The Missoula Valley, also known as the Missoula-Hellgate Valley or just Hellgate Valley, is a river valley in Missoula County, Montana. The valley includes the city of Missoula and is surrounded by five other valleys and several mountain ranges.
History
Climate
Geography
Surrounding features The Missoula Valley is a hub for five other valleys nearby. They include the Clark Fork Valley to the west, Flathead Valley to the north, Blackfoot Valley to the northeast, Deerlodge Valley to the east and the Bitteroot Valley to the south. Additionally, the valley is also a hub for five mountain ranges- the Bitteroot Range, Rattlesnake Mountains, Saphire Mountains, Garnet Range, and the Reservation Divide. Through the middle of the valley is the Clark Fork River, although it begins on the east edge of the valley. Also on the east edge of the valley is the Hellgate Canyon, Mount Jumbo and University Mountain. On the south edge of valley is the Bitterroot River, which flows into the Clark Fork River on the southwest edge of the valley. On the north edge is Rattlesnake Creek and Grant Creek.
Valley formation Where Missoula and the Missoula Valley sits now used to be the bottom of Glacial Lake Missoula. The gigantic glacial lake was formed from an ice dam somewhere in present-day Idaho around 22,000 years ago. However, the dam did not stay for long, which gave out and caused the Missoula Floods. This process repeated several times, allowing water to both be soaked up into the present day valley and put back in the lake. Afterwards, the floods did stop, leaving small amounts of water left on the surface, but loads of groundwater. More recently, the water left over caused nearby Clark Fork River and Bitteroot River to form. The two rivers, along with weathering and the removal of rocks allowed for the Missoula Valley to take shape.
Rock formations As a result of huge and similar rock deposits from the Missoula Floods, the Missoula Valley consists of generally the same rocks and are in a group called the Missoula Group. The main rocks are the argilities, quartzites, sandstones. There are some minor beds filled with conglomerate, limestone, and calcareous shale. The Missoula Valley also generally contains rocks from the Boulder Pass Formation and Precambrian time period.
Communities
City Missoula
Census-designated places Frenchtown Huson Orchard Homes Wye
Unincorporated communities Nagos Westview Park
Recreation
Year-round In the summer, camping, fishing (especially fly fishing), hiking, biking, rafting/floating, and other activities based on rivers and streams. In the fall, hunting and some summer activities are popular choices. In the winter and spring, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.
Annual events Missoula has many events year round. Some examples include marathons and other races, safety classes, farmers markets and concerts.
Notes
References