Pair Your Outdoor Adventure with a Craft Beer in Helena

Montana ranks second in the nation for breweries per capita, and the state’s capital city is home to many of them. Located in Central Montana near where the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains, Helena is a community that enjoys the great outdoors and a great craft beer. This combination often translates into a leisurely, scenic afternoon hike followed by a friendly rendezvous at a local brewery. Whether your tastes lean more toward an intensely citrus IPA or a full-bodied ale, Helena’s breweries will quench your thirst after a day of adventuring. Here are a few favorite ways to enjoy the outdoors and take advantage of the creative beer-making that Helena has to offer.

Mount Ascension/Ten Mile Creek Brewing

The 5,262-foot Mount Ascension is a Helena landmark, and getting to its peak is one of the area’s top adventures. The 3.2-mile loop is rated as moderate and offers stunning views of Helena and the surrounding area. The dog-friendly trail is popular with hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers, and it is the perfect place to work up a sweat before retreating to Ten Mile Creek Brewing, which is only three miles away from the trailhead. Beers are brewed using water from nearby Ten Mile Creek — so when you take a sip, you’re truly tasting Montana. With a variety of home-crafted brews on tap, from Bullwhacker Brown Ale to Queen City IPA, Ten Mile Creek offers a relaxed brewery experience with a rotating event schedule.

Spring Meadow Lake State Park/Lewis & Clark Brewing

Located on the western edge of Helena, Spring Meadow Lake State Park features a 30-acre, spring-fed lake, and it’s a popular spot for fishing, swimming, hiking, and biking. A .8-mile trail circles the lake for hikers and runners, while the 4.6-mile rails-to-trails path connects the park to the Centennial Trail and downtown Helena. After your activity of choice, stop by Lewis & Clark BrewingCompany, which serves up hand-crafted, unpasteurized beers made on site. The brewery is housed in a historic building downtown and hosts a steady stream of activities and special events on its indoor and outdoor stages. Beer connoisseurs will appreciate the local ingredients used in many brews, and some of the spent grain from brewing is used in the food, such as bratwurst buns and pizza crust.

LeGrande Cannon Boulevard/Brewhouse Pub & Grille

The LeGrande Cannon Boulevard Trail is a 6.3-mile out-and-back that winds through Mount Helena City Park. A popular route with mountain bikers, the trail is also a relaxed hike with stunning views of the Helena Valley. Take the time to explore some of the many side trails to see where they lead. Just a mile down the road is Helena’s Brewhouse Pub & Grille, which is often brimming with people — and for good reason. The pub features excellent food offerings, a variety of local and mainstream brews, and a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Downstairs at the Brewhouse, open from 3 p.m. Monday to Saturday, features its own menu and mellow atmosphere.

Dry Gulch Short Loop/Blackfoot River Brewing Company**

Just south of Helena between Mount Ascension and Rodney Ridge, the 3.7-mile Dry Gulch Short Loop is a moderate-rated hiking and mountain biking trail that features plenty of switchbacks and good tree cover that offers shade and a solid workout. Mountain bikers in particular like the singletrack here. Just a mile from the trail, you’ll find the Blackfoot River Brewing Company. The cozy taproom produces a variety of local favorites, including Tartanic, a Scottish-style ale, the Smooth Cream Ale, and the American Strong Ale. All are hearty post-adventure favorites. Each week a new beer rotates through the "beer engine" — often an eclectic choice such as Orange IPA or Bloody Mary ESB.

Backside Trail/Gulch Distillers

In the Mount Helena City Park, the Backside Trail is a lightly trafficked three-mile loop that’s popular with hikers and trail runners. The trail is moderate in difficulty and offers a quad-burning climb, as well as a section through some grassy woodlands filled with ponderosa pine. Just 1.1 miles from the trail, Gulch Distillers is a good option for those looking for something more than beer. Helena’s only micro-distillery is tucked into a historic gulch. Spirits are fermented, distilled, and bottled on the premises, using only Montana-grown grains. The historic location is just downstream from one of Helena’s first gold strikes, and the spirits’ names reflect the historic weight of the area. Flintlock Bourbon Cask Spiced Rum, Guardian Gin, Triple Divide Vodka and Burrone Fernet tempt palates of all preferences.

Bonus Option

Want your adventure and alcohol in one stop? Head to BroadwaterHotSprings and Tap Room, home to a series of natural hot springs and pools filled from an artesian well and cooled with natural cold springs water. The outdoor pools are open year-round and beautifully crafted, offering a respite for road-weary travel warriors. After your soak, take advantage of the Springs Taproom & Grille. The restaurant uses local ingredients wherever possible, and a wide variety of beers and wines are available. If you’re more in the mood for recovery, this adventure may be right up your alley.

Written by Jess McGlothlin for RootsRated Media in partnership with Helena CVB.

Featured image provided by Helena CVB