When visiting Helena, Montana, there are two attractions that visitors should visit for family oriented fun: The Gates of the Mountains and Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine.
The Gates of the Mountains and Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine provide visitors with outdoor Montana activities. Both sites are perfect for photographing the Montana Landscape and both have activities that teach as well as entertain.
The Gates of the Mountains
For those that love history, boating and fantastic storytelling, The Gates of the Mountains is the perfect way to have a family outing in Helena.
To get to The Gates of the Mountains follow Interstate 15, 17 miles north of Helena. Make a right onto Gates of the Mountains Road. At the end of the road at 3131 Gates of the Mountains Road, visitors will find a marina and the Missouri River.
At the marina, The Gates of the Mountain Boat Tours offers two-hour history tours of the trip that was taken by Lewis and Clark in 1805.
Back in 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition canoed through the mountains, down the Missouri River. They were amazed by the limestone rocks that turned black in the rain. They also wondered at how the mountains seemed to open up like gates as they passed through. This prompted Meriwether Lewis to dub the area The Gates of the Mountains.
From the water, visitors can see big horn sheep, osprey, eagles, mountain goats, ducks and unusual rock formations such as natural arches.
The boats are open-air so that visitors can easily have a 360 degree view as they float down the river.
To learn more about The Gates of the Mountain Boat Tours call 1-406-458-5241 Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine and Gold Fever Rock Shop
Anyone wanting to try their hand at mining will find this Helena location a treat.
Visitors can dig for their own treasures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays or they can purchase dirt from the mine to sift through.
The guides of the sapphire mine teach visitors how to find gems in their dirt. Here is how the panning process works:
Most visitors find something and the guides help to identify and weight visitors’ finds. Pictured, below, is a typical small sapphire (click on the photo to enlarge it). The same day this sapphire was found, a party member also found an 8ct. sapphire.
To get to the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine and Gold Fever Rock Shop from Helena, visitors should follow these directions:
After visiting these two Helena attractions visitors will go home with a bit of history, some photos and possibly some treasure.
The Gates of the Mountains and Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine provide visitors with outdoor Montana activities. Both sites are perfect for photographing the Montana Landscape and both have activities that teach as well as entertain.
The Gates of the Mountains
For those that love history, boating and fantastic storytelling, The Gates of the Mountains is the perfect way to have a family outing in Helena.
To get to The Gates of the Mountains follow Interstate 15, 17 miles north of Helena. Make a right onto Gates of the Mountains Road. At the end of the road at 3131 Gates of the Mountains Road, visitors will find a marina and the Missouri River.
At the marina, The Gates of the Mountain Boat Tours offers two-hour history tours of the trip that was taken by Lewis and Clark in 1805.
Back in 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition canoed through the mountains, down the Missouri River. They were amazed by the limestone rocks that turned black in the rain. They also wondered at how the mountains seemed to open up like gates as they passed through. This prompted Meriwether Lewis to dub the area The Gates of the Mountains.
From the water, visitors can see big horn sheep, osprey, eagles, mountain goats, ducks and unusual rock formations such as natural arches.
The boats are open-air so that visitors can easily have a 360 degree view as they float down the river.
To learn more about The Gates of the Mountain Boat Tours call 1-406-458-5241 Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine and Gold Fever Rock Shop
Anyone wanting to try their hand at mining will find this Helena location a treat.
Visitors can dig for their own treasures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays or they can purchase dirt from the mine to sift through.
The guides of the sapphire mine teach visitors how to find gems in their dirt. Here is how the panning process works:
- First, a handful of soil is placed on a wire mesh frame.
- Then, the frame is lowered into water and sifted so that the dirt is washed away and the miner is left with only rocks and gems.
- What is left after sifting is placed on a pad by flipping the frame very carefully.
- Miners carefully pick through with a pair of tweezers, discarding rocks, while listening to the tips on how to find gems from the guides.
Most visitors find something and the guides help to identify and weight visitors’ finds. Pictured, below, is a typical small sapphire (click on the photo to enlarge it). The same day this sapphire was found, a party member also found an 8ct. sapphire.
To get to the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine and Gold Fever Rock Shop from Helena, visitors should follow these directions:
- Go north on Last Chance Gulch Street and take a right on Highway 12.
- Go to Spokane Creek Road and take a left.
- Take a left on Highway 430, a right on Hart Lane and another right at Castles Road.
- The road you will dead end right off the Lewis and Clark Trail at the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine and Gold Fever Rock Shop.For information on Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine and Gold Fever Rock Shop call 1-877-DIGGEMS.
After visiting these two Helena attractions visitors will go home with a bit of history, some photos and possibly some treasure.
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