Distinctly Montana Magazine

d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • s p r i n g 2 0 1 4 36 MouNt HELENa CIty park Mount Helena City Park is one of Helena's most noticeable and iconic landmarks. With a peak elevation of 5,468 feet above sea level, it offers amazing views of the val- ley and mountains. Across its 630 acres, an abundance of trails for mountain biking lie in wait to be explored. Riders can make several fun and technically challenging loops around the area and take in the sights of Helena from a whole new perspective. 1906 trail/hOgbaCk trail/ PrOsPeCt shafts trail (lOOP) level Of DiffiCulty: Moderate length: 3.2 mile loop trailheaD: Mt. Helena Trailhead (Drive up through the subdivision on Reeder's Village Drive to the dirt parking lot.) The 1906 Trail has been the most direct route to Mt. Helena's summit for over 70 years. Along the 1.6 miles to the top, riders pass a cave known as Devil's Kitchen and along the base of picturesque limestone cliffs. After reaching the summit, riders begin a steep and rocky descent southward on Hogback Trail along the exposed Hogback Ridge. Hogback connects with Prospect Shafts Trail, halfway along which riders pass by old mining shafts for which the trail is named. Wrapping around all sides of the mountain, this loop offers spectacular views in all directions. aMbrOse trail/swaney trail/ lOwer Prairie trail (lOOP) level Of DiffiCulty: Moderate length: 2.7 mile loop trailheaD: Mt. Helena Trailhead (Drive through the subdivision on Reeder's Village Drive to the dirt parking lot.) Or Tubbs Trailhead on Le Grande Cannon Boulevard. This loop features mostly contouring trails that are more forgiving for the beginner mountain biker. The Swaney Trail offers a less-traveled access route to Mt. Helena's trail system. Swaney wraps around the north side of Mt. Helena and connects with the Lower Prairie Trail or Diretissima. The Prairie Trail was named for the prairie wildflowers that bloom in summer along its length, including patches of Montana's state flower— the bitterroot. This trail is also one of the best routes to see the mountain's cliffs and north-slope landscapes. Mt. helena riDge trail level Of DiffiCulty: Moderate – hard length: 7.0 miles one way trailheaD: Mt. Helena Trailhead (Drive through the subdivision on Reeder's Village Drive to the dirt parking lot.) Or Mt. Helena Ridge Trail Trailhead in Park City. This is a classic ridge crest trail with extensive views. in late spring the area is scattered with big yellow arrowleaf balsamroot flowers. The trail contains several sections of rocky, technical terrain and a couple of short but tough climbs in either direction. On the weekends during the summer the Trail Rider shuttle also transports riders for free to the Mr. Helena Ridge Trail trailhead. EaSt SIDE traILS East of Montana Avenue, bikers can enjoy several new trails, some of which connect into the South Hills Trails system. The trails offer easy access to the woods from some of Helena's newest neighborhoods, like Nob Hill, and vary from easy loops to challenging switchbacks. How to clean your bike in 15 minutes! www.distinctlymontana.com/bike142 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL

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