Helena Regional Airport
The Helena Regional Airport is served by Northwest, SkyWest, Big Sky and Horizon. Fly into Helena and connect with the communities of Lincoln or Augusta on the Northern Continental Divide Scenic Loop. Here’s some spicy information about Helena, provided by Alaska Airlines, to peak your interest.
Despite a history of independent-thinking politicians (U.S. Representative Jeannette Rankin was the only member of Congress to vote against entry into both world wars) and a few radical residents, Montana has a rather conservative capital. Part small town, part political center, Helena is one of the state's most attractive cities, with a distinctly laid-back, friendly atmosphere. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition passed through the area just east of today's Helena, as the party paddled up the Missouri River through a canyon Lewis named the Gates of the Mountains. The city of Helena was founded in 1864 after four hopeful miners panning for gold struck pay dirt on the east side of the Continental Divide, along what is now Last Chance Gulch. Word of their find quickly spread, and soon Helena was a thriving miner's camp. In 1875, it was named territorial capital.
By the 1890s, Helena claimed more than 50 millionaires—-reputedly more per capita than anywhere else in the nation. It became the state capital in 1894, and government is still the biggest employer in present-day Helena. Though the city may not be as wealthy as it once was, Helena's mining legacy lives on in its stunning architecture. You can see evidence of its former glory in the lovely mansions, churches, and historic brick and stone buildings downtown.
Situated at 4,100 feet above sea level and surrounded by Helena National Forest, the town enjoys the dry, arid climate that characterizes the Rockies' eastern front, which means that recreational opportunities open up earlier here than in other parts of western Montana. The city overlooks the Helena Valley, with views of the Big Belt Mountains to the east. The enormous Mount Helena city park, well-used by hikers and mountain bikers, flanks its southwest corner. The mighty Missouri River lies to its north and east; controlled by a succession of three dams, it's no longer the free-flowing river Lewis and Clark floated nearly 200 years ago. But the river's reservoirs offer great fishing and boating opportunities that draw anglers from throughout the region.
Helena doesn't offer the glitz of Bozeman or the hipness of Missoula, and that's just fine with most Helenans. They're well-situated to visit other Montana locales and they like their moderate, low-key lifestyle, thank you very much. They also like the fact that Montana's capital city still feels like Montana as it used to be.
Helena Regional Airport2850 Skyway Drive
Helena, MT 59601
406.442.2821