Helena closes two trailheads for routine Open Lands maintenance
Two of Helena’s busiest trailheads will close for morning maintenance next week, forcing hikers, runners and dog walkers to use other Open Lands access points.
Hikers, runners, mountain bikers and dog walkers who rely on Helena’s two busiest hill access points will need to adjust their morning plans next week as the city closes the Mt. Helena Trailhead and the Beattie Street Trailhead for routine maintenance.
The Mt. Helena Trailhead will close Tuesday, June 23, from 7 a.m. to noon, and the Beattie Street Trailhead will close Wednesday, June 24, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. City staff said the work is for grass trimming and other maintenance tasks, and asked residents and visitors to use alternate trail access points during the closure windows.
The Mt. Helena Trailhead is the primary access point to Mount Helena and the popular 1906 Trail, which the city describes as a moderately difficult hike to the summit that can take about two hours. The Beattie Street Trailhead is the most popular trailhead for the Mount Ascension Trail System and is used heavily for hiking, running and mountain biking. At Beattie Street, dogs are allowed off-leash 100 yards from the parking lot when under voice control.
Both trailheads are equipped with pet waste bags, trash receptacles and vault latrines, making them the main gateways for people heading into Helena’s Open Lands. The city says those lands cover more than 1,950 acres of undeveloped parkland, while the broader Parks, Recreation and Open Lands department manages more than 2,140 acres across 30 parks.
The closures come as Helena keeps up a summer maintenance cycle that also includes trail work and fuel-reduction efforts in the hills above town. The city says much of its Open Lands were purchased with proceeds from a 1995 open space bond, and a maintenance fund created in January 2007 now brings in an annual assessment of about $156,000 to support ongoing upkeep.
The city urged the public to be patient as crews work to keep the recreation areas safe and well kept. Questions can be directed to the Parks and Recreation Department at (406) 447-8463.
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