Page Type: | Mountain/Rock |
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Lat/Lon: | 46.59000°N / 112.068°W |
Activities: | Sport Climbing, Toprope |
Season: | Spring, Summer, Fall |
Elevation: | 5147 ft / 1569 m |
Sunset Slab is the farthest from the trailhead of the six developed crags at Mount Helena, but because its six bolted routes range from 5.6 to 5.9, it is the most popular.
All the routes face west, and they might be the only comfortable place to climb on most winter days. On the other hand, you can bake on a summer afternoon.
Since I was solo-leading here, I will say that for the most part, trees as ground anchors were plentiful. If memory serves correctly, the only route I had to use bolts as anchors for was Ansley's Way.
Follow signs or Google Maps to Mount Helena City Park. From the parking lot, pick up the main trail leaving it, which is the 1906 Trail and leads you to the crags. The crags begin just after you pass the cave at Devil's Kitchen. Expect a moderately strenuous hike of 20-30 minutes. After passing the Devil's Kitchen cave, look for a trail heading up and left through scree shortly after the limestone wall on your left meets the trail.
Here are the routes from left to right:
Follow posted regulations.
Any new route development requires permission from the City of Helena. Don't be a rogue bolter and risk access for everyone else.
None. The park is day-use only. If you need to camp, you will have to drive out to nearby National Forest land.