Gulch Guides to Helena, Montana

Welcome to the Queen City of the Rockies and the Gulch Guides to Helena, MT. Located about halfway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, Helena is a great place to stop, get off the beaten path, and to enjoy a true Montana town.

An old marketing slogan used to tell visitors to “Have a Helena Day” and it’s easy to see why locals take such pride in their town. Helena’s gold mining history once made it the richest city in the world and it shows in its abundant turn of the century mansions and elegant architecture along Last Chance Gulch. From the capitol to the cathedral, it’s filled with great cafes, museums, and pubs.

The following pages are a guide to our favorite things in Helena and maybe they’ll lead you a bit off the normal tourist route. Everything we list on this site is highly recommended – no need to look for the four stars or the thumbs up.

The Helena Guides are divided into three sections: Interesting Places and Day Trips, Cool Pubs & Cafes, and Good Restaurants. You can also use the index below or the contents section on the left hand gray sidebar to navigate. We will be constantly adding to the guides, so please check back. Enjoy the Good Life to be found in Helena.

Helena, MT Places and Day Trips
Archie Bray Foundation
Holter Museum of Art
Norris Hot Springs
MacDonald Pass Ski Trails
Mt. Helena
MT Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Myrna Loy Center
Ridge Trail
South Hills Trail System

Helena, MT Pubs and Cafes
Blackfoot River Brewing Company
General Mercantile
Millers Crossing
Morning Light Coffee Roasters
The Pattern House

Helena, MT Restaurants
Coney Island
Emilianos
No Sweat Cafe
The Parrot Confectionery
The Silver Star Steak Company
Taco del Sol
The Windbag Saloon

I've also written about Montana on my personal blog, Gulch, and you can read all of my meandering entries that relate to Montana and Helena here.