The Mount Helena Trailhead is one of the most popular starting points on Mount Helena. It is located just above a residential area and has a large, paved parking area with toilets and picnic tables. Several trails lead off from this access point, including one that is somewhat accessible.
Trailhead location: – ///today.vegetarian.differently
Ambrose Trail
The Ambrose Trail is a great way to get to the know Mount Helena. It is about 2 miles (3.2k) one way and connects to many other trails. The Ambrose is very popular with trail runners and dog walkers.
1906 Trail
This is a very popular trail. The 1906 climbs from east to west across the north slope of Mount Helena and ends a bit over 1.5 miles (2.4k) later at the summit. 1906 is the highest of the three trails that traverse this side of the hill. Walking the 1906 gives you a close-up look at the base of the cliffs, which are visible from almost everywhere in the valley. There is a modest rock-climbing area along the 1906 about halfway to the summit.
Prospect Shafts Trail
Prospect Shafts moves you along the west side of Mount Helena across a series of draws and cross-slope traverses up to the Hogback trail/Backside trail intersection. Hogback takes you about .3 miles (.5k) up to the summit, Backside, one of Mount Helena’s most scenic trails, takes you below and around the summit to the West End Trail.
No Trail trail
No Trail goes for almost .5 miles (.8k) , where it connects up with the Powerline Trail. It is a very difficult trail to hike. While the ‘rules’ allow for only uphill bike traffic- bikes really should avoid this trail. This is a much more scenic uphill grind than Powerline.
Powerline trail
Powerline breaks off the 1906 trail about a .1 miles (.16k) up from the trailhead. It leads nearly straight uphill for nearly .75 miles (1.2k) to the top of Mount Helena. Hard work. While the ‘rules’ allow for only uphill bike traffic- bikes really should avoid this trail.
Bitterroot Way trail
Bitterroot Way trail drops away to the right shortly after you start up the mail trail at Mount Helena trailhead. After a short descent into a meadow that has abundant wildflowers and birds in the spring and summer, this path splits and connects to Quarry trail. Turning left and going uphill on Quarry will take you to a small saddle that is full of Bitterroots in the late spring.
Contour trail
Contour heads (generally) south away from the parking area. It intersects with Reeders, Prospect Shafts, before becoming continuous with Dump Out. Misnamed, in my opinion, Contour is a series of step-ups, not really a contour trail. Nice variety of wildflowers during the warmer months.