Entry No. 55 — the Missoula file — filed under: outdoor-weird
Reinhardt Peony Garden on the 'M' Trail
At the base of Mount Sentinel, right by the trailhead for Missoula's most-hiked path up to the concrete 'M,' sits the Howard and ChinWon Reinhardt Peony Garden — said to be Montana's first public peony garden and one of the few west of the Mississippi devoted entirely to peonies. Nearly 200 varieties bloom here, one tracing back to England in 1768. Dedicated in 2019 to honor a longtime Missoula couple, it's an easy, unexpected detour for anyone heading up the switchbacks. The bloom runs roughly late May into early July.
The story
If you follow the crowd at the base of Mount Sentinel, you’ll end up breathing trail dust behind dozens of university students grinding up the switchbacks to Missoula’s concrete 'M.' But right at the edge of that high-traffic trailhead parking area—before the incline kicks your knees—sits an unlikely plot of intense floral devotion: the Howard and ChinWon Reinhardt Peony Garden.
Dedicated in 2019 to honor a longtime local couple, this isn't just a standard patch of grass planted by municipal groundskeepers. It's Montana's first public peony garden and one of only a handful west of the Mississippi devoted strictly to peonies. Nearly 200 distinct varieties are packed into these beds, including historic cultivars with deep lineages—one rare specimen traces its history back to 1768 England. You are essentially looking at living botanical antiques tucked right where people tie their running shoes.
What it's like
Expect a jarring visual contrast: sweaty hikers lacing up boots while you lean over massive, sweet-scented blooms. The trap here is entirely about timing. Peonies don't negotiate with your vacation calendar; they burst open in late May and fade by early July, reaching their absolute peak in early June. Visit outside that brief window and you’ll find a tidy, anonymous plot of green leafy bushes. It’s free, open around the clock, and best caught at golden hour right before or after you tackle the trail.
The move: Catch it in early June: stroll the peony beds at the trailhead at golden hour, then hike the switchbacks up to the concrete 'M' for the valley view as the sun drops.
📍 Before you go Free and always open. Peonies peak in early June; outside that window it is just foliage. The garden is at the trailhead parking area at the base of the M Trail.
- 📍 University District (Mount Sentinel)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: M Trail trailhead, base of Mount Sentinel behind University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- 1890 Historical Copper Mine — Since you're already at the base of Mount Sentinel, head up the slope to find the remains of a short-lived 1890s speculative mining attempt.
- Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum — Walk a half-mile into the University of Montana campus to swap delicate flowers for thousands of preserved taxidermy specimens.
- UM Star Gazing Room (Planetarium) — Pair an early June golden-hour garden stroll with an intimate Friday evening planetarium show inside the Native American Center down the hill.
Good to know
When is the best time to see the peonies in bloom?
Late May into early July, with peak bloom usually hitting during early June. Outside of this brief window, the plants are just green foliage.
Is there an admission fee or set hours?
No. The garden is completely free and accessible 24/7 at the open public trailhead.
Where exactly is the garden at the trailhead?
It sits right at the trailhead parking area at the base of Mount Sentinel, directly behind the University of Montana campus.
What makes this garden significant?
It is Montana's first public peony garden, featuring nearly 200 varieties—including an English cultivar originating in 1768.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: missoulian.com · montanarightnow.com · nbcmontana.com
last checked: 2026-06-24