Helena MT Route Beta needed...

[L-Train]

Hey Helena FF's....
Looking at doing a big loop from Bozeman this weekend up through that area, come up from Butte via Rimini etc....then I want to go East to end up by White Sulphur...
What is the best way through the mtns at the North end of Canyon Ferry Lake? Will be on an XR600, so I would most prefer an atv trail or mild singletrack over a road. Looking at the Gazetteer there are a lot of routes that look decent, but we all know how decieving that can be...

Route overall is roughly: Bozeman - Alder - Melrose - Butte - Helena - Wht Sulphur - Bozeman

Any other route suggestions are welcome as well....would prefer to do as much trails as possible.

[Chadx]

cirling around Canyon Ferry and then up Confederate Gulch is the easiest and most direct. There are all manner of two track that will get you across the Big Belt mountains as as well. I'll respond with a good two-track route suggestion tonight. What is your gas range?

We'll be out riding the Big Belts Saturday morning, but might be done by the time you come through. Usually hit it early and are home by 2pm or so. You doing this trip alone or do you have other riders on board?

[L-Train]

Originally Posted by Chadx

cirling around Canyon Ferry and then up Confederate Gulch is the easiest and most direct. There are all manner of two track that will get you across the Big Belt mountains as as well. I'll respond with a good two-track route suggestion tonight. What is your gas range?

We'll be out riding the Big Belts Saturday morning, but might be done by the time you come through. Usually hit it early and are home by 2pm or so. You doing this trip alone or do you have other riders on board?

gas range 180+/- miles....
Rebelpacket is coming with me on ktm 625sxc
we won't be over there till late saturday I suspect....

[Chadx]

So you have quite a long route picked out and doing a fair amount of trail riding is going to make it even longer, but if you get to Helena and don't bag the White Sulpher route, I'll give you can do one of two things. Head through on Confederate Gulch, which is all gravel road and your quickest route. If you still have time and the inclination to do trails, I recommend the following route.

The best place to fuel will be in East Helena, along Hwy 12, if you are coming all the way up to Helena. Then get on Canyon Ferry road and work your way to the east side of Canyon Ferry lake, crossing the dam, and onto 284. Otherwise, you can fuel in Townsend, head east of town on Hwy 12, then north on Hwy 284 to get on the east side of the lake. Once on 284, you can take the before mentioned Confederate Gulch for the quick route, or go in on Hellgate Gulch. Follow it in to the Gabish Trail (trail 233) turnoff. Take that to the three-way trail intersection, where you will head right (southeast) on trail 264, out to Avalanche Gulch rd. Follow that north to the big trail intersection. About 5 trailheads converge there. You'll take the one to the right which will lead you over to Wagner Gulch Rd. Take a left and you can follow that road around to Lingshire rd and to Hwy 360 to White Sulpher Springs.

The easier way to understand that? PM me your email address and I'll email you a jpg of the national forest map that you can print out that section. I'll send a virgin copy and one marking the route. You can look it over and if you have questions about other trails on the map, I'll probably be able to answer questions on them.

[Chadx]

Email sent with multiple National Forest maps and the above post's recommended route highlighted. If anyone else has any interest, shoot me a PM and I can email for future reference.

[Chadx]

Hey L, You might be sleeping on the side of a mountain someplace tonight and not read this for a while, but did you guys make the trip? A buddy and I spent just over 4 hours riding the big belts today. Only two 20 minutes spells in the rain. Sun was beaming by the time we pulled out of Hellgate at noon. Great day for a ride!

[L-Train]

Home safe and sound....501 miles total.....fucking awesome trip....full report soon....
Thanks so much, your route was one of the best parts of the whole weekend! I owe you bigtime....

[rebelpacket]

Chad, I owe you man beers. Those we're some SWEET TRAILS!

[Chadx]

Oh, there'll be no money or beer involved here. But some time in the future, I'll ask a favor. And that favor you can not refuse.

Glad you enjoyed, gents. Lot's more where that came from. Anytime a Bozone crew wants a pack leader for a Big Belt ride, I'm ready and willing. I usually do a 4 or 5 hour ride Saturday mornings and home by just afternoon, but can shift that schedule later to account for your northbound travel time.

There are some great trails West of town, too, but I'm still learning those, but there are lots of Helenites that have the knowledge of those trails.

I'm anxious for the ride report so I can learn your Rimini opinion as well as the rest of your route. You might throw a link to that thread in this one, too, you know, just because.