Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fighting unpredictable wildfires, something the nation learned again in the summer
of 2013 with the tragic loss of 19 hotshots in Yarnell, Arizona.
Skiing
Despite the fact that Helena is rather dry compared to many parts of Montana, they do have
a pretty impressive ski hill when the weather cooperates.
Great Divide
(7385 Belmont Dr.,
Marysville, 406/449-3746,
www.skigd.com
,
$40 adults, $30 students, seniors, and military,
cheaper tickets available for less terrain and shorter time) has 140 trails and four terrain
parks spread across three peaks and three valleys. There is terrain for everyone from tod-
dlers testing out their ski legs to triple-black-diamond adrenaline junkies. The mountain is
23 miles north of Helena, and in the summer offers two-hour guided
horseback rides
(406/
439-8742, $49 pp) in beautiful forested and open areas.
Hiking
Considered by many to be the best urban hiking trail in the state, the 7-plus-mile (one-way)
trail along the
Mount Helena Ridge
leads gradually up and along the forested ridge over-
looking the Helena Valley. It can be accessed five miles south of town from the Park City
trailhead or in town at the Mount Helena trailhead: Drive south on Park Avenue until you
see the sign for Mount Helena City Park. Drive through the Reeders Village subdivision
to get to the parking lot. Arrange a shuttle (or turn around partway) if you don't want to
hike the full 14.8 miles round-trip. If you depart from the Mount Helena parking area, there
are roughly 20 miles of hiking trails in the 620-acre park to explore. For more information,
contact the
Helena Ranger District
(406/449-5490,
www.fs.usda.gov/helena
)
.
BOULDER HOT SPRINGS AND RADON MINES
In a town that is somewhat jokingly referred to by locals as “Institutionville” for its
plethora of, well, institutions (the Montana Developmental Center, Alternative Youth
Adventures, and Riverside Corrections, to name a few), Boulder is home to some
fascinating therapies indeed.
Indisputably, one of the best is the mineral-rich water at
Boulder Hot Springs
(31
Hot Springs Rd., 406/225-4339,
www.boulderhotsprings.com
,
hours vary daily and
seasonally), a historical gem about 30 miles south of Helena off Highway 69. Back-
