Review Date
August 13, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Melt ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
awesome trail, however i agree with the other guys, up only. Made the mistake of riding down after summiting via west end, and i am able to control the bike good but hikers didnt seem too kindly to it ... prarie is a much better decent

Recommended Route:
come from the back and do the helena ridge to whatever goes to the top, then down prarie, skipping 1906 almost entirely.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
helena ridge
west end
prarie

Review Date
November 9, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: ROAD WARRIOR ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Wide steep best describes it. 1200' in 1.6 miles most of the climbing is at a grade of around 20%. DO NOT DESECEND ON THIS TRAIL IF CANNOT CONTROL YOUR BIKE WITH JUST THE FRONT BRAKE. Rear only brakers will skid till they hit something, probally a hiker, and get bikes kicked out. Expect to meet lots of hikers even during the week.
Now for the good. Great climb for those with strong legs. The Level 5 techical sections are short. Many great single track trails lead off this trail, and the face of the mtn is crisscrosed with trails. For a great technical trail, Take the backside trail around to the hogs back, 1/4 mi of 4-5 to the top.
In summary these are not beginner trails, they require strong legs and good braking skills. Gave it a averall rating of 4 because of all the great trails that branch off from it.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
any, go exploring

Review Date
March 19, 2007

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: boisebomber ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
go to TH at Mt. Helena Park located on Reeder Hill overlooking downtown. signs indicate sevral trails up ot the top of Mt. Helena. 1904, propect, hog back, priarie, and more.

however several caveats. trail rises 1100' in either 1.6 or 2.2 miles. this means you are riding 10% grade nearly 100% of time. plus many sections are very rocky. and once you leave TH signage is not comprehensive. you can easily accidentally take many spurs and side trials and exponentially increase your challenges.

this is one tuff climb. but great views at top.

i'd rate it 5 on aerobic, 5 on technical...too tuff for me!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Mt. Helena Ridge Trail begins 5 miles from downtown but you can S-T it all the way back to Mt. Helena City Park.

go down main to grizzly gulch road. past characol ovens , quarries, and homes . turn rt. at Y, left goes to unionville. go up grizzly gulch on DR 4 miles to park city.( i didn't see a sign) to a RT turns which leads to TH.

when in doubt keep RT.

TH is called Park City. this begins Mt.Helena Ridge. starts with challengeing ST switchbacks which leads to jeep trails, meadows , ridges, forests for 5 miels back to Mt. Helena overlook.Aerobica


do it as a loop (+/- 12 miles) or O/B.

i ride form downtown and arrive back , tired but satisfied.

the climb is the same (1100') but you do it gradually after initial swicthbacks.

Review Date
June 16, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Forrest ,  Downhiller

Summary:
Nice scenic uphill. Wide single track. But its too hard to watch for people on the way down. Try some other routes on the way down, such as prospect shafts trail.

Recommended Route:
Up, then down another trail, like prospect shafts or prairie trail.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Hog back trail, prospect shafts, prairie trail

Review Date
March 19, 2004

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: surly ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Steep lungbuster singletrack on the way up. Fast and strait with water bars on the way down. The definitive hiker trail on Mt. Helena. There are better ways up/down and around Mt. Helena.
Lets not add more access issues. If you want to ride it, ride up. There are better downhills around. It is very difficult to approach hikers without skidding while heading downhill. This pisses people off and creates tension.

Recommended Route:
UP ONLY!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
prairie, prospect...explore