If you live in Montana, a passion for hiking (or at least being outdoors) is a must. We’ve got paths for people of all skill levels, and some of them even come with their very own history lesson. On days when you’re feeling a little adventurous, here are four hiking trails in Montana that lead to ruins.

1. Pictograph Cave State Park Trail, Billings
Jonathan Eyestone / alltrails.com
Jonathan Eyestone / alltrails.com
The 0.8-mile-long loop in Pictograph Cave State Park, which is located near Billings, is marked with information explaining the 100 pictographs, or rock paintings, found there. It's one of the most fascinating Montana hikes. The park's three main caves - Pictograph, Middle, and Ghost cave - were home to generations of prehistoric hunters. The oldest rock art in the cave is over 2,000 years old. Visit the AllTrails webpage for more about the trail. To learn more about Pictograph Cave State Park head to our previous article.
2. Coolidge Ghost Town, Polaris
Nicolas Henderson/Flickr
Mr Hicks46 / Flickr
If you love seeking out abandoned places in Montana, this is the place to visit. The path to Coolidge Ghost Town, which is located south of Butte, involves a one-mile walk down an eerie but beautiful forest trail. You’ll see lots of dilapidated buildings as you walk through the woods, and it’s easy to imagine how life used to be in this old mining town. Read our previous coverage to learn more about this ghost town.

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3. Warren Park Trail at Garnet Ghost Town, Drummond
mksfca / Flickr
mksfca / Flickr
Garnet Ghost Town is Montana's best-preserved abandoned town. Edward Brook Warren, a civil war vet, built a cabin about a mile and a half from Garnet. He also paved a path from Garnet to his cabin, eventually building a park to encourage visitors. Today you can travel along that trail and walk to Warren Park, enjoying the quiet of the forest and the remnants of the ghost town along the way. To learn more about Garnet Ghost Town, read our previous article.
4. Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns, Divide
The Greater Southwestern Company / Flickr
The Greater Southwestern Company / Flickr
Located high in the East Pioneer Mountains near the ghost town of Glendale, these kilns are over 100 years old. The kilns were used between 1881 and 1900 to reduce 11,665 acres of pine trees down to 19 million bushels of charcoal. To reach the site, you'll follow an old dirt road for about 15 miles and then hike on a trail from the parking lot. The trail is marked with interpretive signs explaining the history of the area. Read more about these charcoal kilns along with the ruins of Glendale in this article.

Do you enjoy hiking trails in Montana that lead to ruins? Let us know of any others you enjoy in the comments. Each one of these trails is under five miles in length, meaning even beginners can complete them in a day.

 

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Hiking Trails In Montana That Lead To Ruins

Melissa M | April 27, 2021

What are some other unique hiking trails in Montana?

Within Glacier National Park is an amazing hiking trail that begins at the Jackson Glacier Overlook and is nine miles in length. The Florence Falls hike isn’t for novices due to some steep areas and length, but if you are able to do it, then you will be rewarded with views of a waterfall cascading over a series of rocks like a watery staircase. There’s no other hike in the state quite like this one. For a shorter one-of-a-kind hike, take the Milwaukee Railroad Tunnel near Butte which is two miles long and easy enough for most to enjoy. Along the way, you’ll have fun hiking through two historic railroad tunnels which makes this a fascinating hike. 

Can I visit any abandoned places in Montana?

With numerous abandoned places in the state, there are certainly some you can visit. If you decide to visit the ghost town in Garnet, there’s an abandoned cemetery about four miles away you can stop at and see the old grave markers. Sand Park Cemetery dates all the way back 1896 and the last burial was done in 1914. Many of the graves here are actually unmarked and some were sadly disturbed during road construction. One ghost town you can visit is Elkhorn which was once a mining town that can be reached via the six-mile Crown Peak Trail. The town originated in the late-1800s but an epidemic and price of silver dropping caused its decline. It’s worth seeing if you can do this hike!

What are the most haunted places in Montana?

If you love visiting haunted locales around Montana, you may be interested in taking our Haunted Road Trip To Visit Some Of The Spookiest Places. Along the way, you will stop at The Lobby Bar which is considered the state’s most haunted building. This place is visited by many paranormal investigators who try to contact some of the 12 ghosts that reportedly live here. The trip ends at the original governor’s mansion in Helena which has reports of doors opening on their own and disembodied footsteps. Creepy!

 

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3401 Coburn Rd, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Coolidge, Polaris, MT 59746, USA
Garnet Ghost Town, Drummond, MT 59832, USA
Divide, MT 59727, USA