Discover the Scratchgravel Hills, a prime hiking destination just minutes from Helena. Offering nearly 30 miles of trails that are often the driest in the region, the “Scratchies” provide excellent early-season and year-round access for trail walkers of all levels.
This unique landscape, named for its gold prospecting history, is a haven for wildlife watchers. As you hike, keep an eye out for diverse bird populations and the vibrant displays of native wildflowers that line the trails in spring and summer. Walking in this area delivers stunning panoramic views of the Helena Valley and surrounding hills.
Echo Drive Trailhead
Location: ///photos.sunbeam.excuses
The Echo Lane Trailhead is an easy spot for hikers and trail runners in the Scratchgravel Hills. Offering multi-use trails with a generally easy physical rating, Echo Lane is perfect for family-friendly hiking and casual outings.
From this location, you can quickly access wide doubletrack trails and gentle singletracks, providing quick access to scenic views of the Helena Valley and Continental Divide. The area is known for drying quickly, making the Echo Lane Trailhead a reliable choice for year-round hiking and one of the first places to hit the dirt when spring arrives. Discover your next favorite trail at Echo Lane.
Visit the HelenaOutdoor Loops section to see a few trail loops in the Scratchgravel Hills.
Head Lane Trailhead
Location: ///views.muzzle.mammals
The Head Lane Trailhead is a very popular starting point for exploring the Scratchgravel Hills recreation area near Helena. Located on the western edge of the trail system, Head Lane primarily offers access to doubletrack and old jeep roads, making it ideal for multi-use activities.
Head Lane quickly connects users to the scenic, open terrain of the “Scratchies,” providing stunning panoramic views of the Helena Valley and the surrounding Big Sky Country. It’s an excellent, reliable spot for year-round, non-motorized outdoor enjoyment.
Visit the HelenaOutdoor Loops section to see a few trail loops in the Scratchgravel Hills.
John G Mine Trailhead
Location: ///look.blushes.hedged
The John G. Mine area serves as one of the trailheads for the Scratchgravel Hills network, northwest of Helena, Montana. This location’s name is a nod to the area’s historic mining past, where lode mining (aka hard rock mining) followed the initial “scratching the gravel” for placer gold in the 1860s. This trailhead provides access to a variety of multi-use routes, including old mining roads and trails managed by the BLM. It is a popular spot for mountain biking and hiking, offering diverse terrain and a connection to the rich history that shaped the Helena area.
I often see Merlins, or other open land birds of prey in this area. There are often Mountain Bluebirds early and late during the wamer months. Butterflies and dry habitat wildflowers are fairly abundant as well. This is an out and back area- I have not found any loops here, yet.
Visit the HelenaOutdoor Loops section to see a few trail loops in the Scratchgravel Hills.
Norris Trailhead
Location: ///ditches.overgrown.assure
The Lower Norris area has one large open area scattered with a few trees. The right side of this map goes from the lower parking area to the upper parking area generally in a straight line up a very modest incline. The cross trails give you the opportunity to shorten or lengthen your walk. This is a nice place to walk in the early morning light or in the early evening in the summer when the sun slips behind the hills and you can do the entire walk in the shade.
I’ve seen elk, deer, coyotes (once), and foxes in this area. Loads of Dotted Blazing Star are in bloom during the summer and this is the only location that I have seen Clustered Broomrape in bloom. Douglas’ Dusty Maiden is also present in a few spots, as is Narrow Leaf Four-o’clock.
Depending on the season, there are Mountain Bluebirds, Pinyon Jays, Common Nighthawks, Merlins, Red-tailed Hawks, Magpies, Grey Partidges, and Clarks Nutcrackers to be seen.
Visit the HelenaOutdoor Loops section to see a few trail loops in the Scratchgravel Hills.
Tumbleweed Trailhead
Location: ///blink.mapped.promotes
Tumbleweed Trailhead: Your Gateway to Trails and Safari-style Disc Golf
This trailhead’s claim to fame is for hosting one of the area’s disc golf courses (often referred to as a “safari-style” course), making it a unique outdoor amenity for outdoor activity lovers.
The Tumbleweed Trailhead is a key access point to the northern Scratchgravel Hills trail system, just a quick drive from Helena, Montana. This popular trailhead is a hub for multi-use recreation, catering specifically to more than just hikers and mountain bikers. From the Tumbleweed trailhead, visitors can easily connect to miles of trails, including old mining roads and singletrack, including the most direct access to the summit of the middle Scratchgravel Hill. Tumbleweed offers good birding and wildflower opportunities and diverse terrain with excellent views of the Helena Valley.
Visit the HelenaOutdoor Loops section to see a few trail loops in the Scratchgravel Hills.
