| Trail |
Elevation Change |
Description |
Directions |
Distance |
|
Townsend Ranger District |
|
Boulder Lakes Trail #142
|
920 ft.
|
Trail #118
from Duck Creek is steep as is Trail #142, which descends into
Boulder Lakes. The area is rugged and scenic. Best to plan an
overnight trip. There are suitable campsites near the Lakes. |
Big Belt
Mountains
Take highway 12 east of Townsend for 2 miles and turn left onto
Highway 284 (Canyon Ferry Road). Follow this road for 11 miles and
turn right onto the Duck Creek Road #139. Follow the Duck Creek Road
for approximately 11 miles to Trail #118. Take trail #118 for 6
miles to the junction of Trail #142. |
9.0 miles |
|
Cedar Bar/Faulkner Trail #105
|
1407 ft.
|
This trail is mainly used during
hunting season but does allow for short outings since the trailhead
is along Highway 12 and accessible by passenger vehicle |
Big Belt Mountains
From Townsend take Highway 12 east for approximately 16.5 miles to
the trailhead. |
4.0 miles |
|
Eagle Interpretive Trail
#101
|
700 ft |
This trail has 13 stations depicting
different features of the landscape and animals that inhabit the
area, as well as man’s influence of the area. Animals you could see
are bear, elk, deer, moose, and small animals such as squirrels,
rabbits, and birds. Motorized travel on the trail is restricted
yearlong; road access is closed to all motorized use Dec 2 to May
15th. All other uses welcome. The cabin is not available for rent
from September 1 to November 30. |
Elkhorn Mountains
From Townsend, go south on Highway 287 approximately 8 miles to
Toston. Turn right at the Bunkhouse Bar on County Road #285 toward
Radersburg. At Radersburg the pavement ends. Stay on the gravel road
until you reach the forest boundary. At that point the road becomes
Forest Road #424. Follow it for 5 miles. Turn right on #405. Cross
Crow Creek and follow the signs to Eagle Station. |
The short
loop is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) and long loop is 3.5 miles
|
|
Longfellow/Clear Creek Trail
#112
|
2100 ft |
Scenic
overlooks of both Crow Creek and Crazy Creek are breathtaking on the
divide. Small meadows dot the upper Crazy Creek drainage offering a
good chance to see elk, deer, black bear, and moose. There are a few
dispersed campsites along the trail. In the spring wildflowers
abound in the small parks. Fall brings the rutting season for elk
where you may hear four or five bulls bugling at the same time. The
trail is well blazed and signed. Trailhead #112 and trail #101 are a
shared trail for about 1 mile. When you cross Eureka Creek veer to
your right and continue until you drop down into a grassy park. Turn
left and cross Longfellow Creek and turn right at the old corrals.
In 1 mile you will be at the junction with Trail #133. Turn right
and cross Longfellow Creek again. Turn left and start the climb to
the divide between Crow Creek and Crazy Creek. At the divide you
will drop into Crazy Creek. Follow the ridge toward Clear Creek. A
loop opportunity is possible. From the upper junction of #112 and
#133, take #133 and return to Eagle Station. At this point if you
wish to continue toward Tizer Station, it is approximately 3 miles.
Motorized travel on the trail is restricted yearlong; road access is
closed to all motorized use Dec 1 to May 15th |
Elkhorn
Mountains
From Townsend take Highway 287 south to Toston. Turn right at County
Road #285 toward Radersburg. At Radersburg the pavement ends. Stay
on the gravel road for the next 5 miles. At the forest boundary the
road becomes Forest Road #424. Follow this until you come to the
junction with Forest Road #405. Turn right and cross the Crow Creek
bridge. Continue on Forest Road #405 until the junction with Eagle
Station. Turn left and go past the Eagle Station 1/3 mile to the
trailhead and parking area
|
10.5 miles one-way
to Tizer Station |
|
Pole Creek Trail #117
|
2240 ft. |
This trail
accesses the Beaver Creek and McClellan Creek areas and is mainly
used by hunters. It does offer opportunities for hiking and camping.
This area also lets the visitor see the effects of fire on the
landscape. The burn that affected this area was the Warm Spring fire
of 1988. Motorized travel on the trail is restricted yearlong.
|
Elkhorn
Mountains
Take Highway 287 north of Townsend for 14 miles to the Pole Creek
Road #491. Follow this road for 4 miles to the trailhead. |
3.6 miles
|
|
Tizer Poe Park Trail #110
|
50 ft. |
This trail
provides access into Tizer Basin and the interior of the Elkhorn
Mountains. It offers opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting and
camping. The trail, closed to motorized use yearlong, is most
popular during the fall big game hunting season. Motorized access to
the trail from the Crow Creek Road is restricted from December 1st
to May 15th. |
Elkhorn
Mountains
Take Highway 287 north of Townsend for 11 miles to Highway 285. Turn
west on Highway 285 and follow for 9 miles to the town of Radersburg.
Here the road changes to the Crow Creek Road #424. Follow this road
approximately 17 miles to the trailhead. |
2.5 miles
|
|
Lincoln Ranger District |
|
Arrastra Creek Trail #482
|
828 ft. |
This trail begins off the Beaver Creek
Road #4106. The route, which parallels the creek, does
have several steep inclines but the entire trail is generally well
maintained. There are no bridges at the two Arrastra Creek crossings
so please use caution. Because the trail transitions through talus
slopes and closed canopied Douglas fir trees, it is a scenic route.
There are two meadows that offer excellent camping and picnicking
opportunities, with views of the surrounding mountainsides. A short
distance prior to the Wilderness Boundary is a small pond that
frequently attracts wildlife. Just before the second creek crossing,
the Porcupine Basin Trail #488 intersects with the Arrastra Creek
Trail. Trail #488, which provides access to Huckleberry Pass, is not
routinely maintained. This is Grizzly Bear country and both black
and Grizzly bears visit the lake. Arrastra Creek is in the Northern
Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE); Grizzly Bear Recovery Area.
Please comply with the Food Storage Special Order LC00-18, and store
your attractants and food in a bear resistant manner. A copy of the
order is available at the Lincoln Ranger District or on the Helena
Forest Website |
Arrastra Mountain
From Lincoln travel west on State
Highway 200 turn north on the Beaver Creek Road #4106. You will come
to a junction, turn left and follow the Beaver Creek Road northwest
approximately nine miles to Reservoir Lake and the signed trailhead.
Reservoir Lake is a barren lake; so don't look for any fishing here |
3.5 miles
to the Wilderness Boundary |
|
CDNST Trail #440 |
From
Flesher Pass to the highest point you gain 1086 ft. From
Rogers Pass to the highest point you gain 1607 ft. |
This is a non-motorized trail with
spectacular views and a variety of terrain. Mountain bikers, stock
users, backpackers, and day hikers commonly use the trail. Look for
many varieties of wildflowers from spring into July. You will need
to pack your own water, and be prepared for drastic changes in
climate during the hike; wind speeds of 60+ mph are not uncommon.
The trail transitions through thick timber environment to above tree
line and offers spectacular views both east and west of the
Continental Divide. All types of wildlife including grizzly bears
frequent the area. |
Lewis and Clark Mountain Range
Flesher Pass is located between HWY 200 and Helena on HWY 279. A new
trailhead will be constructed on Flesher Pass in 2004.
Rogers Pass
is located on HWY 200 between Lincoln and Great Falls. There is some
parking on both sides of HWY 200.
|
13.1 miles from Rogers
Pass to Flesher Pass |
|
Heart Lake Trail
|
812ft |
Heart Lake
is in the Scapegoat Wilderness, and group sizes are limited to 15
people to help preserve the Wilderness character. During the warm
summer weekends you may encounter 50 people on the trail. The
campsites near the lake are limited and for the most part are
heavily impacted. There is a permanent hitch rail near the lake and
we ask stock users to please use the hitch rail when visiting the
lake area. There are great views of Red Mountain, the highest
mountain in the Bob Marshall Complex. This is Grizzly
Bear country and both black and Grizzly bears visit the lake. Heart
Lake is in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE );
Grizzly Bear Recovery Area. Please comply with the Food Storage
Special Order LC00-18, and store your attractants and food in a bear
resistant manner. A copy of the order is available at the Lincoln
Ranger District or on the Helena Forest Website |
Scapegoat Wilderness
From HWY 200 turn north on the Copper Creek Road #330 and travel
approximately to 8 miles to the junction with the Indian Meadows
road #1882 turn right and travel approximately 1 mile to the
trailhead. Take the Mainline Trail #481 to the junction with the
Heart Lake Trail #424, and follow the trail to the lake |
2 miles |
|
Sauerkraut Trail #401
|
1000 ft. |
Sauerkraut
Trail is one of the original accesses to the Lincoln View Mine,
which is located near the end of the trail. As with many trails
built on Forest Service land, this one was constructed for purposes
other than recreation. However, it is an excellent hiking trail,
especially for a family day trip, because of its short length, and
also for the cultural aspect. The trail follows the creek the entire
way through a closed canopied forest of Douglas fir and lodge pole
pine. You may even be lucky enough to hike this trail during berry
season when there are huckleberries galore. Please be careful around
the mine. There are many unseen hazards. Once past the mine the
trail turns into an old road. This road continues up to the
intersection with Trail #404, where you will find a few other hiking
options. |
Ogden
Mountains
From Lincoln, follow Highway 200 west for a distance of 3 miles.
Turn south on Dalton Mountain Road #329 and follow it approximately
4.5 miles to the junction of the Sauerkraut Road #1892. Turn right
(west) proceed for approximately 3 miles where the road is gated.
The trail is located on the south side of the gated road. Please
note there is no sign that marks the trailhead. |
4 miles round trip
|
|
Stonewall Ridge Trail #417
|
|
The walk is
a beautiful ridge hike with outstanding views of the Blackfoot
Valley. The junction of Trail #418 and Trail #417 is not well marked
but it is located on top of the ridge. Caution is advised on
Stonewall Mountain due to high winds. Clouds often engulf the top of
the Mountain; keep an eye out for quick changes in weather. Once
past the meadow it is a steady gradual climb through a closed canopy
environment. There are a few glimpses of the Lincoln Valley, but
none that can-compare with the view you receive once on top of
Stonewall Mountain. On a clear summer afternoon the hikers can see
the Garnet and Flint Mountain Ranges, which are a breathtaking
sight. The ridge top is dry, so be sure to carry some water.
Campsites are available throughout the trail, but the most popular
is the meadow where the trail began. |
Stonewall
Mountain
1st Access is from Highway 200, turn north onto Copper Creek Road
#330, and follow to the Snowbank Lake parking area. Follow Trail
#418 to trail junction with the Stonewall Trail #417.
2nd Access is from Highway 200, turn
north onto Sucker Creek Road #1800 and follow 2.5 miles to the
trailhead The trailhead sign off to the left and the parking and
hitch rail is to the right. |
5.5 miles
from Snowbank Lake 6.7 miles
from Sucker Creek
|
|
Helena Ranger District |
|
Blackfoot Meadows Trail #362
|
1420 ft. |
This trail is located within the
proposed Electric Peak Wilderness. Popular uses include hiking,
horseback riding, and mountain biking; motorized travel is
prohibited. If the area is designated as wilderness in the future,
mountain biking will be prohibited. Much of this part of the
Helena National Forest is well roaded from past years of timber
harvest and mining activities, however the headwaters of the Little
Blackfoot provide a large roadless area with opportunities for day
rides and camping sites. Two main access points will get you into
this area. One is the trailhead just beyond the
Kading Campground. Here there is room to turn a horse
trailer around and park. The other access point is off the Ontario
Creek road near the Monarch mine. A small meadow there provides
trailer parking. The Larabee Gulch trail #359 has no parking or turn
around space. This area south of the Little Blackfoot River road is
heavily timbered and trails are low gradient making it easy on the
horses. The Blackfoot Meadows trail #329 follows the Little
Blackfoot River into the Blackfoot Meadows. From Blackfoot Meadows
you can ride southward to Cottonwood Lake or Thunderbolt Mountain on
the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, to the Monarch Mine
trailhead or Larabee Gulch. The loop from the Kading area to
Blackfoot Meadows, to Larabee Gulch and back up the road makes a
good day ride.The
Kading Cabin is available for rent from the Forest Service. This
is an old Forest Service Guard Station used by the early day Forest
Rangers. There are corrals here as well as a creek. This area is
good starting point for an enjoyable weekend of day trips. Remember
that certified weed seed free hay is required when feeding livestock
on Forest Service land |
Little Blackfoot Area
Access is via Highway 12 near Elliston, turn south and travel on the
Little Blackfoot Road 227 to a parking area south of Kading
Campground. |
7.50
miles |
|
Hanging Valley Trail #247
|
1360 ft. |
This
National Recreation Trail is one of the most unique and spectacular
trails in the Helena area. Hikers will want to take plenty of water
on this hike. There is an elevation gain of approximately 1400 feet
in the first 3 miles to trail junction #248. Then an additional 440
feet before the trail starts its’ descent to the scenic overlook. At
several locations along the trail, there are opportunities to enjoy
outstanding scenic views. The ten switchbacks located near the end
of the trail guide you down 1,000 feet to a moist valley of giant
Douglas fir trees and towering limestone cliffs. As you continue
down the valley, the canyon narrows and the maintained trail ends.
At this point only those in extremely good physical condition should
proceed the last 100 yards down the steep path to the scenic
overlook. The final 100 yards contains several steep (3-4 foot)
drops through crevasses in the rock wall. |
Big Belt
Mountains
Take county road 280 (otherwise know as York Road) to York. Continue
approximately 7 miles past York to Vigilante campground. Proceed to
the back of the campground to access the trail; a sign shows where
the trail begins in a heavily timbered draw at the northeast side of
the campground |
5.83
miles |
|
Missouri/Beaver Creek Trail
#254
|
150 ft. |
This scenic
trail follows the water’s edge where the Missouri River winds its
way through sheer cliffs. Although the trail grade is generally
level, there are a few steeper sections under 100 yards long. Please
note also, a portion of this trail proceeds over rocky terrain.
Hikers should stay on the developed trail to avoid the dangers of
rolling rocks. This trail can be accessed from the Beaver Creek Road
and at Hauser Dam. The trail provides fishing access and some
excellent bird-watching opportunities. Osprey, great blue heron,
American white pelican, golden eagle, California and ring-billed
gulls and a few species of ducks such as mergansers, may be
encountered. Mammals are harder to see, but hikers may catch a
glimpse of beaver, river otter, mountain goat, mule deer, elk or
black bear. Hikers occasionally meet rattlesnakes on the trail, so
be careful where you step. |
Big Belt
Mountains
Take county road 280, otherwise known as York Road. At the York Bar,
turn left onto a gravel road and head north about 8 miles to Nelson.
At Nelson, turn left heading west toward Beaver Creek, to the
Missouri River. Although this road is narrow and quite rough,
especially between Nelson and the river, a passenger vehicle can
usually make the trip, and it’s well worth the drive |
1.8 miles
|
|
Mount Helena Ridge Trail #373
|
800 ft. |
This
non-motorized 6-mile trail begins at the Park City Trailhead and
ends at the Mount Helena City Park. The trail offers vistas to
distant mountains, and wildflowers in season, but does have several
very steep segments. |
Elkhorn
Mountains
Access is via Grizzly Gulch Road #137 approximately 5 miles to the
Park City Trailhead |
5.7 miles
|
|
Refrigerator Canyon Trail #259
|
1760 ft. |
This trail
passes through a 10-foot wide, 200-foot high canyon that was carved
through limestone rock by a small mountain stream. The canyon in
appropriately named; evaporative cooling is caused by breezes
blowing over the stream and through the rock walls. The canyon is
only about ¼ mile from the trailhead. The beginning of the trail
passes through a luxurious, shaded forest. All of the area’s large
mammals are known to live in this region; one can occasionally see
whitetail deer and mountain goats on this hike. Refrigerator
Canyon Trail provides hikers and horseback riders access to Bear
Prairie as well as the eastern end of the Gates of the Mountains
Wilderness. This trail is gentle and well shaded with an open stand
of timber. There is no water on the lower portions of this trail. |
Big Belt Mountains/Gates of the Mountains
Take county road 280, otherwise known as York Road. At the York Bar,
turn left onto a gravel road and head north about 8 miles to Nelson.
At Nelson, turn right heading east toward Hogback Mountain
approximately 5 miles. The trailhead sign is large and easily seen
from the road. For those with horses, there is a roadside turnout
here with a hitching rack, but you may need to go up the road a mile
or so to turn around. |
9 Miles |
|
Trout Creek Canyon Trail #270
|
540 ft. |
The trail
through Trout Creek Canyon was once part of the Figure 8 Scenic
Route; this three-mile segment was destroyed during a spring flood
in 1981 and has been maintained as a trail ever since. It features
some spectacular viewing opportunities of magnificent limestone
formations. Although the entire trail surface is graveled or
native material, the first mile is accessible. An information kiosk
with interpretive brochures is located a short distance from the
trailhead. The first mile trail segment also features a bench and
picnic table. |
Big Belt Mountains
Take county road 280 (otherwise know as York Road). Continue
approximately 8 miles past York to Vigilante Campground. Parking for
this trailhead is provided at the campground entrance |
3 miles |
