While we embrace all things spooky and scary in the fall, there are paranormal hotspots and haunted places all around Montana that you can visit year-round! You’ve heard of Montana’s haunted mansions and haunted ghost towns, but did you know about its haunted hiking trails? Rumor has it that we’ve got a few of those, too. Lace up your boots and take one of these paths to see for yourself. Even if you don’t have a paranormal experience, you’ll get some great exercise exploring these haunted hikes in Montana.

1. The Frenchwoman’s Road, MacDonald Pass
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
This road was once managed by a Frenchman named Constant Guyot, who was apparently abusive when he drank. On one sad August day in 1868, passive travelers discovered his wife, Madame Guyot, in a pool of blood and nearly decapitated from a bullet to her skull. Constant was a suspect, of course, but the case was never solved.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
Madame Guyot is said to haunt the area. Numerous other strange experiences have been reported, but none are as spooky as the story of the mystery hitchhiker. A driver once stopped near a white highway cross for a cigarette, and when he returned to his car he found a young woman in the backseat asking him for a ride to Helena. He agreed, but on the way there, the woman vanished. The cross apparently marked the site of a car accident that killed two teenage girls on their way to a dance in Helena.

Check out our previous article to learn more about this haunted hike.
2. Bear Canyon Road, Bozeman
Tanya Dawn / Flickr
If you’re hiking near Bear Canyon Road, all you should have to worry about are bears in the woods or perhaps the occasional snake. But there have been several reports of a little girl appearing to female hikers and trying to lure them into the woods, only to disappear when she isn’t successful. Yikes.

Read more about this spooky place, including chilling tales from the area, in our previous article.
3. The Oti Park Trailhead, Barker, south of Monarch
Pattys-photos / Flickr
Eventually you’ll come to the ghost town of Barker and the Barker Cemetery, which is rumored to be haunted by several ghosts. Pay attention the entire time you’re on the trail, though—hikers have spotted apparitions of long dead miners, and sometimes they hear the sound of men riding horses that aren’t there.

Check out our previous article for more information.

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4. The Old North Trail, Rocky Mountain Front
Jocelyn Catterson / Flickr
The Old North Trail runs north to south along the Rocky Mountains in Central Montana. It has been used by Native Americans for centuries, and even though much of it has been destroyed by towns and roads, you can still walking along the old worn trail.
Sam Beebe / Flickr
When you’re hiking, you might notice some ancient stone cairns. Humans once assembled in this area about 2,000 years ago. While no apparitions have been spotted here, people have admitted to hearing strange noises, getting goosebumps and getting an eerie feeling. Is it their imagination, or are there spirits here? You’ll have to take the hike to find out.
5. Warren Park Trail, Garnet Ghost Town
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
Located near Missoula, Garnet Ghost Town is our state’s best preserved abandoned village. It’s fascinating to visit… and it’s definitely rumored to be haunted. The Warren Park Trail is named after Edward Brook Warren, a Civil War veteran who built a cabin a mile from Garnet. He lived alone and worked in an underground mine nearby. He also built a park so people would visit him.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr
The trail leaves from the Garnet Ghost Town parking lot, crosses a bridge, goes past his old house and winds its way through the peaceful mountains. Stop for a picnic like so many did hundreds of years ago, and keep an eye out from any friendly spirits who decide to join you… maybe even Edward himself.

Check out our previous article for more information.

These haunted hikes trails in Montana will definitely give you thrills — and chills! For more frightful fun in Montana, you could also visit the state’s spookiest ghost town.

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Haunted Hikes In Montana

Jackie Ann | February 17, 2021

What are the most haunted places in Montana?

Our state’s rich history makes a perfect backdrop for thrilling destinations shrouded in secrets and mystery. Among Montana’s most haunted spots is the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge. Now a museum, employees have recounted eerie occurrences from echoing voices to music playing on an unmanned piano. In Great Falls, the Paris Gibson Square Museum also ranks high in haunting activity. Visitors have been known to hear children playing and spotting the ghoulish image of a young girl around the square. Fort Benton is home to one of the oldest settlements in the western U.S., ideal for spooky sights. There, The Grand Union Hotel is rumored to be haunted by not only long-forgotten souls but also a phantom horse!

What are the most popular ghost stories in Montana?

Bone-chilling tales linked to historic locations throughout The Big Sky State have been terrifying residents for generations. The story of Dorothy Dunn took place in the once lively town of Bannack. Tragically, the young Dorothy downed while playing with friends and is said to haunt the nearby Hotel Mead, where guests have reported their children having conversations with a young girl in a blue dress. In Virginia City, the screaming ghost of a revengeful Virginia Slade is said to ride her horse furiously through town to stop vigilantes from hanging her husband. Uptown Butte is home to the Dumas Brothel, a historic red-light district landmark. Once a madam of the brothel, Elinor Knott’s ghostly form is reported to haunt the corridors, suitcase in hand and ever-awaiting rescue by her lover.

What are the most unique things to do in Montana?

If you’re looking for a fun-filled day of unusual sights in Montana, our state has no shortage of intriguing destinations. Head out to Arlee and find your Zen at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas, an established international center for peace. Wander the ten acres of lush garden landscapes surrounding the 750-foot monument and meditate among the one thousand Buddhas. Spanning nearly 200-feet, the PtarmiganTunnel in West Glacier gains explorers unique access through a mountainside at Glacier National Park. Guests will marvel at the breathtaking sights under and above ground. In Polson, spend an afternoon checking out the oddities at the "Smithsonian of the West". The Miracle of America Museum offers a fascinating collection of 340,000 artifacts with everything from UFOs to Victorian hair art. Of course, the above haunted hikes in Montana are pretty unique, too!

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Featured Addresses
Garnet Ghost Town, Drummond, MT 59832, USA
Old North Trail, Montana 59425, USA
Oti Park Rd 3339, Montana, USA
Bear Canyon Rd, Montana 59715, USA
MacDonald Pass, Montana 59601, USA