Gulch Guides

Hiking Helena

Helena, like any city surrounded by moutains and a national forest, has amazing hiking close to town. Here are a few of the nearby trails that we recommend:

Mount Helena

Not every city gets to claim an entire mountain as a city park. Mount Helena, though, is Helena's largest and tallest city park. It rises 1,300 feet above the city and is home to a number of trails. There are great views from the summit and you can see pretty much all of Helena and the surrounding valley.

For a nice loop hike that is about 4-miles long, take the 1906 Trail to the summit and then come down the Prospect Shafts Trail.

The trail is located south of downtown Helena. Drive south on Park Avenue until you see the sign for Mount Helena City Park and Reeders Village. Drive up through the subdivision to the dirt parking lot. All trails are nicely marked.

The Ridge Trail

For a longer hike that ties into Mount Helena, try the Ridge Trail (sometimes called the Ridgeline Trail). It’s a 7.5-mile through-hike that follows a ridge to Mount Helena. After the initial uphill stretch it’s a fairly easy day hike with great views.

To do this hike, you’ll need to set up a shuttle. To reach the upper trailhead, drive south on Park Avenue until it forks. Take the right fork and drive 4.1 miles up Grizzly Gulch to where another road veers off to the right. The upper trailhead (called Park City Trailhead) is half a mile up this road. Look for a small sign marking the direction to the trail and the right turn. From this trailhead, follow trail 373 to Mount Helena. From there you can take the 1906 trail to the summit and then drop down to the Mount Helena Parking lot.

South Hills Trail System and Mt. Ascension

The Prickly Pear Land Trust has been busy building amazing hiking trails that thread their way around the edges of the south side of Helena. For a great hike with a great view, hop on the trails pretty much anywhere and make your way to the top of Mt. Ascension. It should be about 5 to 7 miles depending on where you start. The complete map of the South Hills Trail System can be downloaded here [pdf].

Water of the Gods

Norris Hot Springs (406-685-3303) bills itself as the water of the gods. While I can’t verify that claim, I must admit that there is something heavenly about sitting in a large hot pool listening to live music. The hot springs is a large 30 by 40 foot square outdoor pool that has been lined with wooden planks. Hot water bubbles up between the planks while a system of overhead sprinklers creates a warm rain along one side of the pool. At least two days a week, Norris Hot Springs features live music from their pool side stage. The best part is that you can swim, soak, and enjoy the tunes for only $5. There is also free wi-fi.

Norris Hot Springs is about 63 miles south of Helena. It’s located on the south side of Route 84, just a quarter mile east of Highway 287, in Norris, Montana. To get there from Helena, drive east on Hwy 287. Go past Townsend and the I-90 interchange at Three Forks until you see Route 84.

The Helena Art Scene

Helena is home to many professional and amateur artists and thus it's home to a nice arts scene. Unlike some art scenes, where you might have to wear a black turtleneck, drink martinis with an extended pinky, and spend lots of money, Helena’s is low-key, down to earth, and friendly. To get in on the local art action, check out these places:

The Myrna Loy Center for the Performing Arts

The Myrna Loy (15 North Ewing / 406-443-0287) is named after one of Helena’s famous residents and it brings a little bit of the big city to this small town. The Myrna hosts all sorts of performing, literary, and visual arts, as well as cultural programs that would not otherwise appear in the Helena area or anywhere in Montana. It is also home to a movie theater that screens independent and (what else) art house flicks. Housed in the old city jail, it’s worth visiting for the architecture alone.

The Holter Museum of Art

The Holter (12 E Lawrence / 406-442-6400) is a contemporary art museum that shows off local, national, and international artists. Its exhibitions include all types of visual media and, as a museum, it also collects and preserves significant local and regional art. Best of all, admission is free (donations requested).

The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts

The Archie Bray (2915 Country Club Ave / 406-443-3502) is a nationally recognized institution for ceramics and pottery. It’s home to a free pottery gallery and offers workshops by some of the most talented people in the pottery world.

Get Nordic at MacDonald Pass

Close to Helena is one of the best areas around to strap some cross-country skis onto your feet and head out into the woods. The MacDonald Pass Ski Trails consist of four loop trails that are groomed and maintained by the local Last Chance Nordic Ski club. The easiest trail is about 4.5 km and goes past a leaning log cabin that is slowly being reclaimed by the forest. At about the halfway point, there is a shelter with great views. The longest trail is about 17 km long. There are no fees to use the area.

To reach the trails, drive west from Helena on Hwy 12 for 14 miles. The parking lot is on the right (at the old Frontier Town turn off). Maps are posted at the trailhead and all trails are marked. Neither dogs nor snowmobiles are permitted on the trails.

The Wild (and rather dead) Side of Montana

Have you ever wondered what wild animals live in Montana? Have you ever wondered what they might look like if they were, say, dead, stuffed, and placed in a government office? Well, with a visit to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (1420 East Sixth Ave/ 406-444-2535), your days of wondering are over. In the lobby of this state government building, you’ll find on display a stuffed and mounted example of every bird, animal, and fish that live in the state. Get up and close with grizzlies, eagles, trout, beavers, and big horn sheep. The staff can answer all your questions about dead (and alive) wildlife.

The Parrot Confectionery

The Parrot Confectionery (42 North Last Chance Gulch / 406-442-1470) first opened its doors in 1922 and has since reached near legendary status in Helena, across the state, and beyond for its handmade chocolates. The Parrot has been owned and operated by the same family since it opened and it feels like little has changed in this candy store/soda fountain/lunch café. There’s a jukebox, cozy booths, and a long counter behind which they serve up real soda fountain drinks like cherry phosphates and ice cream milkshakes.

The Parrot is most famous for their candy. They make over 120 different types of fine sweets and hand dipped chocolates, which they also ship worldwide. However, many locals go there for a different reason: they serve some of - if not the - best chili in town (it’s no sense asking, they keep the recipe secret). The Parrot is one of those types of special places that give a sense of permanence and stability that just doesn't normally exist in the modern world. So the next time it’s really cold and you’re feeling down, head to the Parrot and get a milkshake and bowl of chili, and the world will start to look pretty good again.