This Cache is part of the Helena, Montana GeoExpedition. The GeoExpedition spans the scenic Helena area from the heights of MacDonald Pass, through historic downtown gulch then south to Boulder and the Elkhorn Ghost Town. View GeoExpedition rules and DOWNLOAD a PASSPORT here.
A well hidden cache at one of Montana's greatest wonders.
The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area covers 28,465 acres and is managed by the Helena National Forest. Meriwether Lewis was responsible for naming the landmark and was the first to record of his passage: "from the singular appearance of this place I called it the gates of the mountains." The Gates of the Mountains, as it is known today, is one of the most widely recognized landmarks of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
There are approximately 53 miles of trails in this 28,562 acre Wilderness area, some of which are located in lower and dryer elevations making it suitable for spring trips when other areas are still under snow. This network of trails can be reached from several access points, most of which are in the Beaver Creek drainage, both above and below the old town of Nelson.