Trailhead location: ///today.vegetarian.differently
From the Reeder’s Village/Mount Helena trailhead there are (generally) three ways to the top. Prospect Shafts trail is one of those three ways. It takes you around the east and south sides of Mount Helena going up a shaded draw for a bit before opening onto a wide, rough, fully exposed trail that climbs steadily to a final contour. Prospect Shafts ends at an intersection with Backside and Hogback trails. Hogback takes you up to the top and Backside, as its name implies, allows you to go around the backside where it connects up with West End trail near the top of the Prairie trail.
The other two trails to the summit from the Mount Helena trailhead are Powerline and 1906. Powerline is a simple, straightline trail to the saddle just below the summit. The 1906 is a more gentle, shaded way to get there. At about 1.6 miles and on the north facing slope, this trail is a kinder and gentler way to the summit.
Prospect Shafts intersects Contour and Hanging Draw trails along the way. Contour takes you to Dump Out, Hanging Gulch takes you down to the McKelvey Trail and Dump Gulch trailhead. There is also a short connector trail between Dump Out and Hanging Draw that is quite nice. The Prospect Shafts trail terminates at an intersection with Hogback trail and Backside trail.
