The Old Shooting Range Trailhead is one of the best trailheads in the Helena Parks Trail System. It provides access to trails that range from accessible to decently strenuous; there is a large, paved ADA parking pad; large parking area, and access to both the Rodney rise and Mount Ascension trail complexes. Being a about mile up from town, the area is also abundantly endowed with birds, butterflies, and wildflowers in the spring, summer, and even into fall.
This trailhead gives you easy access to the following trails.
Upper DeFord Accessible Trail– at the trailhead
Upper DeFord is a very modest incline, graded pathway made of decomposed granite that meanders up a draw that parallels Davis Gulch Rd. About .4 miles (.64k) up to a turnabout. The trail rises about 85 feet (25m) over its entire course.
Entertainment & Archery Range Trails
Directly across Davis Gulch from The Old Shooting Range Trailhead parking area is a trail that leads quickly up a couple of decent switchbacks. This is the access point to both the Entertainment and Archery Range Trails. Entertainment is a very popular downhill biking trail- be aware as you approach corners. Archery Range ends at Malfunction Junction just above the Beattie St. Trailhead.
Lower DeFord and Oro Y Plata Trails
Lower DeFord is an easy walk downhill to the DeFord Trailhead. As you near the DeFord Trailhead, the trail actually becomes “one with the road” for a brief stretch. Be safe!
The Oro Y Plata trail is a bike only trail that eventually splits into the Oro (advanced) and Plata (intermediate) Biking skills trail. Fun!
Rodney Meadow Trail
The Rodney Meadow Trail rises through a couple of nice switchbacks and opens into a lovely meadow. In the Meadow, the trail intersects the Rodney Ridge and T.R. Trails.