Overview
Born during the gold rush days, Helena has stayed the course and instead of becoming just another boomtown ghost town, Helena today is a successful town that focuses on politics, education, culture, and recreation.

Situated adjacent to the Rocky Mountains, Helena offers a plethora of outdoor activities.

The Helena community also hosts a symphony, theaters, art and historical museums to satisfy one’s cultural interests.

Location
Helena is about 80 miles to the Southwest of Great Falls and is about 80 miles to the Northeast of Butte. Interstate 15 also goes through town.
Helena is 100 miles north west from Bozeman.

Services/Amenities
Helena has a wide assortment of lodging facilities to include bed and breakfasts, hotels, motels, guest ranches, vacation homes, condominiums and more.

Places to eat include fast food drive-ins, causal cafes and elegant dining.

Health care facilities include St. Peter's Hospital, Fort Harrison Veterans Hospital, and Shodair Hospital.

There are also many banks, service stations, shops, grocery stores and department stores.

Activities
Hiking/Backpacking
Bring your hiking boots to hike on the Continental Divide Trail, or through the Blackfoot Meadows. You can also hike up Mount Helena that overlooks town from 5,460 feet. Keeps your eyes open to wildlife such as river otters, elk, mink, and bighorn sheep.

Water Sports
If water sports are your true passion, you’ll find Helena's 4 lakes entertaining. Hauser, Helena, Holter, and Canyon Ferry Lakes all offer the best in boating, fly-fishing, canoeing, windsurfing, and swimming.

Fishing
You won't want to forget your fishing rod--sections of the Missouri River just below the Hauser Dam are known to bring in brown trout weighing over 15 lbs. Helena lakes also bear one of the biggest populations of genetically pure west slope cutthroat trout.

Commercial Boat Tours
Boat tours that follow the same route that Lewis and Clark took in the early 1800s are also available and will make you feel as if you were back in the Old West.

Mining
Another unique activity found in Helena is the opportunity to hunt for gold and sapphires in the same fashion as the early settlers. Official mining companies will take you out to streams and retail mines to help you strike it rich.

Festivals
Helena also offers festivals of different varieties at different times of the year. Summers bring rodeos and jazz performances, while the winters bring Dog-sled races and micro-brew festivals.

Attractions
Helena is home to many entertaining and interesting attractions.

State Historical Society Museum
Montana's Museum collects, preserves, and interprets fine art, historical, archaeological, and ethnological artifacts that pertain to Montana and its adjoining geographic region.

Holter Museum
Contemporary art museum in Helena, featuring exhibitions of work by internationally known artists.

Fort Harrison Museum
Two centuries of military experiences in Montana are displayed in a museum complex at Fort Harrison near Helena.

Last Chance Gulch
Helena’s main street is named Last Chance Gulch and lies close to the winding path of the original gulch through the historic downtown district. It is lined with interesting and unique shops and architecture.

Original Governor’s Mansion
Montana's Original Governor's Mansion (OGM) is an historic house museum located at 304 North Ewing Street near downtown Helena. Entrepreneur William Chessman built the Mansion as a private residence in 1888. The three-story Queen Anne-style structure was acquired by the State of Montana in 1913 to serve as its first official governor's residence.

Getting Here
To get to Helena from Bozeman, take I-90 west and turn north either on HWY. 287 at Three Forks, or on I-15 a little further down the road in Butte.

You can also turn north on MT 69 at Whitehall, which meets up with I-15 in Boulder.

For those who prefer to fly, Helena has a small regional airport that is 2.5 miles from the city center. With consistently stable weather and modern facilities, Helena Regional Airport is the most reliable departure/arrival point in Montana.