Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 1 14 Just down the road from Wolf Creek on I-15 lies Montana's capital—HELENA (3). The copper domed state capitol building houses several important murals featuring themes from Mon- tana's colorful past, including one by renowned Montana artist Charles M. Russell, that depicts the meeting between the Salish Indians and explorers Lewis and Clark. Helena also makes for a good jumping-off point to further explore some of Montana's best scenery, including fishing the Blackfoot and Missouri Rivers and hiking along the nearby Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Just north of Helena is the spectacular 1,200-foot-tall limestone canyon walls of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area, aptly named by Meriwether Lewis when the Corps of Discovery passed through the area. At Cardwell on I-90, instead of heading south on 359, take the more scenic Highway 2 along the Jefferson River. Around the corner you will find LEWIS AND CLARK CAVERNS STATE PARK (4), Montana's first and most well-known state park. It features one of the largest known limestone caverns in the Northwest and park staff lead regular, safe, guided tours. These spectacular caves are lined with stalactites, stalag- mites, columns, and helictites. Outside the caverns, there are many hiking and biking trails and a camp- ground which includes cabins, tipis, and group campsites. Further down Highway 2 brings you to US 287. Heading south, this will take you all the way to West Yellowstone through the town of Ennis. From Ennis, it is only 14 miles over to VIRGINIA CITY (5). Virginia City (and its sister, Nevada City, just down the road) are former 19th century Montana "boom towns," but remain modern, active cities. Main Street is lined with buildings from the city's col- orful past, but it is more of an open-air museum than an abandoned ghost town. 4 HELENA LEWIS AND CLARK CAVERNS STATE PARK HELENA ALSO MAKES FOR A GOOD JUMPING-OFF POINT TO FURTHER EXPLORE SOME OF MONTANA'S BEST SCENERY. Scan the QR code to see more about... Montana's beautiful attractions www.distinctlymontana.com/parks212 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL 3

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