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Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
Trailforks scans users activity logs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months.
Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
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Winter Trails
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Trails are colored based on popularity. The more popular a trail is, the more red. Less popular trails trend towards green.
Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where users jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
BC Backroad Status
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SaveHelena is Montana's capital city, and has a legitimate claim to being its mountain bike capital as well. In addition to the South Hills bordering the southern downtown and residential neighborhoods, there are several distinct riding areas within a 30-minute drive.
There is a wide range of terrain, trail character, and experience across the Helena area. The South Hills are a popular shared-use trail network with primarily non-technical trails. The Continental Divide Trail on MacDonald Pass has very technical rock gardens. The Elkhorn range offers primitive backcountry rides.
Camping is limited close to Helena, but there are numerous developed campsites on BLM and USFS lands farther out.
There is a wide range of terrain, trail character, and experience across the Helena area. The South Hills are a popular shared-use trail network with primarily non-technical trails. The Continental Divide Trail on MacDonald Pass has very technical rock gardens. The Elkhorn range offers primitive backcountry rides.
Camping is limited close to Helena, but there are numerous developed campsites on BLM and USFS lands farther out.
Trail info last updated
IMBA Ride Center
Helena
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
574 trails
- E-Bike
78 trails
- Gravel Bike
318 trails
- Adaptive Bike
43 trails
- Winter Fat Bike
468 trails
- Horse
341 trails
- Hike
569 trails
- Trail Running
564 trails
- Dirtbike/Moto
66 trails
- ATV/ORV/OHV
61 trails
- Snowmobile
3 trails
- Snowshoe
492 trails
- Downhill Ski
0 trails
- Backcountry Ski
24 trails
- Nordic Ski
23 trails
Region Details
- 80
- 45
- 198
- 191
- 55
- 5
Region Status
Open as of Oct 16, 2026
Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 599
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 574
- Trails E-Bike
- 78
- Trails Gravel Bike
- 318
- Trails Adaptive Bike
- 43
- Trails Winter Fat Bike
- 468
- Trails Horse
- 341
- Trails Hike
- 569
- Trails Trail Running
- 564
- Trails Dirtbike/Moto
- 66
- Trails ATV/ORV/OHV
- 61
- Trails Snowmobile
- 3
- Trails Snowshoe
- 492
- Trails Backcountry Ski
- 24
- Trails Nordic Ski
- 23
- Total Distance
- 797 miles
- Total Descent
- 125,245 ft
- Total Vertical
- 5,352 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 8,936 ft
- Reports
- 17,319
- Photos
- 1,229
- Completed Counter
- 72,617
Articles
2025-Helenduro Photo Album
Jul 6, 2025 from pinkbike.com
The World's biggest biking photo gallery of photos like, crashes, north shore. 2025-Helenduro
2025 Montana Enduro Series Round 1: Helenduro Race Report
Jul 4, 2025 from pinkbike.com
The Helenduro, North America's second-oldest enduro race, took place last weekend in Helena, Montana.
Ritual MTB Film Tour Announces 2025 Selections
Mar 4, 2025 from pinkbike.com
The two-hour show consists of two segments and an intermission featuring a mix of films ranging from 20-minute long-form stories to three-minute...
2024-Helenduro Photo Album
Jul 8, 2024 from pinkbike.com
The World's biggest biking photo gallery of photos like, crashes, north shore. 2024-Helenduro
Sub Regions
-
Big Belts
- 2
- 21
- 5
- 1
-
Highway 12 Path
- 24
-
MacDonald Pass
- 3
- 1
-
McMaster Hills
- 14
- 12
- 2
-
North Elkhorns
- 27
- 26
- 10
- 1
-
Priest Area
- 8
- 11
- 1
-
Regulating Reservoir
- 1
- 8
-
Rimini
- 1
- 4
- 1
-
Scratchgravel Hills
- 3
- 43
- 18
- 10
- 1
-
South Hills
- 11
- 66
- 85
- 20
- 2
-
Spokane Hills South
- 10
- 1
-
Spokane Hills South
-
Tenmile Creek Park
- 5
- 8
-
York
- 5
- 4
- 2
Popular Helena Mountain Biking Trails
• 100 ★ 4.5 • 1 mile • 5 ft • 1,015 •
Entertainment Trail is old-school downhill: steep, straight and fast. Watch out for a couple of off-camber turns, and remember that you may encounter hikers - this is a multi-user trail.
• 95 ★ 4.5 • 1 mile • 36 ft • 1,000 •
*The middle portion of the Mount Helena Ridge Trail runs from Mini Ridge Trail to Show-Me-The-Horse Trail.* The Mount Helena Ridge Trail is the centerpiece of Helena's South Hills trail network. It runs for nearly six miles from the...
• 95 ★ 4.5 • 3 miles • 705 ft • 891 •
The Mount Helena Ridge Trail is the centerpiece of Helena's South Hills trail network. It runs for nearly six miles from the community of Park City to the Mount Helena City Park. It offers great views of the Helena Valley in either...
• 100 ★ 4.3 • 2 miles • 22 ft • 865 •
*The lower Mount Helena Ridge Trail runs from Show-Me-The-Horse to Diretissema/McKelvey Trails.* The Mount Helena Ridge Trail is the centerpiece of Helena's South Hills trail network. It runs for nearly six miles from the community of...
• 100 ★ 4.4 • 4,209 ft • 0 ft • 844 •
Rent Money is one of the first "bike-optimized" multi-use trails in the South Hills. It is generally wider and twistier than other local trails, and has rollers, doubles and banked turns. Although built with downhill riding in mind, it...
• 100 ★ 3.4 • 4,252 ft • 457 ft • 837 •
2006 Trail is the primary access to the summit of Mount Ascension and the top of the Entertainment Trail. The trail was built in 2006, and the name was chosen as an echo of 1906 Trail on Mount Helena. Seven switchbacks take you to the...
• 100 ★ 4.6 • 1 mile • 2 ft • 836 •
Show-Me-The-Horse is Helena's most popular downhill trail. It starts in open meadows, drops into open ponderosa pine forest, and ends in a tight, wooded gully. The trail empties onto Grizzly Gulch Road, and watch for traffic when...
• 100 ★ 3.3 • 3,186 ft • 134 ft • 700 •
The northern portion of Entertainment Trail follows an old Jeep track along the ridgeline south of Mount Ascension. It is a fall-line route with lots of exposed limestone and rubble.
Helena Mountain Bike Routes
Beartrap Gulch Featured
★ 4.0 • 13 miles • 2,448 ft • 4 • Loop •
Helena classic! The upper half of the Beartrap Gulch Trail is the best ribbon singletrack in the Helena...
★ 4.3 • 6 miles • 689 ft • 3 • Shuttled •
This is a local's favorite Mount Helena Ridge ride, ending with Show-Me-the-Horse Trail. It is an...
MacDonald Pass Featured
★ 5.0 • 7 miles • 722 ft • 2 • Shuttled •
Helena Classic! Four miles of the Continental Divide Trail lead to a locals' favorite downhill on the...
★ 5.0 • 13 miles • 1,665 ft • 9 • Shuttled •
This is a locals' favorite way to add a little more to a Trail Rider shuttle to the Mount Helena Ridge. As...
★ 5.0 • 8 miles • 1,573 ft • 8 • Loop •
Show Me the Hog is a great way to ride two marquee downhills in a ride under two hours. Climbing the 1906...
★ 4.0 • 7 miles • 1,246 ft • 4 • Loop •
This loop is the best way to ride Eddye McClure Trail and explore the eastern end of the South Hills. It...
Photos of Helena Mountain Bike
Videos of Helena Mountain Bike
Recent Trail Reports
| status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzly Gulch Road | Oct 16, 2026 @ 3:59pm (America/Creston) Oct 16, 2026 | Wet | gblauch | ||
| Oro Fino Drive | Oct 16, 2026 @ 3:59pm (America/Creston) Oct 16, 2026 | Dry | gblauch | ||
| Grizzly Gulch Road | Oct 16, 2026 @ 3:59pm (America/Creston) Oct 16, 2026 | Wet | gblauch | ||
| Grizzly Gulch South | Oct 16, 2026 @ 3:59pm (America/Creston) Oct 16, 2026 | Wet | gblauch | ||
| Magpie Gulch Road | Oct 17, 2026 @ 9:11am (America/Creston) 2 days | Freeze/thaw Cycle | gblauch | ||
| Squishy Cat | Oct 17, 2026 @ 2:57pm (America/Denver) 2 days | Ideal | S8jdE4 | ||
| Tumbleweed Twotrack | Oct 16, 2026 @ 3:21pm (America/Denver) Oct 16, 2026 | Dry | wyomont | ||
| Martinez Gulch Road | Oct 15, 2026 @ 4:11pm (America/Creston) Oct 15, 2026 | Variable | gblauch | ||
| Arrowroot Drive | Oct 15, 2026 @ 4:11pm (America/Creston) Oct 15, 2026 | Freeze/thaw Cycle | gblauch | ||
| Lime Kiln Road | Oct 15, 2026 @ 4:11pm (America/Creston) Oct 15, 2026 | Variable | gblauch |
National Scenic Trails & Official Routes
-
Continental Divide Trail
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
Activity Feed
| username | action | type | title | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gblauch | add | report | activity #106105268 and 3 more | Oct 17, 2026 @ 9:02pm 2 days |
| gblauch | add | report | activity #106105246 | Oct 17, 2026 @ 9:00pm 2 days |
| S8jdE4 | add | report | activity #106079071 | Oct 17, 2026 @ 1:57pm 2 days |
| wyomont | add | report | activity #106008290 | Oct 16, 2026 @ 2:27pm Oct 16, 2026 |
| warrenkellogg | wishlist | region | activity #105993984 | Oct 16, 2026 @ 9:37am Oct 16, 2026 |
Recent Comments
| username | type | title | comment | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report | Go figure. If they complained about the new... | Sep 28, 2026 @ 10:52am Sep 28, 2026 | ||
| trail | **Rotting carcass several hundred feet from... | Sep 16, 2026 @ 5:18pm Sep 16, 2026 | ||
| trail | Fantastic once you get up there. | Aug 1, 2026 @ 10:16am Aug 1, 2026 | ||
| trail | Phew. I understand why we saw more people... | Aug 1, 2026 @ 10:15am Aug 1, 2026 | ||
| report | Thanks for your efforts - impressive! | Jun 26, 2026 @ 2:57pm Jun 26, 2026 |
Local Badges
-
Completionist0 awarded -
Epic Ride 50k1,119 awarded -
Top 10 Trails0 awarded -
Completionist0 awarded -
Completionist0 awarded -
Completionist0 awarded
Bike & Skill Parks
| name | type | city | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vigilante Bike Park | skill park | Helena | |
| Last Chance Raceway | skill park | Helena | |
| Lower Davis Jumps | skill park | Helena | |
| Upper Davis Jumps | skill park | Helena |
Local Products
Activity Type Stats
| activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | activity logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Bike | 574 | 758 miles | 120,515 ft | 294 miles | 5,351 ft | #94 | #2 | 1,183 | 17,256 | 74 | 52,685 | |
| E-Bike | 78 | 201 miles | 17,684 ft | 61 miles | 4,216 ft | #643 | #12 | 15,869 | 504 | |||
| Gravel Bike | 318 | 489 miles | 54,728 ft | 167 miles | 4,216 ft | #30 | #2 | 7,501 | 1 | 585 | ||
| Adaptive Bike | 43 | 23 miles | 1,411 ft | 9 miles | 4,190 ft | #1,223 | #11 | 1 | 801 | 1 | ||
| Winter Fat Bike | 468 | 695 miles | 111,063 ft | 270 miles | 5,351 ft | #2 | #1 | 632 | 108 | |||
| Horse | 341 | 609 miles | 93,360 ft | 228 miles | 5,351 ft | #8 | #3 | 13,139 | 5 | |||
| Hike | 569 | 771 miles | 122,359 ft | 297 miles | 5,351 ft | #41 | #2 | 31 | 17,208 | 6 | 8,929 | |
| Trail Running | 564 | 761 miles | 121,991 ft | 296 miles | 5,351 ft | #55 | #3 | 7 | 17,204 | 8 | 3,746 | |
| Dirtbike/Moto | 66 | 278 miles | 22,723 ft | 79 miles | 4,216 ft | #65 | #5 | 12,564 | 23 | |||
| ATV/ORV/OHV | 61 | 256 miles | 20,135 ft | 72 miles | 4,216 ft | #21 | #5 | 5 | 12,556 | 23 | ||
| Snowmobile | 3 | 6 miles | 197 ft | 1 mile | 2,992 ft | #71 | #4 | 7,347 | 1 | |||
| Snowshoe | 492 | 606 miles | 109,154 ft | 254 miles | 5,344 ft | #2 | #1 | 8,550 | 1 | 74 | ||
| Backcountry Ski | 24 | 90 miles | 18,297 ft | 35 miles | 4,957 ft | #107 | #6 | 1 | 7,220 | 241 | ||
| Nordic Ski | 23 | 17 miles | 2,356 ft | 8 miles | 3,173 ft | #265 | #12 | 8,199 | 2 | 930 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the best places to ride in Helena?
Helena has 17 areas to explore for mountain biking. The top rated areas are:
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What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Helena?
The highest rated mountain biking trails in Helena are:
- Beartrap Gulch Trail (4.5/5)
- Show-Me-The-Horse Trail (4.4/5)
- Switchback Ridge Trail (4.4/5)
- Entertainment Trail (4.4/5)
- Emmett's Trail (4.4/5)
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What is the best time of the year to ride in Helena?
Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride in Helena are:
- July (993 activities)
- August (975 activities)
- June (960 activities)
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Where can I park to ride in Helena?
There are 90 parking locations listed in Helena. The most popular parking spots are:
- Davis Gulch parking lot
- Dump Gulch Parking Lot
- Parking
- Old Shooting Range Parking Lot
- South Park Avenue Parking
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What is the longest trail in Helena?
The longest trail in Helena is CDT (Stemple Pass to NF 136) at 17.9 miles. View all trails sorted by distance.
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What are the best & highest rated hiking trails in Helena?
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What are the best & highest rated trail running trails in Helena?
The best trail running trails in Helena are: View all trail running trails sorted by popularity score.
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What are the best & highest rated dirtbiking trails in Helena?
The best dirtbiking trails in Helena are: View all dirtbiking trails sorted by popularity score.
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How many trails are in Helena?
Helena has a total of 599 trails. Of those, 574 are designated for mountain biking. Browse top mountain biking trails in Helena to find detailed information including difficulty ratings, distances, and trail conditions.
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Which trail has the most elevation gain in Helena?
The trail with the most elevation gain in Helena is CDT (Stemple Pass to NF 136) with 4,679 ft of elevation gain. View all trails sorted by elevation gain.
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Which trail has the most elevation descent in Helena?
The trail with the most elevation descent in Helena is CDT (Stemple Pass to NF 136) with 4,085 ft of elevation descent. View all trails sorted by elevation descent.
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What activities are most popular in Helena?
Helena supports the following activities: Mountain Biking, E-Biking, Gravel Biking, Adaptive Biking, Winter Fat Biking, Horseback, Hiking, Trail Running, Dirtbiking, ATVing/Offroading, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Nordic Skiing.
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What bike services are there in Helena?
The following bike services are available in Helena:
- Bike Shop (5)
- Other (5)
- Coaching & Camps (3)
- Race Team (2)
- Accommodation (2)
- Land Managers (1)
- Club (1)
- Race/Event Organizer (1)
- Trail Association (1)
- Trail Builders (1)
- Shuttle Service (1)
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What are the steepest mountain biking trails in Helena?
The steepest mountain biking trail in Helena is No Trail with an average grade of 23.6%. View all trails sorted by grade.
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Are there any trails with scenic viewpoints in Helena?
Yes, there are 17 scenic viewpoints marked along trails in Helena. Some popular viewpoints include:
- Top of Entertainment
- Mount Helena summit
- Good view of Helena and the valley from the Mt. Helena Ridge trail.
- View of south-central Helena
- View of western Helena Valley and the Continental Divide
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What trails have the biggest jumps in Helena?
The trails with the biggest jumps in Helena are: Browse all mountain bike trails to find trails with jumps and technical features.
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Are the trails open in Helena?
The overall region status for Helena is Clear / Green. Out of 440 trails:
- Clear / Green: 376
- Minor Issue / Yellow: 43
- Significant Issue / Amber: 19
- Closed: 2
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What are the trail conditions in Helena?
Based on trail reports from the past week in Helena:
- Freeze/thaw Cycle: 1 trail
- Dry: 1 trail
- Ideal: 1 trail
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Can I ride an ebike in Helena?
Yes, Helena supports e-bike riding. There are 76 trails in Helena that allow e-bikes. Check the e-bike trails listing for specific trail access details and any local regulations.
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What are the most popular mountain biking routes in Helena?
The most popular mountain biking routes in Helena are: View all mountain biking routes in Helena.
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What type of bike is most common in Helena?
Based on activity log data, the most common bike types used in Helena are:
- AM (1,169 activities)
- XC (97 activities)
- Fat (51 activities)
- Gravel (24 activities)
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What is the highest summit in Helena?
The highest summit in Helena is Boulder Baldy at 8,937 ft elevation.
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What are the top sights to see in Helena?
There are 4 notable sights in Helena. Some of the top sights include: Explore all points of interest in Helena.
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What are the most popular Strava Segments in Helena?
The most popular Strava segments in Helena are:
- Archery: True Decent (2,974 athletes)
- Mckelvey to Prospector (2,853 athletes)
- Priest Pass Rd Climb (1,933 athletes)
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What are some popular technical trail features in Helena?
There are 41 technical trail features (TTFs) in Helena. Some popular features include:
- Jump Option (Jump)
- Rock outcrop (Rock Face)
- Rock outcrops; multiple lines (Rock Face)
- Snaggletooth Rock Garden (Rock Face)
- Dump Out rock face (Rock Face)
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What trails are closed in Helena?
There are currently 2 closed trails in Helena. The breakdown of all trail statuses is:
- Clear / Green: 376
- Minor Issue / Yellow: 43
- Significant Issue / Amber: 19
- Closed: 2
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Are there accessible or adaptive trails in Helena?
Yes, there are 43 accessible/adaptive trails in Helena. View all adaptive trails in Helena for specific accessibility information.
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Are there local clubs or events in Helena?
There are 2 local clubs or associations listed in the Helena directory. Browse the local directory for details.
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What are the most popular mountain biking trails in Helena?
The most popular mountain biking trails in Helena are: View all mountain biking trails sorted by popularity.
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What are the best beginner ride trails in Helena?
The best beginner mountain biking trails in Helena are:
- Oro Y Plata Bike Trail (4.7/5)
- Eddye Return (3.4/5)
- Barking Dog Singletrack (3.7/5)
Activities
- Helena Mountain Biking Trails
- Helena E-Biking Trails
- Helena Gravel Biking Trails
- Helena Adaptive Biking Trails
- Helena Winter Fat Biking Trails
- Helena Horseback Trails
- Helena Hiking Trails
- Helena Trail Running Trails
- Helena Dirtbiking Trails
- Helena ATVing/Offroading Trails
- Helena Snowshoeing Trails
- Helena Backcountry Skiing Trails
- Helena Nordic Skiing Trails
Trails
- By brenthillier
NSMBA TRAILFORKS & contributors - Admins: MBG, BikeHelena, wyomont
- #3444 - 86,097 views
- helena activity log | embed map of Helena mountain bike trails | helena mountain biking points of interest
Downloading of trail gps tracks in kml & gpx formats is enabled for Helena.
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