hamilton. Missoula has some world-class athletes that come here to train for ultramarathons and triathlons. We have Olympic competitors come here year-round to stay in tip-top shape," Noland says. The Bitterroot Trail extends for 50 miles south to Hamilton, giving cyclists a scenic adventure along the Bitterroot River. Nearby hikes and mountains, such as Mount Sentinel, are just 3 miles away, offering easy access to challenging activities, whether training for a race or just looking to enjoy the great outdoors. Golf lovers will enjoy teeing off at Larchmont Golf Course, a par-72, 18-hole course known for its views of the surrounding mountains and large greens. The course is relatively flat and has short distances between greens and tees, making it popular for golfers who walk the course instead of using a cart. Southgate Mall is the largest mall in Missoula, just southeast of the neighborhood across the railroad tracks that run along the community’s east side. This shopping center is home to national retailers like Dillard's, American Eagle and H&M. It also has an AMC Dine-In theater where residents can enjoy a meal while watching the latest films. El Cazador is a popular Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood, serving traditional Tex-Mex dishes in a lively, garden-style dining room. With the neighborhood's central location, residents are close to several other popular restaurants, including The Greek Pastry Shop. This casual spot is known for its gyros and fries, which diners can enjoy on the outdoor patio facing South 5th Street. Several grocery stores serve the neighborhood, including WinCo Foods and Rosauers Supermarkets on South Reserve Street. The Good Food Store on South 3rd Street sells organic and local grocery items. Franklin to the Fort has several types of homes, including many traditional and ranch-style houses built from the 1930s to 1960s. There has been a lot of development in the neighborhood in the 21st century, including new traditional houses with vinyl siding and built-in garages. Many condos and townhouses have been built since 2000 as well. Buyers can also find the occasional Victorian or Craftsman house along the urban neighborhood streets. Mature trees frame the roads in the community, providing plenty of shade over the sidewalks and offering a touch of scenic beauty. Single-family homes in Franklin to the Fort typically cost between $300,000 and $600,000. Condos and townhouses often cost between $350,000 and $500,000. Students in Franklin to the Fort might attend Franklin Elementary School, which receives a C-plus from Niche and is in the center of the neighborhood. Porter Middle School is rated a B-minus and is just across Reserve Street, while Hellgate High School receives an A-minus and is about 2.5 miles north. Hellgate High offers several career and college preparatory programs, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma program, which allows students to graduate with up to 30 college credits. Franklin to the Fort hosts an annual block party in the neighborhood that features food trucks, games, a DJ and ice ream. The Franklin to the Fort Neighbors in Action Facebook page is full of area residents who seek to add to the quality of life in the area by hosting events like neighborhood clean-ups and starting community gardens. The group also posts about infrastructure projects in the community and advertises local programs like Kids Eat Free, an initiative to make sure Missoula students have access to food while school is out during the summer. While residents can walk and bike through town on the Bitterroot Trail, there are several other ways to get around Missoula from the neighborhood. The Mountain Line bus system has multiple routes in the area, including the 2 line, which has stops on Johnson Street and makes a loop around the city. Route 8 zigzags through the neighborhood and has stops on major streets like South Avenue, Eaton Street and 5th Street. The bus takes riders northeast to the University of Montana. Route 6 goes east to west on South Avenue and can take residents to Community Medical Center, Southgate Mall and downtown. The medical center is just across Reserve Street, about 1 mile from the center of the neighborhood. Downtown is about a 3-mile drive, while Missoula Montana Airport is about 7 miles from the neighborhood.