Location: ///buddy.smirking.forcefully
This trailhead is on the backside of Mount Ascension. It is another of our ‘not-particularly-inviting-looking’ trail access points. It is however totally worth exploring. To get to the trailhead, you need to get to Martinez Gulch Road and follow it until Arrowroot Road takes off to the left. Then follow that until it seems like you should give up. But don’t. Once the meadow opens to your right, and a road takes off to your left- you’re there. In addition to being a nice trail, the views of the Helena Valley are really nice from along the upper reaches of Arrowroot Road.
Starting from this Arrowroot Connector trailhead and taking this loop clockwise, you will encounter the following trails (in order).
Arrowroot Connector- at the trailhead
The Arrowroot Connector trail is the footpath that leads up and to the left as you approach the gate blocking the closed road that is the 2006 Trail. This trail goes about .4 miles up to the point where it intesects the Entertainment Trail.
2006 Trail- at the trailhead
The 2006 Trail is the now abandoned road to the left of the Arrowroot Connector Trail. The 2006 trail goes straight past the road closed gate. It is a road surface for about .2 miles, then it becomes a very pleasant trail through a ponderosa pine glade. It goes a bit less than .7 miles to where it intersects trails in the saddle between the two summits of Mount Ascension. Here, 2006 connects with Entertainment and the Mount Ascension Loop trails.
Entertainment Trail
The Entertainment trail is a well used 2.5 mile trail from the main summit of Mount Ascension down to the Old Rifle Range Trailhead parking area. Very popular with bikers and trail runners. After travesing a couple of beautiful meadows, Entertainment splits into a shorter, steeper cut down through a meadow, or weaves through a lovely forested area, the two trails sections merage at the intersection with Aftershock and then continue downhill. Just before the final switchbacks to Davis Gulch Rd, you will encounter Archery Range trail.
Mt. Ascension Loop- Saddle area
This is a great trail to divert onto if you don’t want to go all the way to the top. The Ascension Loop trail gives some nive views of town, opens up to a terrific sunrise spot at its easternmost point, and then intersects Mount Ascension Ridge, Eddye McClure West, Big Dorothy. Big Dorothy is really cutout for bikes and is not mapped or described on this site.
2006 Trail – saddle to Arrowroot Trailhead
This final section of the 2006 trail is cool and shady and filled with flowers and birds in the late spring and summer. It can get a bit muddy early and late in the walking season.
Main Trail Loop
This loop, that includes going to the top of both summits, gives you about 2 miles of trail and 250ft of rise. The main summit (first summit if you do the loop clockwise) sits at 5,282 ft. Excellent views of the Helena Valley.