East Helena High School

In 2020, Prickly Pear Land Trust acquired two properties in East Helena – The Grove and Prickly Pear Park – and transformed them into public parks and outdoor classrooms. East Helena High School students explore watershed health and conservation science just steps away from their school. We’re inspiring the next generation to understand and protect […]

Potter Ranch

Working Ranch Treasured by Family and Community The Potter Ranch is one of the last working ranches of its size in the Helena Valley. The cattle and hay operation is located in the rugged Spokane Hills and adjacent to 6,000 acres of public lands. It’s visible throughout the valley, so this conservation easement protects one […]

The Grove

Named after its towering cottonwoods, The Grove bridges East Helena’s history as a smelter town with its future as a thriving community with abundant public access. Accessed from JFK Park, The Grove features over two miles of broad, flat trails in the grasslands adjacent to Prickly Pear Creek. Visitors love the views of Sleeping Giant […]

Creek Restorations Bring People and Wildlife Together

Chances are you know a healthy creek when you see one. It meanders through a floodplain, curving back and forth like it has all the time in the world. The banks that guide the creek are crowded with willows. During spring run-off, those willows help to absorb the water’s energy and protect the banks from […]