Spring Meadow Lake State Park events – Helena, MT

About Spring Meadow Lake State Park

Spring Meadow Lake State Park is a small, spring-fed lake on the west edge of Helena, managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks as an urban day-use park. It's popular for swimming, sunbathing, fishing and birdwatching, with an 0.8-mile self-guided nature trail circling the water. There is no lifeguard on duty; visitors swim at their own risk, though the park stocks free loaner life jackets in child through adult sizes from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The park is at 2715 Country Club Dr. on Helena's west side and is open year-round, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., day-use only (no camping). Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee on their vehicle registration enter free; non-residents pay $8 per vehicle or $4 as a walk-in, cyclist or bus passenger. The park has picnic shelters, a group-use pavilion, and paved parking, and hosts the annual Helena Outdoor Triathlon (HOTri, formerly the Spring Meadow Triathlon) each July.

What happens here

• Open-water swimming at the sandy beach, no lifeguard on duty
• The Helena Outdoor Triathlon (HOTri), held each July with triathlon, aqua-bike, duathlon, super sprint and 5K fun run divisions
• Fishing for rainbow trout and other stocked species
• The 0.8-mile self-guided nature trail loop around the lake
• Picnic shelter and pavilion rentals for group gatherings

Good to know

• No lifeguard is on duty; free loaner life jackets are available Memorial Day through Labor Day for anyone who wants one.
• Montana residents with the $9 state parks fee on their vehicle registration pay nothing at the gate; non-residents pay $8 per vehicle or $4 walking/biking in.
• The park is day-use only, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round; there's no overnight camping.