Distinctly Montana Magazine

d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • s U m m E R 2 0 1 4 94 M ount Helena is one of those "can't miss" spots for visitors in the capital city. For me, it's the same, but with the added nostalgia that comes with having grown up here and then returning later in life. Even if you're not a serious hiker or mountain biker, the 620-acre park is a must, no matter the season. The 360-degree view from the top is probably the biggest draw, but you don't have to hike to the summit to get beautiful vistas of the val- ley, or enjoy the peace and quiet of the woods so close to downtown. My hiking buddy today is Bailey, a Labrador retriever with a major case of cabin fever, and we're headed through the timber, whether I like it or not. In late winter, some folks will try snowshoeing up here. But the trails are typically traveled enough to hike in boots. Aided with Yak- Trax or MicroSpikes for traction, the slick terrain isn't so bad. From the parking lot, there are several straight shots to the top, gradual climbs through the trees, or more level jaunts over the grassy hillsides, all of which offer incredible views. In the summer, you're as likely to run into old friends and coworkers on the trail as you are at the local watering holes. Folks either get in a quick hike in the morning before work, hike over their lunch breaks, or hit the trail in the evenings when the air is cooler. But in winter, things are a bit quieter, and that's a good thing if you're looking to get away. No moun- tain bikers. No high school cross-country runners in training. Just a handful of heavily clothed, eager souls who refuse to wait for the spring thaw. On Mount Helena, swaths of timber are now gone, victims of the pine beetle epidemic that has plagued much of the Northern Rockies. For the past two sum- H E L E D o W N N a t o P froM tHE artICLE aND PHotoS by jESSICa SoLbErg MouNt HELENa traILHEaD To get to the Mount hElEna traIlhEaD, drive south on Park Avenue, turn right on Reeder's Village Drive, turn right on Village Drive, and travel through the residential neighborhood until you reach a blacktop road. Turn left on the blacktop road and travel approximately 200 yards to the parking lot. Trolley to Trails, a free shuttle service sponsored by downtown busi- nesses, transports hikers and bikers from the Women's Mural at Broadway and Last Chance Gulch to the Mount helena Trailhead. The trolley runs every Saturday at 8 a.m., 8:40 a.m., and 9:20 a.m. from June 13 through September 5. (406) 477-1535. Bailey

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