Mount Helena Run

Mount Helena Run : event details

The 50th Mount Helena Run is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, in Helena, Montana. The race begins on Last Chance Gulch at the Walking Mall, in front of Birds & Beasleys. The course distance is 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) with about 1,300 feet of elevation gain and loss. The route moves from urban streets into Mt. Helena City Park, climbs to the top of Mount Helena, and returns to the finish on Last Chance Gulch. The course includes about 1.5 miles on roads and more than 4 miles on single-track trails. The climb reaches viewpoints of the City of Helena, Prickly Pear Valley, and the Elkhorn and Belt Mountains. Packet pickup is held on site immediately before the race. No dogs or strollers are allowed.

Course description

The route starts on the Walking Mall, proceeds south, crosses Park Avenue, goes up Reeder’s Alley, turns onto Benton and then Adams, and continues up Adams through the gate to the Mount Helena trailhead. Runners follow the 1906 Trail, veer right onto the Prairie Trail to the ridge, then use the West End and Backside trails, and follow the Hogback Trail to the summit. From the crest, the course returns on the 1906 Trail to the trailhead and then retraces the approach back to the start/finish area. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.