Mount Helena rises to a total height of 5,464 feet (1665m), about 1,400 feet (426m) above the Helena Valley. There are at least 33 miles (53k) of trails spread out across the 36 named trails that run across, around, and away from the hill.
The north and east facing areas of Mount Helena dry out as soon as the rain stops in the springtime- grasses, forbs, shrubs, and cactus are the dominant plants. Trails on the south and west slopes are quite a bit more heavily forested and somewhat damp well into the summer months.
Mount Helena has access points spread all around its base. Some of the trailheads are just a stone’s throw away from downtown, some are nestled in neighborhoods, and a few require driving around the back and traveling up Grizzly Gulch. All are well used by walkers, runners, and bikers.
Mount Helena summit: ///shares.astounding.junction
e-Bikes are prohibited on Mount Helena, as is overnight camping.
Mount Helena/Reeder’s Village Trailhead
Location: ///today.vegetarian.differently
This trailhead is just above Reeder’s Village on the eastern shoulder of the park. There is a large, busy, paved parking area, with dog waste bags and trashcans, restrooms, handicapped parking, and picnic tables. This trailhead provides access to several trails with very different personalities.
Le Grande East Trailhead– aka Silverette Trailhead
Location: ///dome.melody.scratching
A small unpaved parking area is located at the intersection of Le Grande Cannon Blvd and Silverette. Depite the lack of any attractive or inviting attributes, this access point is extremely popular and the trails you can access from here are terrific.
Le Grande West Trailhead
Location: ///expecting.shattering.dots
Very modest unpaved parking at the end of a narrow dirt road. This is another of our extremely uninviting trail access point. This trailhead is found at the opposite end of the LeGrande accessible trail from the Silverette Trailhead. Dog bags and a trashcan can be found at the start.
Panhandle Trail
Location: ///unfortunate.series.unloads
This neighborhood access point is good if you are already walking on the paved portion of Le Grande Cannon Blvd.
Panhandle takes you about a quarter mile up a draw to the Northwest Passage meadow. From there, you can access the Northwest Passage, Ambrose, Swaney, and (eventually) Diretissima trails.
The Westridge Trail leads west from this point and is a very nice alternative to walking on Le Grande Cannon to get to the Silverette Trailhead.
Tubbs Trailhead
Location: ///purse.captures.boiling
Very modest paved parking on a narrow, well traveled road. Dog bags and a trashcan at the trailhead. From Tubbs, the main trail is the Swaney Trail, intersects Noth Access, Northwest Passage, Panhandle, Ambrose, and Diretissima. Lots to choose from.
Eric Feaver Trailhead
Location: ///sabbatical.year.divided
Very modest paved parking near the end of a narrow, well traveled, dead-end road. This is a very popular starting point. This trail was formerly know as the Mike Cormier Trail. In November of 2023, it was rerouted to zig and zag across a nice draw, and renamed Eric Feaver Trail. The new route is a terrific improvement over the old one, except for the first 300 meters or so- this section passes very close to a home. The wildflowers along the new route will be amazing.
Holter Street Trailhead
Location: ///vast.quilting.vowels
Very modest unpaved parking at the end of a residential road. It will look like you are walking up someone’s driveway to access the trails- and for a few feet, you are. The trail that you walk up is lower portion of the Quarry Trail and it connects with the Bitterroot Way near the bottom, the Eric Feaver/Mike Cormier a bit further up, and thenn the Ambrose, before intersecting the Prairie Trail. The whole lower, meadowy area explodes with wildflower activity in the springtime.
Daisy Hill/Hayes Ave Trailhead
Location: ///clearing.sunflowers.creatures
On-street parking in a neighborhood near the end of Hayes Ave. The trail drops precipitously about 8 feet down from the parking area down to the start of the Daisy Hill Trail. Daisy Hill Trail traverses a meadow before switchbacking up to an intersection just below the Quarry Trail. Daisy Hill Trail continues up, eventually crossing Ambrose before terminating at Prairie. Some folks have begun to forge an additional path up to the 1906 trail, but I do not belive that it is an official trail. The Daisy Hill trail has abundant wildflowers and birds in the spring and summer. Total trail length is about .8 miles (1.28k).
Dump Gulch Trailhead
Location: ///gasp.stub.dippy
This trailhead has a paved parking area and is located just up Grizzly Gulch from where West Main Street splits into Grizzly and Orofino Gulch Roads. This access point is extremely popular. The main trail up is a decent, nearly straight shot to the Helena Ridge Trail. The barely visible trail to the west of the main trailhead, just past the fence line, is simply amazing. This trail is an extension of the South Dump Gulch Trail and it is strenuous up or down, but the the views are amazing and the trail sees much lower use than the main Dump Gulch Trail. Dog waste bags and a trash can are at the access point.
Show Me the Horse TrailHead
Location: ///zest.untruth.tolerance
Very poor parking alongside a well travelled dirt road. This trail is a popular downhill trail for the local biking community. We recommend staying alert on this trail and walking it early in the day to reduce running into bike traffic.
Emmet’s/Mini-Ridge Trailhead
Location: ///scorch.softer.fleet
Small, unpaved parking area off a well travelled dirt road. The uphill approach to the parking area can be very sketchy without four- or all-wheel drive. There is a limited parking along the road for 2-wheel drive vehicles. Emmett’s is a more strenuous trail and about .3 miles (.48k) longer than Mini Ridge. Mini Ridge is a cooler, damper environment into the early summer. This is a terrific 3.5 mile (5.6k), 90-minute loop with just shy of 900 feet (275m) of rise. Both trails intersect Mount Helena Ridge Trail at the top.
Helena Ridge Trailhead
Location: ///mouth.objects.pounce
Decent parking area several miles up Grizzly Gulch in an area called Park City. This tends to be a ‘coordinated walk/hike’. Folks either get dropped off here, or park one car somewhere downtrail and carpool back up. Wonderful views and a great springtime walk. Bear have been spotted in the vicinity of the Ridge Trail in past years- always carry bear spray. There is a vault toilet at the trailhead.