The highlights of Helena

By Pat Henderson
December 30, 2017
Located between Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, Helena blends Old West history with quaint charm and the sophistication you’d expect to find in a state capital.

The city’s destination marketing organization, Visit Helena Montana, offers a number of suggestions for only-in-Helena group experiences, including the following five:

Last Chance Tour Train  From their seats on open-air trains or climate-controlled trolleys, visitors can see many of the city’s top attractions during the narrated 60-minute ride.

Kleffner Ranch Chuckwagon BBQ  During a visit to the ranch, groups tour the property’s famous barn, which dates back to the late 1800s, and then enjoy a scrumptious meal.

Gates of the Mountains Boat Tour  This 120-minute cruise takes passengers between the same limestone canyon walls that Lewis and Clark saw more than two centuries ago.

Cathedral of St. Helena Tour  This historical church, modeled after the Gothic-style cathedrals in Europe, is known for its 159 stained-glass windows and its 230-foot-tall twin spires.

Sidewalk Tour of Historic Helena  A representative from the Lewis & Clark Preservation Office leads groups past Helena’s mansions and shares insights into the lives of the early entrepreneurs that owned them.

To learn more about those and other group programs available in the Helena area, go to helenamt.com/category/group-travel or email Jennifer Davis.

Top photo: Gates of the Mountains Boat Tour
Photo by visitmt.com

Elsewhere

September 21, 2026

Twenty-five years ago, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks changed travel almost overnight.  Airports closed. Trips were canceled. Travelers reconsidered when, where, and whether they wanted ...

September 18, 2026

The following article highlights a critical period in the life of the National Tour Association when the organization decided to transition from one run by ...