Helena Ales For Trails 2025

All ticket sales are final. No refunds. The festival goes on, rain or shine!

Ales is a fundraiser for the Helena Trail System. This year's funds will go towards the Bureau of Land Management's Scratchgravel Hills Recreation Plan.

Helena Ales for Trails strives to contribute to the community of Helena by raising funds for the Helena Trail System. 2024's event raised $20,000 for the trails, which went towards the Bureau of Land Management's Scratchgravel Hills Recreation Area Management Plan!

The event is led by a consortium of community leaders from a variety of sectors. We’re proud to partner with local businesses, city and county government, and private citizens to host and sponsor Helena Ales for Trails. In addition to the myriad of people involved in planning, Helena Ales for Trails utilizes over 150 volunteers on the day of the event. Over the first 13 years we’ve raised over $223,000 for local trails, all which was distributed to Friends of Centennial Trail (Centennial Trail Project), Prickly Pear Land Trust (Peaks to Creek Project), Helena Parks and Recreation (Ascension Downhill Project & Park City Trailhead), Helena Trail Rider, the Deford Trail Corridor and the 2019 Whyte Addition to Mt. Helena City Park, and the Old Shooting Range Restroom Accessibility Project, the Limekiln Parking Area Realignment Project, and the Bureau of Land Management (Scratchgravel Hills Recreation Plan).

Keeping it Downtown:

This year’s event will happen in Pioneer Park, located next to Lewis & Clark Library at the far southern end of the walking mall.

Date & Time:

We are moving Ales back to the spring! The 14th Annual Helena Ales for Trails is scheduled for Friday, May 16th from 3:30 to 9:00pm. (Please note that 3:30pm to 5:00pm is reserved for the VIP pre-event, while the main event experience is from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.)  

VIP Pre Event (3.30 - 5pm): $50 (SOLD OUT)

Every year, we strive to turn Helena Ales for Trails more and more toward a unique tasting experience. We invite breweries who share the vision of a beer tasting event that showcases limited production, small batch, hard to find, special reserve, artisan, experimental, barrel-aged, sours, and other unique craft beers. While we recognize the place of flagship beers, we hope to showcase breweries who welcome the chance to “bring us their weird!” VIP is your best chance to experience the wide variety of beer showcased at Helena Ales for Trails.

To further enhance the VIP Event, we limit the experience to 300 VIP participants (which includes event sponsors and brewers). VIP starts promptly at 3:30pm. At that time, participants can enjoy an unlimited number of beer tastings while interacting with brewers and snacking on complimentary appetizers prepared by Helena’s very own Habana406. VIP ticket sales are limited to 200 tickets, selling for $50. VIP tickets will only be available online via 406Tix, starting at 9.00am (MST) on March 1st. In addition to the opportunity to taste up to 60 beverages, VIP tickets include a custom printed 2025 Helena Ales For Trails glass and 1 token that can be used for a 6oz. pour at the end of the VIP experience (5pm). The VIP Ticket also buys entrance into the main event.

* VIP has a history of selling out within just a few weeks.

Main Event (5-9pm): $20 - $35

Main Event tickets go on sale March 15th. They are available at the following Helena breweries for $20, while tickets last: Blackfoot River Brewing, Ten Mile Creek, Copper Furrow, Mt. Ascension, Speakeasy 41. Tickets are also available online at 406Tix for $25. Tickets will be available at the gate the day of the event, if any remain, for $35. Each ticket includes a custom printed 2025 Helena Ales for Trails glass along with 3 tokens, which can be redeemed for three (3) 6 oz. pours. Heleburger and Cheddar's will have their food trucks present, with many great food options for purchase.

All ticketed attendees will also have the opportunity to buy additional beer tokens at $1 per token. 

Participating Breweries (2025)

Stay tuned! We will keep the list updated as we confirm breweries. Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more up-to-date info as we get closer to the event. 

Breweries: Blackfoot River (Helena), Blacksmith (Stevensville), Ten Mile Creek (Helena), Wildwood (Stevensville), OddPitch (Missoula), Lewis & Clark (Helena), Copper Furrow (Helena), MT Ciderworks (Darby), Mt. Ascension (Helena), Athletic Brewing Co., Carter's (Billings), Bridger (Bozeman), Flathead Lake (Bigfork), Bozeman Brewing (Bozeman), By All Means Brewing (Billings), Sean Minor Wines, Imagine Nation (Missoula), MAP Brewing (Bozeman), Smelter City (Anaconda), Speakeasy 41 (Helena)

NEW 2025: Tamarack (Missoula)

FAQ's

Do you allow dogs? No, unfortunately we cannot allow dogs at the event.

What about non-alcoholic beer? Yes, we will have Athletic Brewing available; however, you will still need to purchase a main event ticket to consume non-alcoholic beer. A $5 non-drinking ticket is available if you'd like to enter the event, but not partake in drinking.

Where does the money go? All funds raised go towards building new trail in the Scratchgravel Hills, in accordance with the Bureau of Land Management's Scratchgravel Hills Recreation Area Management Plan.

Are kids allowed? Yes, kids 5 and younger are free. Ages 6-20 are $5.

Do I need to bring my ID? Yes! We will ID everyone at the entrance gate, so please bring your ID.

What's the deal with tokens? After 5pm, all attendees, including VIP attendees, will need to use tokens to purchase beer. We are selling tokens for $1. 1 token = 6oz pour.

For more information, find Helena Ales for Trails on Facebook, Instagram, or email Hannah at hannah@narratechcurch.org.

MUST BE 21 YEARS OR OLDER TO PARTICIPATE. PROOF OF ID REQUIRED. 

ALL TICKET SALES ARE FINAL. THE EVENT IS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE HELENA TRAIL SYSTEM. NO REFUNDS.

If you are unable to attend this event, but would like to support the Scratchgravel Recreation Plan, donate here. Thank you!