Hiking in Montana is an experience like no other. The Treasure State is a rugged, breathtaking masterpiece full of diverse scenery. But sometimes, our hiking trails aren’t about walking to waterfalls or getting breathtaking lake views. Sometimes they take you back in time. There are a few haunted hikes in Montana, but the Oti Park Trailhead is in its own league. The path takes you straight to an abandoned mining town, and paranormal activity has been reported, making it the creepiest hike in Montana. Come along as we tell you why:

The Kings Hill Scenic Byway is a 71-mile stretch of US Highway 89.
Sue Kunda / Flickr
It passes through the Lewis and Clark National Forest and Little Belt Mountains. The Little Belts are full of old mines and the history that goes with them.
To access the Oti Park Trailhead, just take Highway 89 to Monarch.
Matt Lavin / Flickr
From Monarch, turn east on Hughesville Road and drive for about 10 miles to the intersection with Grey Creek Road. Then just follow Grey Creek Road to Oti Park Road until you find the trailhead.
Be sure to take in the verdant plant life along the way.
George Wesley & Bonita Dannells/Flickr
It offers a great deal of scenic views as you make your way to the trail.
The trail will eventually take you to Barker, an old mining town. The Barker and Hughesville mining district has a lot of history.
Josh Schwartzman / Flickr
It all started in 1879 when silver was discovered in Galena Creek by two men. Word spread quickly, and before long, Barker had a mill, bunkhouses, a cemetery, and a boarding house. But the mines suffered during the Silver Panic of 1893, and the mining camps in the area officially closed down during the Great Depression.
While the town is long gone, a few of the buildings remain. And clearly more than the structures stayed behind because this is considered one of Montana's most haunted hiking trails.
Bill Strong / Flickr
Plenty of hikers have reported hearing the sound of horses and men being whipped, and some have even seen apparitions of miners. The majority of the paranormal activity happens near the old cemetery at Hughesville.
Of course, none of these stories can be proven, and if you take this hike you might not see anything out of the ordinary.
David / Flickr
Still, seeing the remains of the old mining town is pretty extraordinary, all things considered.

Would you hike to an abandoned mine in Montana? Have you ever heard of this hiking trail? Would you agree that it is the creepiest hike in Montana? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

Believe it or not, there are more haunted hikes in Montana that you won’t want to miss! And if you get hungry when you go hiking, you might consider buying these food containers.

If you’re still in the mood for more Big Sky adventures, take a look at this video:

 

 

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Lysa Allman-Baldwin | September 10, 2023

Where can we find short hiking trails in Montana?

  • The Sacagawea Peak Trail near Bozeman is short but does have some steep inclines and switchbacks.
  • The Triple Tree Trail in Gallatin National Forest is one of the easiest hikes in Montana and is particularly popular during wildflower season.
  • The Redrock Falls Trail in Glacier National Park is a 3.5-mile hike and features a waterfall along the way.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other short hiking trails in Montana.

Where can we go camping in Montana?

  • The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area has several campgrounds ranging from easily accessible to primitive including some only accessible by boat or by hiking in.
  • Makoshika State Park offers well over a dozen campsites perfect for RVs or tent camping.
  • Glacier National Park has over a dozen different campgrounds totaling over 1,000 sites in all.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other great places to go camping in Montana.

Where can we find ghost towns in Montana?

  • The Granite Ghost Town State Park in Philipsburg is the home of an old mining camp from around 1872 that was once the world’s richest silver mine.
  • Virginia City was the state of Montana’s original capital, and from here you can embark upon a train ride to nearby Nevada City, which is also an abandoned ghost town.
  • Garnet is Montana’s best preserved ghost town and visitors will find several remnants of this former mining town.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other spooky ghost towns in Montana.

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