Trail Overview
Merrel Springs is a 0.8-mile dirt trail through the Helena National Forest, following the West Fork of Indian Creek. This short connector route descends from 6,373 feet to 5,948 feet through healthy forest terrain, offering opportunities to spot wildlife such as deer, elk, moose, and black bears.
With a technical rating of 2, the trail is easily traversed by high-clearance 4WD vehicles under dry conditions. However, wet weather or early spring can bring deep mud and lingering snow. The route connects Weston Creek Trail with local forest service roads, providing access to historic areas featuring 19th-century settlers' cabins.
Difficulty
This trail may be muddy in the early spring, you may encounter snow, and it will be muddy after a heavy rain. Otherwise, it's an easy trail with beautiful scenery.
History
This section of the Helena National Forest is 115K acres. The many settlers' cabins that still stand in this area are a testament to the sturdy, resilient people who came west in the 1800s. Canyon Ferry Lake is a man-made reservoir, built to generate electricity, provide irrigation, and help control flooding. It is Montana's third-largest body of water. The original ferry hauled the stagecoach and residents across the river. The toll was 25 cents for a horse, and 50 cents for a team. The ferry was anchored by cables that were strung across the Missouri River. A dam was built in 1896 by the Missouri River Power Company, which made the river below the dam too rough for the ferry, so it was abandoned. Canyon Ferry residents then had to cross the river upstream in rowboats until the first county bridge was built in 1899.
