By Mount Ascension, part of the beautiful mountain range directly south of downtown Helena, offers a great escape for fans of recreational activities and nature.
My favorite route to explore that area is the Rodney Ridge Loop trail. Whether you’re into biking, hiking, or trail running, this trail provides an accessible adventure just minutes from Carroll College.
This 3.2 mile trail is a loop that circles around a hill on Mt. Ascension. It is considered a fairly easy trail since it doesn’t gain much elevation and is mostly flat, especially on the second half of the loop.
I went for a trail run on this path with my friend Annelise Hoskinson, a junior nursing major from Spokane, Washington.
We have had a difficult time finding great places to go trail running in this area that are relatively flat since we are just getting into trail running. This loop was a great find for us because it is not too steep and does not miss out on the mountain environment.
It took us roughly 40 minutes to complete and we both really enjoyed the run. We went during a very hot time of day, but the trail had decent tree cover that shaded parts of the route.
The Rodney Ridge Loop is well-maintained, but there are many intersecting trails, making it difficult to figure out which path to take. I suggest downloading the free AllTrails app to be a guide through those tricky intersections. Those intersecting trails do allow the option to extend or shorten the loop though, depending on your energy level.
Another potential downside is that part of the trail runs along a canyon road, which slightly detracts from the peaceful mountain atmosphere. The road is not heavily traveled though, and so doesn’t have a huge effect on the experience.
So, the next time you are looking for an outdoor escape from busy college life, give this trail a try, I think you’ll enjoy it!
