There are dozens of combinations that can be made using the trails in the Greater Helena Area. Here are twenty-two of our favorites. These loops are grouped by area and then listed in order of distance – short to long. Lenths and elevation changes are approximate; elevation change is measured by the difference between the lowest and highest point, not the overall ‘up and down and up an down’ change across the entire trail.
Mount Helena Loops | Mount Ascension Loops | Rodney Ridge Loops | Scratchgravel Loops
Accessible Loops
Spring Meadow Park Loop (Accessible; gravel)
Starting Point: Spring Meadow State Park
Length: 0.9 miles (1.4k)
Elevation Change: 15 feet (5m)
Time: 20-30 mins
This path gets a lot of use year round. Warblers and waterfowl are relatively abundant at the right time of year. Dogs must be leashed and are prohibited during neasting season (April 15-October 15) exch year. Painted turtles can be found here, but are seen less often than in year’s gone by. Please don’t handle the turtles.
Northwest Park (Accessible; gravel)
Starting Point: Northwest Park
Length: 0.9 miles (1.4k)
Elevation Change: 6 feet (2m)
Time: 15-20 mins
Northwest is a nice little pocket park that can help you get out and get some air. The path is routinely matted with low grwoing weeds by the end of summer, but it essentially flat. The park is also unlit- so night sky viewing and sunsets are very nice from here. Lots of use during the school year up until about 7pm. The city tends to lock this park off during the school day to keep students from parking in it. Pretty annoying, if you ask me.
Centennial Park Loop – (Accessible; all paved)
Starting Point: Centennial Park
Length: 1.25 miles (2k)
Elevation Change: 20 feet (6m)
Time: 20-30 mins
This map shows the pathway that is paved all the way around and is typically plowed by 7am during the snowy months. Lots of activity by Carroll College students, and the general public.
Centennial Longer Loop (Accessible; mixed surface)
Starting Point: Centennial Park
Length: 1.6 miles (2.6k)
Elevation Change: 15 feet (5m)
Time: 20-30 mins
This loop around Centennial adds a couple of short sections of gravel pathway. The gravel paths are plowed during the snowy months, too, just a bit later than the paved sections.
Mount Helena Loops
Bitterroot Saddle Loop
Starting Point: Eric Feaver trailhead
Length: 1.15 miles (1.8k)
Elevation Change: 182 feet (55m)
Time: 25-35 mins
From the trailhead on Le Grande Canon Blvd, head east on Le Grande around the shoulder of the hill to the Holter St. trailhead. Take that trail (Quarry trail) up just past a small draw. Continue straight to Daisy Hill Trail to the Eric Feaver/Quarry Ridge intersection. Go right along Feaver to a low saddle, then the Quarry trail left to meet again with Feaver. Feaver back down back to the trailhead. Bitterroots can be seen in the low saddle, hummingbirds are frequent along the closed off section of Le Grande Blvd., and the Feaver Meadow is the only place in Helena I have found Sheridan’s Green Hairstreak butterflies.
Road to Mars to Le Petit Loop
Starting Point: LeGrande/Silverette trailhead
Length: 1.4 miles (2.2k)
Elevation Change: 275 feet (83m)
Time: 30-45 mins
From the trailhead, go up Road To Mars and then cut over on OGR Connector and Old Chevy Connector, up to Seven Sisters. Follow Seven Sisters down to the low saddle where it intersects Le Petit Pass and take the eastern leg down back to the trailhead. This loop crosses over several trails, so there are lots of variations that can be explored.
Road to Mars to Charlie’s Loop
Starting Point: LeGrande/Silverette trailhead
Length: 1.75 miles (2.9k)
Elevation Change: 195 feet (60m)
Time: 30-40 mins
This is a nice way to add some elevation to a LeGrande Cannon hike. Road to mars to the OGR Cutover then up to the saddle where Charlie’s trail connects. Down Charlie’s and back on LeGrande.
NW Passage to Ambrose Loop
Starting Point: LeGrande/Silverette trailhead
Length: 2.3 miles (3.6k)
Elevation Change: 256 feet (67m)
Time: 55-65 mins
From the trailhead take LeGrande to Road To Mars, then up to a crossover that leads left to Northwest Passage trail. Follow NorthWest Passage to either Panhandle or Swaney and head up Swaney to the Ambrose Trail. Follow ambrose to the right until it ends at Old Chevy. Take Old Chevy to Old Guy Ripper (OGR),anf follow OGR down to LeGrande. This is a lovely evening hike.
Dump Gulch Ridge Loop (Achille’s Loop)
Starting Point: Dump Gulch trailhead
Length: 2.7 miles (4.4k)
Elevation Change: 725 feet (222 meters)
Time: 1-2 hours
This is the loop that I tore my Achilles tendon on in March 2025. Fom the trailhead go way over to the left of the main trail and you’ll see a steep, rocky path leading up. This is a rarely used trail with a decent bunch of wildflowers and bird-life along the way. One of my favorite trails in the system. Terminates at Helena Ridge trail and then connects to McKelvey. You can shorten the loop by dropping down South Dump Gulch and connecting to a lower point on the McKelvey trail.
Morning Light Loop
Starting Point: Mount Helena trailhead
Length: 2.75 miles (4.5k)
Elevation Change: 275 feet (83m)
Time: 30-45 mins
This is a terrific morning loop. Beginning at the Mount Helena trailhead go up 1906 to Prairie and out to Diretissema, then down to Swaney and back on Ambrose.
Mini-Ridge and Emmet’s Loop
Starting Point: Emmett’s/Mini-Ridge trailhead
Length: 3.4 miles (5.4k)
Elevation Change:
Time:
This is a fantastic wildflowering and birding loop. Starting at the Mini-Ridge trailhead go up Mini-Ridge to the point where it intersects the Helena Ridge Trail, then come down Emmet’s which is at the same intersection. Lady Slippers and Fairy Slippers, Scarlet Paintbrush, the occasional Alaskan Rein Orchid and a couple of species of violets await an attentive hiker. Grouse, Wild Turkeys, Canada Jays, Tanagers and woodpeckers are in this are much of the warmer months. Lots of Butterflies near the top of Mini-Ridge. This is a gem!
Mount Ascension Loops
Bompart/Rocky Road Loop
Starting Point: Rocky Road trailhead
Length: 1.6 miles (2.4k)
Elevation
Time:
From the trailhead go right, up Rocky Road and follow it around to Prickly Pear trail. Take Prickly Pear left to the Bompart Summit trail and then take any of the three trails down from the summit Rocky Road. Turn right and head back to Prickly pear, then down to Lime Kiln Road. This loop requires a very short distance walking on the side of Lime Kiln Road from Prickly Pear trailhead to Rocky Road trailhead.
Arrowroot To the Top Loop
Starting Point: Arrowroot trailhead
Length: 1.7 miles (2.8k)
Elevation Change: 320 ft (97m)
Time:
Starts and ends at the Arrowroot Connector Trailhead at the top of Lime Kiln/Arrowroot Rd. Rough road near the top. Road stays icy/snowy well into spring.
Generally easy hike with a terrific view of the valley from the top of Mount Ascension. Arrowroot Connector trail leads up to Entertainment. Take Entertainment right to the SW summit of Mount Ascension and then down to the saddle between the summits. The saddle hosts the intersection of the 2006, Entertainment, and Mount Ascension Loop trails. Take 2006 back towards the Arrowroot trailhead. Lots of wildflowers and the occasional owl. The
Aftershock Loop
Starting Point: Arrowroot trailhead
Length: 3.5 miles (5.6k)
Elevation Change: 295 ft (85m)
Time:
Starts and ends at the Arrowroot Connector Trailhead at the top of Lime Kiln/Arrowroot Rd. Rough road near the top. Road stays icy/snowy well into spring.
Overall, this is a moderate hike with a couple of strenuous stretches on the 2006 trail as it heads towards the top of Mount Ascension. Lots of wildflowers.
3.5 miles (5.6k)
Rodney Ridge Loops
Rodney Loop #2 – 3 miles; 90-120 minutes.
Starting Point: Sparta St. trailhead
Length: 3 miles (4.8k)
Elevation Change:
Time:
Starting from the Rodney St./Sparta St. Trailhead follow the Rodney Ridge trail until it meets Don’t Fence Me In. Take the entire Don’t Fence Me In to the Waterline Trail intersection and go left just about a mile to the T.R. Trail. Take T.R. uphill to the saddle where it intersects Pinchot. Stick with T.R. and head down to into the meadow and take the Rodney Ridge trail left back to the trailhead. The Don’t Fence Me In, Waterline, and uphill portion of the T.R. are cooler and damper than many trails in the area most of the year. You can easily lop this loop in half and reduce the length by 1.5 miles (2.4k) and about 30 minutes, by cutting up the Rodney Meadow Trail from the Waterline rather continuing to the T.R. Cassin’s Finches are a regualr in this area during the migration seasons.
Top of the World Loop
Starting Point: Old Shooting Range trailhead
Length: 3.5 miles (5.6k)
Elevation Change:
Time: 60-75 mins
Starting from the Old Rifle Range Trailhead take the Rodney Meadow Trail up to T.R., then to Pinchot. Take Pinchot to the Rodney Ridge/Top Of The World and Rent Money intersection. Skipping the Top of the World leg reduces the distance by about .7 miles (1.2k). Take Rent Money back down the to the Rodney Meadow and follow it back to the the Trailhead. Lots of birds and wildflowers during the warmer months. Early and late season Mountain Bluebirds are found here.
Scratchgravel Hills Loops
Head Lane East Loop
Starting Point: Head Lane trailhead
Length: 1.2 miles (2k)
Elevation Change: 345 feet (105m)
Time: 30-45 minutes
Echo Lane Loop
Starting Point: Echo Lane trailhead
Length: 1.25 miles (2k)
Elevation Change: 112 feet (34m)
Time: 30-35 minutes
Tumbleweed Big Open Short Loop
Starting Point: Tumbleweed trailhead
Length: 1.9 miles (3k)
Elevation Change:
Time:
Head Lane West Loop
Starting Point: Head Lane trailhead
Length: 2 miles (2k)
Elevation Change: 257 feet (78m)
Time: 45-60 minutes
Tumbleweed Big Open Long Loop
Starting Point: Tumbleweed trailhead
Length: 2.9 miles (4.6k)
Elevation Change:
Time:
Norris Short Loop
Starting Point: Norris trailhead
Length: 1.75 miles (2.8k)
Elevation Change:
Time: