BUTTE, HELENA, AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA - Montana and Wyoming - page 360

There are many ways to enjoy this scenic area on your own, but for those interested
in tours, Gates of the Mountains Boat Tours (3131 Gates of the Mountains Rd., 20
miles north of Helena at I-15 exit 209, 406/458-5241, www.gatesofthemountains.com ) has
120-minute cruises ($16 adults, $14 seniors, $10 children 4-12, free for children under 4)
from the marina; schedules change daily, so call for details. There is abundant wildlife in
the area, including bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and more than 120 bird species. You can
bring a picnic lunch and get off the boat at Meriwether Picnic Area, returning later on an-
other one. It is also possible to hike from here to Mann Gulch, where 13 firefighters were
killed by a fast-moving wildfire in 1949.
Canyon Ferry, Hauser, and Holter Lakes
All three lakes were created by dams on the Missouri River, and all three have become im-
portant recreational areas for people from all over southwest Montana.
Located south of Helena off U.S. Highway 287, Canyon Ferry Lake is the largest of
the three and the newest, dating to the 1950s. Canyon Ferry covers 25 square miles and of-
fers 80 miles of shoreline along with endless boating and fishing opportunities. The nearby
Canyon Ferry Wildlife Management Area provides habitat for a diversity of animals that
include foxes, moose, ospreys, and geese. There are plentiful campgrounds and services
around the lake, but things fill up quickly on hot summer weekends, so book in advance.
A scenic 3,200-acre reservoir seven miles north of Helena on I-15, then four miles
east on Highway 453 and three miles north on a county road, Hauser Lake is home to
record-breaking kokanee salmon, rainbow and brown trout, walleye, and perch. Two pub-
lic campgrounds, White Sandy Recreation Area (406/533-7600, $10/night) and Black
Sandy State Park (406/495-3260, www.fwp.mt.gov/parks , $20/night May-Sept., $18/night
Oct.-Apr., $5 day-use for nonresidents) offer terrific access to the reservoir.
Holter Lake (406/533-7600) is the most beautiful of the reservoir lakes, within view of
the Gates of the Mountains north of Helena. There are three public campgrounds and recre-
ation areas along the shoreline, designated swimming areas, two boat ramps, and plenty of
fish waiting to be caught.
YOUNG MEN AND FIRE: THE TRAGEDY AT MANN GULCH
Not far from the Gates of the Mountains is a small but haunting little draw known as
Mann Gulch, still reachable only by boat or air. The tragedy at Mann Gulch happened