Nestled amongst the mountains of Big Sky Country, Helena is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway for families or couples. A true hidden gem, the town wowed us with its amazing food, a vibrant arts scene and downtown, and abundant hiking, mountain biking, and fly fishing opportunities. Read below for the perfect 48 hour Helena, Montana weekend itinerary featuring delicious eats, can’t-miss downtown attractions and activities, and amazing hikes. This is a great family friendly itinerary for an active and outdoorsy weekend in Helena, Montana!

Helena Montana weekend itinerary

Day 1 – Delicious food, exploring downtown, and hiking Mt. Helena

Breakfast at Mongato Coffee

Located downtown in the bright and modern Independent building, Montago Coffee offers delicious coffee drinks and light food, making it a perfect breakfast spot! We liked our coffee so much we came back later for more. Highlights include their almond croissant, cardamom latte (it’s not too sweet!), and their mocha. 

Explore downtown Helena

Downtown Helena is a real treat, and worth spending some time walking around. Below are several locations you shouldn’t miss!

• Helena Farmers’ Market. Held Saturdays from 9 am – 1 pm, this vibrant farmers market has an abundance of crafts, as well as some hot food and produce. In early June we were able to pick up some fresh broccoli and rhubarb.
• Mountain Sage Gallery. An artist co-op, this charming gallery allows you to shop the work of 13 different local artists.
• Fire tower park. Also known as the Guardian of the Gulch, fire tower park features a historic fire tower, as well as lovely views of downtown Helena.
• Coffee and shopping at the General Mercantile. This quirky store downtown feels like the ultimate throwback! Order a delicious coffee and browse their eclectic selection of goodies and gifts.
• Cathedral of St. Helena. Modeled after the cathedrals of Europe, this stunning structure is a prominent landmark in town. 

Learn about Helena’s history with Last Chance Tours

Last Chance Tours of Helena, Montana offers historic tours of Helena aboard an open air trolly. The trolly ride lasts an hour and meanders through downtown Helena while the driver recounts the area’s history. Our driver was a hoot, and we thoroughly enjoyed the off-the-cuff commentary he provided about about the colorful history of the town! I recommend booking a reservation in advance. We did the 11 am tour, which was the perfect pre-lunch activity. Tours are $12 per person for adults, with discounts for kids and seniors.

Lunch at Benny’s Bistro

Benny’s Bistro was a real highlight for us. The food is fresh and simple, and they purchase many of their ingredients from local farms. We got their huckleberry ice tea (unsweetened), tomato soup with a side greek salad, and their mushroom and lentil burger bowl, all of which I would recommend. For dessert we got a bananas foster créme Brûlée and a large slice of their blueberry pie, which were both delicious! 

Visit the Archie Bray Foundation

The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts is a unique art center where you can tour the grounds and see artists in residence at work. The foundation is located at the site of the old Western Clay Manufacturing Company, and you can still explore the old kilns. The self-guided tour is free, and visitors can wander the grounds and observe the resident artists in their studio spaces. 

Hike Mount Helena

Rising above the town of Helena is Mount Helena, which is a popular destination for hiking, mountain biking, and running. We hiked the 1906 trail, which departs from the Mount Helena Trailhead and brings you to the top of the mountain. The trail is 3 miles and features 1,000 feet of elevation gain, making it a moderately difficult trail for fit hikers. The trail is partially shaded and features stunning views of the downtown and surrounding mountains. In early summer you can enjoy beautiful wildflowers along the mountain. If you’re not up for a hike of this magnitude there are a variety of other trails around the base of the mountain. The trailhead is just 5 minutes from downtown.

Drinks at Gulch Distillers

Amiana has proclaimed that the tasting room at Gulch Distillers is one of the “top two cocktail bars” she has ever been to, so you probably don’t want to miss this spot! They are the only microdistillery in town, and their spirits and cocktails are truly incredible. I would describe their drinks as complex, but approachable. 

We tried their Fernet Fizz (house-made fernet, lemon, honey, egg yolk, orange bitters, soda), Smoke on the Water (lapsang souchong-infused fernet, lemon, ginger), and the German in Paradise (house-made spiced rum, underberg natural herb bitters, ginger, orgeat, lemon, and peychaud’s bitters), all of which we would highly recommend.

Dinner at The Union (reservations recommended) 

Located downtown, The Union is an approachably upscale restaurant that embraces a rich heritage of fire roasted meats and vegetables. I recommend making a reservation, and would describe the ambiance as “Montana fancy,” which means you won’t be out of place in jeans and a nice button down.

Amiana enjoyed the smoked sausage with sheep’s cheese, atop a bed of mustard creamed cabbage and finished with juniper oil. Although options for vegetarians are more limited, I thoroughly enjoyed my dish of roasted hen of the woods mushrooms (which had a sweet and smoky glaze on them), Timeless heirloom farro, almonds, turnips, and spinach. I also got their charred beet salad, which featured a Timeless lentil vinaigrette, dill, and whipped yoghurt. They’re also known for their selection of natural wines, but I didn’t find their selection to be the most well-aligned with my palate.

Day 2 – Epic hikes, fly fishing, and more good food

Breakfast at Dear Potato

A quirky space and delicious food make for a good time! If you only eat at one place in Helena it should be Dear Potato. They make fabulous piroshki, all of which are vegetarian or vegan (though they do make an exception for salmon). We thoroughly enjoyed their vegan “beef” and cheese, and their vegetarian potato and cheese, which are great for breakfast or an on-the-go lunch. They also make sweet treats. If you crave coffee in the morning, I recommend visiting Montago Coffee first for your fix.

Hike, trail run, or fly fish at Trout Creek Canyon

Next, head to Trout Creek Canyon! Although it’s a bit of a drive (45 or so minutes from downtown), this area features fantastic birding, magnificent limestone formations, and lovely hiking, trail running, and fly fishing opportunities. The full hike along this trail is 6 miles, but you can also opt to turn around at the end of the one mile interpretive trail. We enjoyed both hiking and fly fishing here. If you choose to fish make sure to get an appropriate fishing license first.

Lunch at The Hopper Kitchen & Market

After you’re done at Trout Creek Canyon head back into town for lunch at The Hopper Kitchen & Market. I’m not usually one to rave about salads, but their Montana Chickpea Falafel salad with tzatziki sauce was fantastic. Don’t forget a side of fries – they’re good! Their meat reuben was a little on the salty side for Amiana.

Hike Mount Ascension

Similar to Mount Helena, this is a 3 mile trail that takes you to the top of a beautiful mountain overlooking downtown Helena and the surrounding mountains. However, although it’s also close to downtown, this area has more wildflowers and features very different views at the top. There are also abundant mountain biking opportunities on the mountain. The trailhead is about a mile from downtown. 

Where to stay in Helena Montana

We stayed at the DoubleTree in downtown Helena, which is conveniently located within a short walking distance of downtown amenities. The rooms were comfortable and quiet, and the balconies overlooked downtown and the Guardian of the Gulch (fire tower).

How to get to Helena Montana

We chose to drive to Helena from Spokane, Washington. The journey is about 5 hours and takes you through scenic areas of Montana and Idaho. If you’re looking to fly, you can book a flight into the Helena airport, or the nearby Bozeman (70.6 miles) and Missoula (100 miles) airports.

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