Helena, Montana is all about the outdoors. Just minutes from the downtown coffee shops and craft breweries, you can hike and bike 400 miles of trails. Three local lakes and the Missouri River are perfect for fishing, paddling, and boating. Nearby, the million-acre Helena National Forest boasts 1,000+ miles of mountain trails.
Close to town, several RV parks provide year-round camping with full hookups and picnic tables. If the Helena campgrounds are full, try the parks in Townsend to the south. From downtown, it’s easy to hike and rock climb on Mount Helena.
When it comes to water sports, the Canyon Ferry Reservoir is the place to be. From the campgrounds along the shore, you can paddle, boat, fish, and swim. To the north, Black Sandy State Park offers expansive water and mountain views. The BLM-run White Sandy area offers 32 sites.
For shaded mountain campsites and remote adventure, head for the Helena National Forest. Sleep next to a creek under towering sequoias at Tenmile. From your tent camping site at Moose Creek, it’s a short trip to the Continental Divide Trail.
No matter where you stay, four-season adventures are never far away. The warmest months are June through October—perfect for mountain biking and paddle boarding. Fall and spring offer cool, quiet hikes. Winters are cold and snowy; warm up with cross-country skiing or ice fishing.