HomeMontanaHelena › Mount Ascension Park

Mount Ascension Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 161 Google reviews · Running trail in Helena, Montana · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Mount Ascension Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Open 24hScenic

Park featuring trails for mountain biking and hiking with views.

What runners say about Mount Ascension Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (161 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“They are also well maintained and marked clearly with the cedar posts.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Been traveling the US and Helena's extensive, well designed and beautiful trail system is the best we have come across.”

It was great hike in the evening, but I strongly recommend everyone to stick to any kind of maps(all trails or google). Route on this mountain is bit confusing and may leads to wrong direction if you aren't aware. In addition, please keep extra time to start back to the tail head, as we felt are alone on the viewpoint.

★★★★☆ — Charan , Aug 2021

Amazing beautiful view at the top, and plenty of trails to get there. Not too crowded, just some mountain bikers in the spring/summer. Very accessible recreation from any of Helena’s south side neighborhoods. Also: free entry!!

★★★★★ — Richard , Apr 2023

The trails have a variety of switchbacks, upsprints, flattops, and stair segments. They are also well maintained and marked clearly with the cedar posts. During our 2pm-ish hike to the summit we encountered only a few 9ther hikers and bikers, which means there was no congestion on the trails.

★★★★☆ — Jason , Jun 2019

We live right below Mount Ascension. When our children come to visit, a hike is always in the plans. The trail system is extensive. My daughter hiked from Mount Ascension to Mount Helena and back. Needless to say, she was a little worn out!

★★★★★ — Laurie , Nov 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 161 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 13 mentions

“Been traveling the US and Helena's extensive, well designed and beautiful trail system is the best we have come across.”

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Plan your run at Mount Ascension Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Mount Ascension Park

2350 Lime Kiln Rd, Helena, MT 59601

Get directions

Running trails near Helena

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Beattie Street Trailhead for Mount Ascension

4.7 ★★★★★ 71 reviews

Helena, MT

Park featuring kid-friendly hiking trails and opportunities for biking.

under a mile away

Bompart Hill

5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

Helena, MT

under a mile away

Rodney Street Trails

4.7 ★★★★★ 7 reviews

Helena, MT

under a mile away

Bompart Hill Trailhead

5 ★★★★★ 1 reviews

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under a mile away

Mount Helena Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 62 reviews

Helena, MT

Scenic

1.5 miles away

Centennial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 416 reviews

Helena, MT

Dog-friendly

Community resource featuring kids' playgrounds, multipurpose trails, fields & a dog park.

2.0 miles away

All running trails in Helena, MT →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.