Strava
Ride with GPS
Big climbs, bigger views, bring a lunch.
Route Overview
- Distance: 45.3
- Elevation Gain: 4,312
- Surface: Gravel, Paved Roads
- Difficulty: Hard
- Traffic: Mostly light, some moderate
- Start/Finish: 120 S Last Chance Gulch St, Helena, MT 59601
Route Description
Meet at the library, then head toward the South Hills via Broadway. Follow the frontage road all the way to Lump Gulch Road. Traffic is usually light, but there are stretches with little to no shoulder between Montana City and Lump Gulch, so stay alert.
Once you reach Lump Gulch, you’ll hit gravel for a short bit before one last stretch of pavement. You’ll pass a barn with a cross and some chickens wandering around, then a few houses before the climb up toward Park Lake begins. There’s very little traffic until you’re back in town. If the weather’s nice or it’s a holiday weekend, you might see some lake traffic, but folks are usually courteous and give you plenty of space.
Less than a mile past the road to Chessman Reservoir is a great spot to stop for a quick stretch and some hydration before you finish the climb and drop down to Park Lake. Grab a snack and enjoy the view by the lake before heading back to town via Travis Creek and Grizzly Gulch.
Enjoy the descent once you climb out of the lake basin, then get ready for the last climb to the top of Grizzly Gulch. From there, one final fast descent will bring you back into town—then it’s just a matter of deciding where to celebrate: Blackfoot Brewing Company or 10 Mile Creek Brewery 🤷??
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