Great Rides Archive

Over the years, HBC members have created maps and descriptions of favorite rides.  This page has links to many of them.  For each, there is a link to a pdf file, usually with a map, general description, and turn-by-turn directions.  For many, there is also a link to a RideWithGPS map.  Some of these are local rides in the Helena area.  Others are within a day's drive.  They range from short, easy rides of an hour or two to long, challenging rides that most of us would do over multiple days.

A couple caveats: Some of these ride descriptions are getting a little old.  Some date back to the days of paper club newsletters.  There may be a few cases where roads have changed, and in general, the Helena area has more traffic now than when these were writen. Also, some of these files contain outdated or incorrect links.

 

Local Helena Rides

Birdseye Loop   Start/End at Spring Meadow State Park, out Birdseye, back on Lincoln Road and Green Meadow Drive. RideWithGPS

Cupola - East Helena Loop   Start at Reber Broadwater Cupola Park on Colonial Drive, loop through Montana City, East Helena, and back. This is one variant of the Tuesday evening club rides. RideWithGPS

Grizzly -Orofino Loop   Ride up Grizzly Gulch and back down Orofino Gulch. Or the other way.

Helena Historic Buildings   A riding and walking tour of some of Helena's interesting historic buildings. Goes down the walking mall, so make sure you wear walkable shoes. RideWithGPS

Helena Valley Loop   A ride around the Helena Valley, with a side trip through Montana City. RideWithGPS

Jefferson City Frontage Road   The Cupola to the top of Boulder Hill and back.  Of course, you can turn around anywhere you want. RideWithGPS

Lump Gulch/Clancy Loop   A mixed surface loop. Up Grizzly Gulch, the across to Lump Gulch, down Lump Gulch to Clancy and then back to Helena on the frontage road.

York Burger Boogie   The route of HBC's annual spring ride.  Helena to York and back. RideWithGPS

All Day or Longer Rides Beginning and Ending in Helena

Avon Pie Ride   Helena to Avon and back over MacDonald Pass . RideWithGPS

Really Big Gravel Loop   Start/End in Helena, 83 miles of mostly gravel.

Chevalier Road Loop   Out Birdseye and Chevalier Rd to the Sieben exit, then back mostly on the I-15 shoulder. RideWithGPS

Double Divide Ride   Out over MacDonald Pass. Back over Flescher Pass. Or out over Mullan and back over Stemple if you prefer gravel. RideWithGPS

Flescher Pass   Spring Meadow State Park to Flescher Pass and back. RideWithGPS

Virginia City Larriat Loop   Helena to Cardwell, then a loop through Norris, Ennis, Virginia City, Twin Bridges, and back to Cardwell, and then Helena.

Rides Outside Helena

Bitterroot 300K   Multi-day loop in Northern Idaho. RideWithGPS

Boulder to Elk Park Gravel Grinder   The name says it all. RideWithGPS

Garnet Mountains Loop   A loop starting in Avon, to near Drummond, then Helmville, and back to Avon. RideWithGPS

Going to the Sun Road  West Glacier to East Glacier. Be sure to check the Glacier National Park website for more information.

Lewis & Clark Caverns Loop   A loop starting and ending at Lewis & Clark Caverns and going through Harrison and Cardwell

Missouri River Centuries, 100 Kilometers and 100 Miles. RideWithGPS

West Pioneer Mountains Loop  Start at Wise River. Go over the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway. Return along the Big Hole through Jackson and Wisdom. RideWithGPS