Little Prickly Pear Creek

Little Prickly Pear Creek flows from the Helena National Forest through the scenic Wolf Creek Canyon to join the Missouri River near the town of Wolf Creek. This freestone stream offers good fishing for rainbow and brown trout in a beautiful canyon setting just north of Helena. The creek gained fame in the movie "A River Runs Through It" as a filming location stand-in. Interstate 15 parallels much of the canyon, providing easy access to numerous pullouts and fishing spots. The creek fishes best after spring runoff clears, typically by late June, with hatches of caddis, mayflies, and stoneflies keeping trout active through summer. Fall brings excellent fishing with less pressure and changing colors in the canyon. The proximity to both Helena and Great Falls makes Little Prickly Pear Creek a convenient option for anglers seeking quality trout water without the crowds of more famous destinations. Wade fishing is the primary method along this intimate stream.