Entry No. 44 — the Helena file — filed under: after-dark
Gates of the Mountains Bat Tour at dusk
The Gates of the Mountains is a dramatic limestone canyon on the Missouri River where the cliffs seem to swing open as your boat approaches, the formation Meriwether Lewis named in 1805. Beyond the standard daytime cruises, the marina runs occasional evening Bat Tours: you cruise into the upper canyon, the motor cuts off, and thousands of bats stream out of the rock to forage as the light fades, with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists aboard to narrate. The canyon also shelters bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and soaring eagles. It's a genuinely odd after-dark wildlife spectacle, but seats are scarce and recent seasons have allocated them by raffle, so check the marina's schedule before you go.
The story
In July 1805, Meriwether Lewis rowed into a sheer limestone canyon on the Missouri River and wrote that the 1,200-foot walls seemed to swing open like giant gates as his party approached. The daytime crowds still come for that exact sight, peering up at high-perched bighorn sheep and mountain goats while the diesel motor hums. But the real spectacle happens after the standard tours lock up for the night.
On select late-summer evenings, the marina launches a special boat into the canyon just as twilight hits. Once you reach the upper canyon, the captain cuts the engine. You sit in cold silence until the limestone cliffs seem to wake up: thousands of bats stream out from deep rock fissures, flooding the dark sky over the river to forage. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists ride along to translate the quiet night sonar and walk you through the roosting colonies hidden in the stone.
What it's like
You'll roll up to the marina 20 miles north of Helena as the evening air cools down significantly off Upper Holter Lake. Bring a thick jacket—once the sun drops behind the canyon walls, the cold river draft bites. The boat drifts silently beneath towering limestone cliffs in near-total darkness, punctuated only by the low voice of an FWP biologist and the flutter of thousands of tiny wings passing overhead. Space on these runs is notoriously tight and usually handed out through a seasonal raffle system, so do not show up unannounced hoping to buy a ticket at the dock.
The move: Book the dusk Bat Tour, cruise into the canyon as the sun drops, and watch thousands of bats pour out of the cliffs over the dark river.
📍 Before you go Bat Tours are special-event dates (typically late summer) booked separately from the standard schedule, so call the marina at (406) 458-5241 to confirm dates.
- 📍 Helena (20 miles north)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 3131 Gates of the Mountains Rd, Helena, MT 59602
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Gates of the Mountains Boat Tour — Take the standard daylight cruise to scout the 1,200-foot canyon geology and Lewis and Clark history before returning at dusk for the bats.
- Helena Astronomical Society star parties — Keep the night-sky itinerary rolling by pairing the dusk bat flight with a public stargazing night in the north valley.
- Beyond the Big Sky at Montana Learning Center Observatory — Trade nocturnal river wildlife for deep space viewing at this multi-dome observatory complex perched above Canyon Ferry Lake.
- The Lewis & Clarkade (Lewis & Clark Tap Room) — Head back into Helena after your cold river run to warm up with local craft beers and late-night pinball.
Good to know
How do I secure a spot on the Bat Tour?
Because these special late-summer runs have very limited seating, tickets are typically distributed via a raffle or special reservation system. You must check the marina's website or call them directly at (406) 458-5241 to verify dates and entry details.
Who guides the dusk tour?
Biologists from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks join the tour to explain bat ecology, identify species, and narrate the evening emergence as the bats leave their cliff roosts.
What else can I expect to see in the canyon?
Before darkness falls, keep an eye on the 1,200-foot rock faces for bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and soaring bald eagles.
Where does the tour boat depart from?
Tours dock at the Gates of the Mountains marina, located at 3131 Gates of the Mountains Road, about 20 miles north of Helena.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · nps.gov · Tripadvisor · fwp.mt.gov
last checked: 2026-06-24