Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is a wonderful spot to get out and explore some of the best things about Montana. I really enjoyed my time there and was able to enjoy 2 nights in the forest before leaving. Things were very accessible and there’s plenty of paid and unpaid spots to stay at. Here are some of the things I got into while there.
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Things to Do in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
The national forest here has several attended campgrounds one can use. This was the option I chose just to make it easier to meet up with a friend who was already in the area. There were several forest roads available for dispersed camping for my next trips. This national park has several hiking trails and even a ski area is located in this national forest. Showdown Ski area is one resort in this national forest.
Many Pines Campground
I stayed in Many Pines campground located here. The campground was clean and there was some space between campsites for privacy. There are no showers and 3 different pit toilet buildings. I only saw about a quarter of the spots taken and each night several groups game through just to stay the night. The camp host was friendly and offered up several tips on places and things to do. The road noise was minimal and the other campers were quiet.
Memorial Falls
Memorial Falls consists of two separate cascades. There is an upper falls and a lower falls that both are accessible along the Memorial Falls Trail. The parking area is located here. It was only about 1.5 mile walk down the main road to get to the Memorial Falls parking area from Many Pines Campground.
The lower falls is more of a verticle drop and the area around the falls is very rocky. The upper falls is more of a cascade with lots of logs and rocks all around. The hike is short and less than a mile but its a moderate trail due to the rocks, steep trail, and crossing creeks and streams. There is a pit toilet at the trailhead. This was a great trail to hit along the way and accessible to most people. It should be on your list of must-sees in the area.
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