Rx Trails
Walk Your Way to Health!
The Missoula Rx Trails program is a collaboration of medical providers, physical therapists, nutritionists and other healthcare professionals to engage patients in increasing physical activity to combat obesity and other chronic health conditions.
Parks and Recreation has partnered with Missoula County Parks and Trails, Let’s Move! Missoula, St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center, Community Medical Center, Bike Walk MT, Montana State Parks, Partnership Health Center, the Missoula Chamber of Commerce and the University of Montana to promote the Rx Trail program in Missoula.
The partners hope to create a network of health care providers who are willing to prescribe walking on Rx Trails to enhance their patients’ health. Prescriptions will include the frequency and distance that patients should use the Rx Trail in order to promote a healthier lifestyle. As the program progresses, we hope expand partnerships with additional organizations throughout the area.
Missoula’s Rx Trails include .5-mile and 1-mile routes at McCormick Park along the Riverfront Trail system and a 1-mile Rx Trail (PDF) at Fort Missoula Regional Park Phase 2 (FMRP East.) In addition, FMRP offers over 7 miles of accessible trail and sidewalk routes throughout the park.
In 2018, Parks and Recreation received an AARP Livable Communities Community Challenge grant (PDF) to improve and promote Missoula’s Rx Trails.
The Rx Trail program seeks to help residents recognize walking as an ideal component to improve health and increase physical activity levels. We hope to continue to build partnerships and create more Rx Trails throughout the Missoula valley.
For more information, email Meg Whicher or phone 721-PARK (7275.)
Learn more about Rx Trails programs throughout the state and nation: