Welcome to the “Sleeping Giant” Picture Tour

Ever wonder what the “Sleeping Giant” looks like from different directions around this Helena, Montana landmark? Join us as we hike to enjoy views of the “Sleeping Giant” that few people make the time to see. The area around Helena, Montana’s “Sleeping Giant” is spectacular. To find another large area of wild Missouri River land similar to the “Sleeping Giant” you would have to travel 250 miles east to the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument. Here is a link to a MontanaPictures.Net picture tour of the “Breaks:” https://www.montanapictures.net/james-kipp-recreation-area-montanapictures-net/

If you are really adventurous, you can get a close-up view by traveling by boat to a landing on the west bank of the Missouri River that connects you to a trail that ends at the base of the “Giant’s Nose.” Just be sure to keep the noise on the trail to a minimum so as not to disturb the “Giant.” For us landlubbers without access to boat, we are fortunate to have public access to the Beartooth Management Area. From the Wildlife Management Area, you can see fantastic views of the “Sleeping Giant” from the east bank of the Missouri River. To reach the “Sleeping Giant” views, you walk across vast open land that feel boundless and timeless. (See the picture of the view north of the “Giant” to the right of the “Wildfire 1990” picture.)

Beartooth Wildlife Management Area

Seeing views of the “Sleeping Giant” from the east and north is all possible thanks in part to the Voegele family. The 2,840-acre property had been in the Voegele family care since 1975. Luckily for us, they transferred management of the land to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Designated as the Whitetail Prairie addition, the acquisition enlarged the Beartooth Wildlife Management Area to 35,160-acres. When you add the neighboring 28,500-acres of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area and you have ample room to stretch your legs.

Visitors are welcomed to explore this incredible country after May 15^th.  The wildlife at the Wildlife Management Area is given a break from humans between the months of December 1^st until May. Make a point to camp in one of the three designated wild campgrounds during the months June and October. During the month of June you will see a vast fields and hillside covered in a lush green grass. In early October, you can listen to elk bugling and signing coyotes in the evening. If you camp at the Cottonwood Creek campground in October you may be serenaded by three or more owls perched in the nearby cottonwoods. Watching the stars while listening to the wildlife, it is hard to believe you are only an hour away from state capital of Montana.

Gates of the Mountains Wilderness

As long as you are in the neighborhood, the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area (pictured) is just to the north. The rugged rocky crags of the Big Belt Mountains are unlike most Montana mountain ranges. Instead of smooth gradual sloping mountains with a rounded summit you’ll find challenging narrow gullies of sedimentary rock formations that were tossed about like a rock salad. The famous 16.6-mile Refrigerator Canyon Trail can be found in the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness. A depiction of the trail can be found in a diorama display case at the Helena, Montana airport terminal. Believe us, the trail so much better in person.