Montana State Capital: Helena MT

Helena, Montana is the midpoint between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks which are about 180 miles in either direction. It is also a center point sitting east of Missoula, north of Bozeman and Big Sky, and northwest of Billings, Montana. Now the state capitol of Montana, the gold rush in 1864 initially brought people to Helena. Today visitors search the area for both gold and sapphires. With 42 city parks and a handful of recreation areas around Helena there is rarely a dull moment in the state capitol.

When Lewis and Clark traveled down the Missouri River in 1805, they named a section near Helena the "Gates of the Mountains" in reaction to the limestone cliffs towering above them. To them the cliffs acted as gates, blocking them from their journey. Canyon Ferry, Spring Meadow, Hauser, and Holter Lakes sit intermittently along the Missouri. These recreation areas are fantastic places for viewing wildlife. Some larger and more popular city parks include Mount Helena City Park with 630 acres of trails, Memorial Park which has a swimming pool and ice skate rink, and Fire Tower and Ryan Parks. Spring Meadow Lake State Park is well known for its Centennial Park Trail. Elkhorn Wildlife Management Area and Blackfoot Meadows are also in the greater Helena area. The Bob Marshal Wilderness Complex runs from Helena to Glacier National Park in northern Montana, offering over 1800 miles of trails.

With so much public land, the only decision to make is what to do within these various parks and recreations areas. Whether you hike, golf, bike, fish, hunt, ski, or snowmobile, you will have no problem finding the space and gear you need in and around Helena. Helena, MT is a summer and winter destination. Enjoy both ice and fly fishing for rainbow, brook, brown, bull, and Yellowstone and west slope cutthroat trout. There are three popular snowmobiling areas with groomed trails: Marysville's trail system is 45 miles long, Sunshine's 120, and Minnehaha-Rimini's 45. Great Divide Mountain sits twenty miles from town and can challenge any level skier when she is covered with snow. MacDonald Pass is a great location for cross-country skiing.

Year round events are endless. No matter what time of year you visit the state capitol, you are sure to get a taste of Helena's culture. In February watch the Race to the Sky sled dog races. Tune your ears to the Mount Helena Music Festival in June and don't miss the exciting rodeo and the amusing Cardboard Cup Rigatta in July. Music returns during the Last Chance Bluegrass Festival and Street Dance in August. The winter brings the Festival of the Trees in December. Theatre, music, art, and dance performances fill the year and if you visit with kids make sure to ride on the historic carousel.

Helena, Montana is easily accessible by plane, bus, and car. Rimrock Trailways and Greyhound provide service to many Montana cities and towns. Helena Airport has frequent international and domestic flights. From Big Sky, Montana head north on US 191, west on I-90, north on US 287, and US 12 to your destination of Helena, Montana.