Garnet Ghost Town
4.7(1.2K)google
4.5(28)yelp
EducationalSecluded & UncrowdedOutdoorPhoto SpotHistoric TownGhost TownOld WestAbandoned Site
Overview
Garnet is a ghost town in Granite County, Montana, United States. A thriving mining town in the 1890s, Garnet's population declined when local hard rock mines closed. The remaining buildings have been preserved and are open to visitors.
Practical Info
Every day9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Suggested Duration2-3 hours
Best TimeOpen for wheeled vehicle access seasonally from May 1 to October 31 annually; winter snows restrict travel strictly to snowmobiles or cross-country ski treks. The premier slot to explore is a summer afternoon between 3:30 PM and 6:00 PM; low golden sunbeams pierce the deep mountain pine forest, illuminating the weathered, unpainted timber planks of 30 authentic century-old saloons, cabins, and hotels.
Getting ThereTucked deep inside the rugged Garnet Range mountains. Driving is the exclusive means of transit: from Missoula, travel east on I-90 to Exit 109, follow MT-200 East to mile marker 22, and make a sharp turn onto Garnet Range Road—an 11-mile, incredibly narrow, unpaved, and winding dirt logging path scaling the mountain ridge. A high-clearance, four-wheel-drive (4WD) SUV is heavily recommended; no transit exists.
Travel Tips
- Garnet Range Road is an unpaved, deeply rutted backcountry mountain track closed to all wheeled motorized vehicles from January to April, limiting winter transit to snowmobiles.
- The fragile ghost town structures feature decayed upper storeys; crossing interior structural barriers is illegal, as is removing historical square nails or timber debris.
- The remote ghost town provides primitive vault toilets with zero running water or electrical hookups; ensure your fuel tank is above half before exiting Highway 200.
Reviews
Positive
- As Montana's best-preserved historic gold-mining ghost town hidden deep in pine mountains, dozens of unrestored cabins and saloons ooze authentic mystery and history.
- The best part is freely pushing open wooden doors of vintage hotels and shacks to view left-behind lifestyle artifacts inside dusty rooms, offering uncommercial historical fun.
- Admission is a mere $3 managed by the BLM, offering insane value! The $2 self-guided book is hardcore and vivid, easily reconstructing the family tales behind each ruin.
- The rangers and volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable. The mini-visitor center is tidy, providing nice shaded picnic benches and basic restroom facilities for drivers.
Heads up
- The last 11 miles of mountain dirt track via Garnet Range Road is narrow, potholed, and rocky; it turns into a muddy mess after rain, making it torture for low-clearance sedans.
- Tucked deep in remote forests, cell signal is dead. Historic interiors lack modern electric lights; rooms get pitch dark on cloudy days or evenings, which can scare timid visitors.
- The ghost town is on a slope; the main path is steep, rugged, and unpaved, and vintage doorsteps are high, leaving the entire camp lacking wheelchair or stroller accessibility.
- There are no dining amenities or vending machines, and summer bugs are aggressive. Wandering the trails without bug spray and plenty of water/snacks leaves you miserable.