My favorite part about living right in town is that I can pretend that urban sprawl has skipped Helena, Montana. It hasn’t, but the old downtown part of Helena butts right up against hills and mountains that are protected from development. The city stops and open space begins. No big housing developments, just mountains. The mountain that has defined Helena since the town was founded during the gold rush is Mt. Helena.
Mt. Helena above downtown Helena
Mt. Helena is actually a city park, thanks to the foresight of the Helena Improvement Society, who started buying the land in 1903. By 1906 they’d purchased 360 acres; today the city owns close to 1,000. I’m on the mountain at least twice a week, pretty much all year long, so I’m plenty grateful to those long ago city improvers.
I hiked to the top a couple of days ago and thought I’d share some pictures from that hike.
Remains of lime kilns at the start of the trail
I headed up the Prospect Shafts Trail on the south side of the mountain. The trail is lined with old adits (exploratory holes) that the miners dug more than a hundred years ago.
The view of the National Forest lands to the south.
Trail to the top
Amost to the top
Views from the summit, 5,468 ft., 1300 feet above town:
Off the Beaten Path: Hikes, Backpacks, and Travels 
Wow, that’s awesome! What kind of animals do you see up there?
Thanks! I always see deer and birds (bluebirds, ravens, vultures, woodpeckers). Sometimes a fox or a coyote, too. Some folks have seen black bear and mountain lions, but I haven’t.
Very nice. Helena is such a pretty location. I always loved going there when we drove to our spot to put the boats in to float down the Missouri to Great Falls.
Thanks!
Awesome views from a lovely part of the country. Wish I had that right outside my backdoor. I have to drive a little ways but luckily not too far. Stay safe.
I’m enjoying reading about your neck of the woods – it’s so different from here!
What a lovely day you had for your hike. The scenery is breathtaking.
Thanks, it was a particularly nice day for early spring in Montana!
Wow, what a great backyard! I’m jealous. As always, I love your posts! Thank you for sharing.
Oh just lovely… I so want to be there.