This trail network is a fantastic asset, right next to town! There are dozens of miles of trails packed into this mountain, and you can also hook them up with the Mt Helena Ridge trails. Whatever option you take, you will climb. The most popular routes are the 1906 trail and the Prairie trail. They run somewhat parallel and both provide a tough clim up the mountain. While the 1906 trail climbs steadily, the Prairie trail climbs, then drops a bit, and then you have to regain that altitude. Despite being called "Prairie," most of it's in the pines, which is nice. These trails then meet up on the backside of the mountain where numerous avenues await. The West End trail is fun and the Backside trail can give some serious technical challenge. Or, you can continue up and go for the summit, the last pitch of which is pretty much unrideable. The views from the top are worth it, though, and then you get a killer downhill. Another good route, more consistently technical, but slightly shorter with less climbing, is to head south on the Prospect Shafts Trail, which will then turn up the hill (keep forking right) and eventually bring you to the back side, where you can turn right and eventually descend one of the aforementioned trails, or turn left down McKelvey, then take the next left onto the aptly named "Dump Out." This trail could dump you out in the gulch whereby you'd have to climb a good deal of pavement to get back to the parkng lot, or one of the many serious technical bits could dump you right out of your clipless pedals. It's great fun if you like off camber rock moves. There's a dozen more trails and you can mix and match until your heart's content, creating a different experience every time you visit.
From downtown Helena, head south on Park Avenue and follow the signs to Mt Helena City Park.
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