Western Montana

Like Bozeman’s M trail, Helena has a similar brief hike up nearby Mount Helena. While the M trail has two options for hiking up the mountain, Mount Helena features several options of varying degrees of difficulty and length. Also unlike the M trail, Mount Helena borders the city limits, offering spectacular views of the city below (rather than the countryside).

Having never hiked up Mt Helena, I decided that I finally wanted to give it a shot before I left Helena last weekend. Access is easy - take Park Avenue down to the Reeders Village subdivision. Drive up a hill into some beautiful newly-constructed mansions, and the trailhead will be at the opposite end of the subdivision. Here you’ll find a parking lot and an extremely useful map. Considering all the various routes you can take up the mountain, looking at the map before hiking is suggested! Looking at the map, you should find a trail labeled the Prairie Trail - this is the route I opted to take.

The Prarie Trail is the most gradual incline of all the trails, but it’s also the longest (although still only two miles in length). And I can’t speak for the other trails, but the Prairie Trail was also incredibly beautiful, winding its way through both forests and open land with scenic views of the town below.

It just gets more beautiful as you ascend! On your way up, there will be tons of photo opportunities, and in certain instances there will be very short (as in, a hundred feet at most) spurs that leave the main trail and allow for even more spectacular views.

Being the type of person who loves heights and the views they provide, I loved this hike. It’s short enough that it’s the sort of thing you can do after you go to work, and even have time to spare. I know I can’t wait to hike it again!