Half-way between Glacier and Yellowstone
National Parks, Helena is nestled in the midst of the Big
Belt, Garnet and Elkhorn mountain ranges. Mt. Helena, a
city park, enables visitors to look down on the city from
the 5,460 foot peak.
Originally a gold boom town, Helena is the state
capital, and still a town which produces and refines
minerals. The Missouri River flows near the city and the
river and Canyon Ferry Lake (above the Hauser Dam)
provide a host of recreation sites, including
campgrounds. The lake has good fishing and is wide enough
for good boating. To the north, the river flows through
the scenic Gates of the Mountains, a series of
1,200-foot-deep canyons named by Lewis & Clark. Boat
tours of the river are available, 16 miles north of
Helena via Interstate 15.
What to See & Do
The Helena National Forest lies just outside
the city limits, with recreation sites close to town --
to the west.
For a serious look at history, the Montana
Historical Society Museum (225 North Roberts)
features displays and artifacts of Montana's heritage,
from pre-historic Indian tribes to the current period.
The museum was opened in 1865, during the gold rush. Its
Mackay Gallery contains C.M. Russell paintings and other
Western works. The Holter Museum of Art features
more contemporary art forms, including painting,
sculpture and crafts, at 12 East Lawrence. The
Original Governors Mansion, built in 1888, is open
as a museum and is furnished in the 1913-1921 period. The
mansion is open Tuesday through Saturday, April through
December.
Probably the best way to get acquainted with Helena is
to take the Last Chance Tour Train which leaves
the Historical Society Museum on an hourly schedule from
8:30 am to 4:30 PM from June 1 through Labor Day and from
10:30-2:30 through the remainder of September.
The State Capitol building offers guided tours
on the hour during summer months. The tour passes C.M.
Russell's famous Lewis & Clark mural. The Capitol is
located at 1301 6th Avenue.
Day Trip
We recommend a day-trip to the town of Deer
Lodge and Grant Kohr's Ranch Historic Site,
once the headquarters of a huge cattle operation which
stretched from Canada to Colorado. It opened as a
historic site in 1977 and offers self-guided tours of
several buildings including the cowboys' bunkhouse, the
blacksmith shop, a wagon collection and the ranch house.
The ranch is off Interstate 90, north of Deer Lodge, via
Highway 12, driving west from Helena -- a one-way trip of
56 miles.
Helena Hotels
Best Western Helena Great Northern Hotel
835 Great Northern
Within walking distance to Historic Downtown this hpotel
offers 101 rooms and is 100 percent non-smoking. Each
room has free high-speed Internet, voice mail, dataport
phones, in-room coffee, iron/board, Pay Per View movies
and Nintendo. Other features include an indoor pool and
whirlpool, a fitness center, lguest laundry, airport
shuttle and business services. A deluxe continental
breakfast is served.
Other motels in the area offer the standard chain
features.
Helena Camping
Branding Iron RV Park, (406) 443-9703
Full services are available here, including an adult
lounge, store and laundry. It's open all year with tent
and RV sites. Located on the SW corner of Cedar St., at
Exchange.
Kim's Marina and RV Park, (406) 475-3723
Also open all year, with a bar, restaurant, tennis court
and boat rentals, plus full hook-ups. Located 20 miles
east of town on Hwy. 284.
