Bannack State Park
4.8(1.3K)google
4.8(20)yelp
OutdoorGuided TourEducationalPhoto SpotHistoric TownGhost TownOld West
Overview
Bannack is a ghost town in Beaverhead County, Montana, United States, located on Grasshopper Creek, approximately 11 miles (18 km) upstream from where Grasshopper Creek joins with the Beaverhead River south of Dillon. Founded in 1862, the town is a National Historic Landmark managed by the state of Montana as Bannack State Park.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeLate June through August is ideal, especially during the 'Bannack Days' historical festival in late July, which features live historical reenactments of gold panning and frontier blacksmithing. The quintessential daily window is 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM; the late afternoon sun casts long, dramatic shadows across the 60 surviving weathered log buildings and deserted wooden boardwalks.
Getting ThereLocated southwest of Dillon, Montana. Self-driving is strictly necessary: from Dillon, take I-15 South to Exit 59, merge onto MT-278 West for about 20 miles, and then make a left turn onto Bannack Road (a well-maintained gravel road) following the state park markers for 4 miles to the main gates. Ensure your gas tank is filled, as there are no roadside services nearby.
Travel Tips
- As an authentic ghost town, over 50 preservation structures lack lighting or heating and contain toxic lead and mold residues; touching interior surfaces or manipulating historical artifacts is forbidden.
- Western rattlesnakes frequently nest beneath wooden boardwalks and shaded foundations in summer; stay centered on gravel paths and never place hands or feet into unmonitored structural crevices.
- Out-of-state registered vehicles require a daily vehicle entrance fee; park water systems are shut down for winter freeze protection, requiring visitors to pack their own potable water.
Reviews
Positive
- As the first territorial capital of Montana, it preserves over 60 intact historical structures, making it one of the most authentic and breathtaking ghost towns in the US, instantly transporting you back to the Gold Rush era.
- The best part is that you can actually walk through the interiors of most old hotels, saloons, and shacks rather than just peeking through windows, offering an amazing, immersive historical experience.
- The admission fee is very reasonable and offers great value! The $2 guide book you can purchase is incredibly detailed and, combined with the boardwalk layout, helps you easily learn the legendary stories behind each building.
- The management is well-organized; the rangers and staff at the visitor center are extremely friendly and eager to answer historical questions, and the site features nice picnic tables and dry-camping grounds.
Heads up
- To preserve the authentic historical atmosphere, there is absolutely no cell service or cellular signal in the park. Navigation and communication will fail, so be prepared to be disconnected.
- It takes about a 20-minute drive from the main highway through a remote area that is quite barren with no gas stations or dining options; make sure to fill up your tank and bring your own food.
- While most main buildings are connected by a boardwalk, some trails to mine ruins are gravelly and sloped. Ancient building interiors lack accessible facilities, limiting wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.
- During the peak summer season or special events like Bannack Days, the narrow main street of the ghost town gets extremely crowded and packed with people, diluting the authentic, eerie atmosphere with a noisy commercial market feel.