What do you actually need before heading into the Selway-Bitterroot? That’s the question I asked Gary Johanson the first time I walked into The Trail Shop, sometime around 2018, half-prepared for a solo trip and slightly embarrassed about it. He didn’t make me feel embarrassed. He asked where I was going, how many nights, whether I’d be above treeline, and what my boot situation was. Twenty minutes later I had a list, a map, and a reason to come back.
The Trail Shop sits on South Higgins, a few blocks past the bridge heading toward the university. It’s not large — the floor space is honest, the layout practical — and it carries the specific kind of inventory a serious outdoor shop curates when it isn’t trying to be REI. You’ll find packs, boots, tents, sleeping bags, and layering systems from brands like Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Darn Tough, and Oboz. The selection isn’t exhaustive; it’s considered. Gary or one of his staff has usually used or tested what’s on the floor, and that shows in how they talk about it.
Gary started working at The Trail Shop in the early 1990s and eventually took over ownership. He’s a trim, unhurried guy in his mid-sixties who skis backcountry in winter and spends summers in the Bitterroot or up near Glacier. He knows the terrain because he’s in it, not because he’s read the brochure. When he recommends a boot, he’s thinking about your actual foot on a specific kind of ground, not upselling you to the highest margin item on the rack.
That’s what I keep coming back for — not any single piece of gear, but the conversation before the purchase. I came in last spring looking for a replacement sleeping bag after mine finally gave up. I had a budget, a temperature range I cared about, and some weight limits I was trying to hit. Gary walked me through three options without any pressure, mentioned that one of them ran cold in his experience despite its rating, and ultimately steered me toward something I wouldn’t have found on my own. I’ve slept in it at 9,000 feet without complaint.
The shop also does boot fittings properly, which sounds like a small thing until you’ve spent a week with hot spots on a backcountry trip. They stock a range of widths and lasts, and whoever’s behind the counter will watch you walk, ask about your foot shape, and take time with the fit. Expect to spend at least half an hour on a boot visit. Go when you’re not in a hurry.
Prices are what you’d expect from a specialty shop — full retail, no deep discounts on premium gear — but the trade is real expertise and a return policy that isn’t designed to frustrate you. Boots generally start around $150 and climb from there depending on category. Packs and tents vary widely by spec. They carry a good range of base layers and accessories in the $30–$80 range if you’re just looking to fill a gap in your kit.
I’ve recommended The Trail Shop to visiting friends, to colleagues new to Missoula who are just getting into hiking, and to experienced backcountry travelers who want a second opinion before a big trip. Gary and his team are the reason this city punches above its weight as a gateway to serious wilderness. They make sure you go out prepared, and they’re usually right about what that takes.
