AT

OK

AD

HT

RO

N

AT

OK

AD

HT

UO

S

WYOMING

CANADACANADA

IDAHO

IDAHO

WYOMINGto Gillette, WY

to Belle Fourche, SD

to Sheridan, WYto Lovell, WYto Cody, WY

to Cranbrook, BCto Cardston, AB to Lethbridge, AB

to W

illist

on, N

Dto

Dic

kins

on, N

Dto

Bow

man

, ND

to Kildeer, SKto Assiniboia, SK to Regina, SK

to Swift Current, SK

to F

ortu

na, N

D

to Grand Teton Natl Parkand Jackson, WY

to Idaho Falls, IDto Rexburg, ID

toSalmon, ID

to Kooskia, ID

to C

oeur

d’A

lene

, ID

to S

andp

oint

, ID

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

BEARTOOTH

WARRIOR TR AIL HIGHWAY

FORT PECKINDIAN RESERVATION

FORT BELKNAPINDIAN

RESERVATIONROCKY BOY’SINDIANRESERVATION

CROW INDIANRESERVATION

NORTHERN CHEYENNEINDIAN RESERVATION

BLACKFEETINDIAN

RESERVATION

278

278

324

324

569

253

253

435

399

434

Nye

Sula

Loma

Dell

Babb

Utica

Trego

Otter

Olive

Mosby

Essex

Grant

Bynum

Ismay

Roscoe

NorrisMcLeod

Decker

Birney

Haugan

Dayton

Biddle

Geyser

Galata

Polaris

Monarch

Dupuyer

Ingomar

Brusett

Bighorn

Neihart

Virgelle

RockvaleFishtail

Garrison

De Borgia

Helmville

WiseRiver

St. MaryPolebridge

CookeCity

Sand Springs

Saint Xavier

TwoDot

UlmRoy

Yaak

Pony

Kila

Elmo

Pray

Troy

Saco

Lima

Belt

Logan

Froid

Crane

Craig

Coram

Basin

Alder

Wyola

NoxonHeron

Dixon

Brady

Busby

Terry

ENNIS

Darby

Arlee

Wisdom

Ovando

Fallon

Conner

Alzada

Worden

Victor

Vaughn

Turner

Somers

Savage

Marion

Custer

Condon

Belfry

Hobson

Circle

Wibaux

Westby

Valier

Poplar

Plevna

Jordan

Joliet

Hysham

Dodson

Denton

Charlo

Rollins

Melrose

Fortine

ASHLAND

Zortman

JacksonBig Sky

Big Arm

Lincoln

Augusta

Wilsall

Rosebud

Roberts

Clinton

Bigfork

BROADUS

Winnett

Rexford

Ekalaka

Chester

Cascade

Bridger

Stockett

Paradise

Landusky

Lakeside

Emigrant

Elliston

Hinsdale

Gardiner

Stanford

Winifred

Superior

Sunburst

Sheridan

Melstone

Fairview

Drummond

Alberton

Fort Shaw

Greycliff

Swan Lake

ParkCity

Corvallis

FortPeck

Big Sandy

Bainville

Absarokee

WolfCreek

Raynesford

Fort Smith

Reed Point

Culbertson

Clyde Park

TroutCreek

Martin City

GrassRange

SeeleyLake

St. Regis

LodgeGrass

Philipsburg

Hot Springs

Heart Butte

HungryHorse

West Glacier

TwinBridges

FortBelknapAgency

VirginiaCity

Medicine Lake

PompeysPillar

St. Ignatius

GallatinGateway

WestYellowstone

EastGlacierPark

Winston

Martinsdale

White SulphurSprings

Baker

Ronan

MALTA

Scobey

Plains

Eureka

Bonner

Choteau

Forsyth

CHINOOK

Boulder

COLUMBUS

Browning

RED LODGE

Manhattan

LameDeer

BIGTIMBER

Plentywood

EastHelena

CrowAgency

ThreeForks

FortBenton

THOMPSONFALLS

ROUNDUP

Townsend

Whitehall

HARLOWTON

Lolo

Libby

SIDNEY

SHELBY

Polson

LAUREL

DILLON

Conrad

ANACONDA

GLENDIVE

CUT BANK

Belgrade

WHITEFISH

LEWISTOWN

WOLFPOINT

MILES CITY

LIVINGSTON

DEERLODGE

COLUMBIAFALLS

HAVRE

Judith Gap

ApgarLakeMcDonald

GrantVillage

WestThumb

MammothHot Springs Tower Junction

CanyonNorris

MadisonJunction

OldFaithful

Lake

SilverGate

Monida

Bannack

Argenta

Ringling

BoxElder

Moiese

Rudyard

Pryor

Marysville

Brockway

Lambert

Whitetail

Flaxville

FourButtes

Peerless

Lustre

Opheim

Saint Marie

Vandalia

WhitewaterLoring

Cohagen

Nashua

Sweetgrass

HELENA

MISSOULA

BOZEMAN

BUTTE

KALISPELL

BILLINGS

GREATFALLS

YELLOWSTONENATIONAL

PARK

AT

OK

AD

HT

RO

N

AT

OK

AD

HT

UO

S

WYOMING

CACANNAADACANADA

IDAHO

IDAHO

WYOMINGto t Gilletttt ett ,e WY

tot Bellell FoFF urcrr hcc e, e SD

to tt Sheridadd n, WYto Lovevv ll, WYto Codyd ,yy WY

to tt Cranbrr rookrr , Bkk Cto tt CaCC rdstonrr , AB toto LLethbrethbriirrr dgedgeiiii ,e AABB

toW

illiWW

ston

ii, N

Dto

tt

Dicii

kiccns

onii

,ND

tto ottttB

oB

owwm

am

awwww

n,nNN

DD

ttootttt KKildildKKKK eedddd eerr,rr SSKKtott Assiniboiaii , SK tott Reginii a, SK

to Swiftff Ct urrrr err nt,tt SK

toFo

rFF

tuna

tt, N

D

to Go randTetonTT Nn atNN ltt PaPP rkrrand JaJJ ckcc skk on, WY

to Io daho FaFF llsll , s IDto Rexburee grr , Igg D

totSalmon, ID

to t KooKK skikk aii , ID

to

ttC

oeur

dA

ldd’

ene

ll,eID

to So

andp

oSS

int

ii, Itt

D

BEARTOTT OTH

WAWW RRIORTRTT AR ILII

HIHH GHGWAWW Y

FORT PECKCINII DDNN IAN RESERVATION

FORT BELKNARR K PPPINDINN AAII NN

RESSSERVATVA IOTT NNNRRROOOCKY BOY’SNDINN IAII N

RESERVATIOTT N

CROW INDNN IANRESERVATIOTT N

NORT EHEEEETT RN CRRNRRRRRRN HEECC YEYY NNEE ENNIIINNNIII DDDNNNN N NNIANNNNNNNN RESERVATIVA ON

BLACKFB EEEFF EEE TINDIAAII NN

RRESERVATTIOTT N

253

253

Nye

Sula

LomaLoLoLL

Babb

Uticai

TregoTT

Otter

Olive

Mosby

EssexEE

Bynum

Ismay

Roscoe

McLeod

DeckerDD

Birney

HauganHH

D tDaytonDayton

Biddle

GeyserG

Galata

Monarch

Dupuyerp

Ingomar

Brusett

Bighornororo

Neihart

Virgellelelle

RocRocckvaRoc valevalFishtail

De Borgia

Polebridge

CookeCity

Sand SpringsSS

t Xt tSaintntttntNN avier

TwoTTDot

UlmUlmUlmRoy

YaakYY

Kila

Elmoo

Pray

TrTT oy

Saco

Belt

Logan

Froid

Crane

CoramC

Wyola

NoxonHeronon

Dixon

Brady

Busby

TerererTT rrryyyyy

Darby

Arlee

Fallonnon

Connerrr

AlzadaA

Wordendenden

Victor

Vaughn

TurnerrrTT

Somers

Savvvvage

Marionnn

CusterCuC

Condon

Belfry

Hobson

Circle

Wibaux

Westby

Valier

Poplarpp

Plevna

JordanJ

JolietJ lili

Hyshamyshamysham

odsonDoDo

Denton

CharloChaCha o

RollinsRRRo

Fortinee

ASHLAND

ZortmanZoZoZZoZo

Big Skyy

g

BiggB ArmArmArm

Wilsall

Rosebudd

Roberts

Clinton

BigforkBig

BRB OADUS

Winnett

Rexfordrdrdrdrd

Ekalaka

Chester

Cascade

Bridgeeere

Stockett

P searradisr se

yLLLanduskyL ykyky

Lakeside

EmigrantE

Hinsdale

Gardiner

Stanford

Winifred

Superior

SSunburstS tt

Melstone

Fairview

Albertonrtorton

Fort Shaw

GreyGG cliff

Swan Lakeakk

PPParkarkarkkrkCityty

CoC rvallis

FortcPeckeckP

Big Sandddyy

Bainville

Absarokeeee

Raynesfordrd

F hhort Smithhhhth

Reed Pointt

ertsonCulbebert

Clyde Park

TrouttTTCreek

Martin Cityya ty

GrassRange

SeeleyS yyyyyLakeLLL

St. Regis

LodgeGrass

g

Hot Sprinngsn

Heart Butteart Butteeart Butte

HungggngggrrryyyHorse

gg FoortoBelknaapAgennccy

keMedicine Lakeke

PompeysPillar

p

StS . Ignatiustiustius

GallatinGateway

WWWWWessYYYYYYYYeelleelleeelelelYYYYYYYYYYYY oo

EasEastEasGlaciecieracieParkk

MartinsdaleM t

White SulphurSprings

Baker

nRonananR

MAM LTLL ATT

Scobeyy

PlainnsnP

Eurekak

BonnerBB

Choteau

Forsyth

CHINOOK

COLUMBUSSSS

Browningn

RED LODGE

ManhMaan attan

LameDeer

BIGTIMBERTIMB

Plentywood

CrowAgency

ThreeT eThThForksrk

FFortBenton

PSONTHOMPOOOHOFALLSLSFF

ROUNDUPRTONOWTTHARLOOW

Lolo

Libby

SIDNEY

SHELBYS

Polsonnnonon

RELLAAAURA RELRREL

Conrad

GLENDIVE

NKCUT BANNKK

BelgradeeB

WHITEFISHH

LEWISTOWN

WOLFPOINT

MILES CITYY

LIVINGSTONONONONNN

COLUMBIAAAAOO AAAAAFALLSSLSLSFF

HHAVREAA

Judith Gap

SilverGGGaatett

Ringling

BoxElderereer

MoieseM ee

Rudyard

Pryor

Brockway

Lambert

Whitetail

FlaxvilleF

FourButtes

Peerlessl

Lustre

Opheim

SaaintaMaariear

Vandalia

WhitewaterLoring

Cohagen

shuaNNasN s

Sweetgrass

MISSOULAULA

BOZEMANBO EMEME

KALISPELLLLL

BILLINGSILLINGSILLINGSBBBBBB

GREREREGG ATAAFFFFFALLSAAAAAA SFFFF

GLACIER NANN TIONAL

PARKPP St. Mary

yyyyyyyy

WWWest GlacierAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAApgararar

LakeMcDonald

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

stsoowstone

GrantVillage

WestThumbmbT

MammothHot Springsgs ToTT wer Junctionct

CanyonNorris

MadisonMJunctionJ

OldFaithful

Lake

GGaatt

YELLOWSTONENANN TIONAL

PARKPP

YELLOWSTONENATIONAL

PARK

Garnet

Farlin

Glendale Pony

Marysville

Bannack

CoolidgeRochester

ElkhornGranite

Charter Oak

Virginia City

Rimini

Comet

GHOST TOWNS

MONTANA IS RICH IN HISTORY

Places where you can reach out and touch the past, where history can be felt as you walk the floorboards of ghost town streets or step inside dance halls or school rooms.

Experience the old west at its best in Southwest Montana. From the Meade Hotel in Bannack with its huge spiral staircase and original wallpaper to the picturesque Fraternity Hall in Elkhorn.

As you walk through the now empty buildings it is easy to imagine cowboys enjoying a game of cards, miners coming into town from their claims, families attending church services or children rushing for the school room bell. The past comes alive in Southwest Montana where evidence still exists of the rich heritage of the boom and bust.

Glacier National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Southwest Montana

GHOST TOWNS

BANNACK STATE PARKBannack was once home to the infamous sheriff, Henry Plummer, and his gang of outlaws. It was also the site of the first major gold rush in Montana and home of Montana’s first Territorial Capital. Over 50 buildings still stand at Bannack. The Visitor Center is open from May through October. Guided town tours, mill tours, living history, and gold panning are scheduled from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Bannack Days, a celebration of pioneer life, takes place on the third weekend in July. The park and campgrounds are open all year. Bannack is located 25 miles southwest of Dillon, just off Highway 278.

CHARTER OAK MINE AND MILLThe Charter Oak Mine and Mill was a lode mine and mill active off and on from 1916 to 1955. It is located near the Little Blackfoot River south of the community of Elliston. Today you will find standing buildings as well as the equipment and shelters used for mining and milling. The mine has been stabilized and interpreted and is open for public visitation, although it is about a mile hike into the mine. Contact the Montana Discovery Foundation for a tour 406-495-3711.

COMET

The mine was developed in the 1880s and a large mill was built in 1926. During this period, it is reported that Comet had 22 saloons. The town is on private property but is now open to the public. Located approx-imately 5 miles north of I-15 on High Ore Road between Boulder and Basin.

COOLIDGE

Located in the east Pioneer Mountains above 7,000 feet, Coolidge was the last silver boomtown in Montana. A narrow-gauge railroad was built to the mine, but the quantity of silver ore did not justify the expense of the rail line or the huge mill that was built. Reached by a good gravel road at Mono Creek along the Pioneer Scenic Byway.

Bannack State Park

ELKHORN STATE PARK

Rich silver deposits were discovered here in 1870, and the population reached nearly 2,500 inhabitants. Much of the remaining town site is owned by private individuals so be sure to heed the no trespassing signs. Fraternity Hall and the adjacent Gillian Hall are managed by Montana State Parks. From I-15 take the Boulder exit, seven miles south on Montana 69, then 11 miles north on country road.

FARLIN

The boom years for Farlin were 1905 and 1906 when the Indian Queen produced half a million pounds of copper. Farlin had its own post office and school. Today a few cabins remain along the Birch Creek road and the schoolhouse is a short hike up a side gulch. Take the Birch Creek exit between Glen and Dillon and go west six miles.

GARNET

Gold was discovered at the Nancy Hanks Mine in 1898. Garnet’s population boomed to nearly 1,000 people but by 1950 the town was deserted. More than 30 buildings have been preserved here. Garnet offers a Visitor Center, interpretive signs and self-guided trails. I-90 west to Exit 154 for Drummond. Follow the Frontage Road from the west end of Drummond for approximately 10 miles to Bear Gulch Road. Turn onto Bear Gulch Road at the sign for Garnet and proceed 11 miles up the gravel road. Please note the gravel road is not recommended for trailers or motorhomes.

GHOST TOWNS

Garnet Ghost Town

GLENDALE AND CANYON CREEK CHARCOAL KILNS

Once a thriving smelting town, little remains of Glendale today. The old stone Confederated office building, a smelter stack and a few other buildings remain. During the boom period of the 1880s the town boasted a population of 2,000. In order to supply charcoal for the smelter the Canyon Creek charcoal kilns were built about five miles up Canyon Creek beyond Glendale. Numerous beehive shaped kilns remain. Take the Melrose exit off of I-15 and head west on the Trapper Creek road for five miles to Glendale. To reach the kilns turn right on the Canyon Creek road at Glendale and travel about five miles.

GRANITE STATE PARK

This was the richest silver mine on earth, yielding $40 million worth of silver. The shell of the Miners’ Union Hall still stands, as well as few other buildings remaining in poor repair. In the Silver Panic of 1893, and the mine shut down. From Philipsburg, follow Galena Road onto Granite Road (less than 4 miles from town).

MARYSVILLE

While driving on Highways 279 from Helena to Lincoln, you will find Marysville tucked away at the foot of Mount Belmont. This semi-ghost town shines as an underappreciated gem in Southwest Montana. Marysville boomed as a gold camp in the 1880s and 90s. Great Divide Ski Area is just up the hill, and as you will see, the town is not fully abandoned, but boasts a small community.

PONY

Pony is named after Tecumseh “Pony” Smith, the discoverer of the placer gold deposits in 1867. Although Pony has seen better days, this picturesque little town refuses to die. Many old abandoned buildings remain including the Morris State Bank and the Morris Elling stamp mill. Located six miles southwest of Harrison on route 283.

GHOST TOWNS

Granite Ghost Town

RIMINI

History has it that Rimini was either named after a city in Italy or a drama production that traveled through during its formative years. Several of Rimini’s old buildings are inhabited today and make up the Rimini community. Southwest of Helena off Highway 12.

ROCHESTER

The Watseca gold mine was discovered in 1869 and the town of Rochester sprang up. The Watseca mine was operated until the 1980s. A few stone buildings, a wooden head frame, a modern gold mill (now abandoned) and the old cemetery remain. Located about 12 miles from Twin Bridges on the Melrose-Twin Bridges County Road.

VIRGINIA AND NEVADA CITIES

Located in Alder Gulch, Virginia and Nevada Cities are a popular draw during the summer months. Nevada City is a town-sized open-air museum (or building zoo) with over 100 buildings from the gold rush era. Virginia City was the second Territorial Capital of Montana and stands today as a well preserved glimpse into the past with thousands of artifacts, living history every weekend (Memorial Day through Labor Day), and gem mining!

GHOST TOWNS

Virginia City