How THE Delta Grind Is Igniting Movement, Momentum, and a More Sustainable Delta
This spring, Studio Drift’s Delta Grind brought a new kind of energy to our community — one that wasn’t just seen and heard, but felt across trails, parks, and sidewalks. What began as a celebration of cycling and culture has quickly become a catalyst for deeper community activation, transforming everyday spaces into vibrant hubs for recreation, connection, and motion.
For the 2025 Delta Grind, more than 100 cyclists and 25 runners descended on Helena’s low and high roads. While some raced for personal best times and others to enjoy beautiful scenic pathways, all shared a vision of Helena’s recreational spaces as a prime experience in the emerging outdoor recreation industry. This support and unified vision to create a tangible recreation presence was felt throughout the heart of Helena’s Cherry Street Historic District.
One of the most visible impacts? Bikes. Everywhere. Thanks to Conway Cycling Project’s donation, the school bike giveaway held during the event, 50 local students received brand-new bicycles — many for the first time. Since then, our trails and streets have come alive with movement. Neighborhood streets have seen a noticeable uptick in bicycle use, all sparked by the simple power of access and encouragement.
A key champion of this vision is Anmen Jordan, who has been instrumental in pushing forward the dream of establishing Helena as ‘Mile Zero’ of the Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail — a regional bikepacking route that runs the length of the scenic ridge. His commitment to community-led development and outdoor equity is helping position Helena as not just a starting point for gravel cyclists, but as a destination for adventurers, families, and creatives looking for meaningful experiences off the beaten path. At its core, this movement also offers an important strategy for addressing two of the Delta’s biggest challenges: poverty and poor health outcomes. By increasing access to recreational activities like biking, walking, and outdoor exploration, we’re helping remove barriers to healthy living. Events like Delta Grind help create a culture of activity and wellness while drawing in economic opportunities through tourism, small business engagement, and community-building efforts.
The Delta Grind wasn’t just a moment — it remains a movement. By showcasing our region's potential for outdoor recreation and creative placemaking, the event is laying a meaningful pathway toward sustainable tourism that’s rooted in health, heritage, and home.
As we reflect on the success of Delta Grind, we recognize it as a signpost. A call to dream bigger about what the Delta can become when we activate our spaces, invest in our people, and move toward a healthier, more sustainable future — together.