Garnet & Montana Ghost Towns | Lost Moose Meadows

Ghost Towns

Gold and silver built much of western Montana, and some of the best preserved mining towns in the state are an easy day trip from Lincoln. Garnet still has about 30 buildings standing, Marysville is a living town full of mining history, and Granite sits high above Philipsburg with ruins and big views.

Local tips from Matt and Nichole, owners of Lost Moose Meadows.

Quick facts

Garnet: 1890s gold town with about 30 buildings, about 60 miles west of Lincoln
Marysville: 1880s gold town, about 45 miles southeast of Lincoln
Granite: 1890s silver town above Philipsburg, about 75 miles southwest of Lincoln
RVs: Leave the RV at camp. All three have gravel or mountain roads.

Garnet Ghost Town

About 1,000 people called Garnet home during the gold boom of the 1890s. When the gold ran out, the town was largely abandoned, and a 1912 fire took much of the business district. Today it’s one of Montana’s best preserved ghost towns, with about 30 buildings still standing, including the J.K. Wells Hotel, Kelly’s Saloon and miners’ cabins. Many buildings are open to walk through while the visitor center is open.

Getting there: Head west from Lincoln on Highway 200 about 50 miles, then turn south on Garnet Range Road between mile markers 22 and 23. The Garnet Back Country Byway climbs about 11 miles and 2,000 feet to the parking area. Skip the Bear Gulch route from I-90. It’s steep, narrow and rough.
Visitor center: Typically open daily May through September, 10am to 4:30pm, weather permitting.
Fee: Per person day use fee, free for visitors under 16.

Garnet directions and current visitor information

Marysville

In 1876 a penniless Irishman named Thomas Cruse struck gold in the hills above Marysville. He named his mine the Drumlummon after his birthplace in Ireland, and named the town after Mary Ralston, one of its first residents. By the 1880s and 1890s Marysville was Montana’s leading gold producer, with about 60 businesses, including 27 saloons. Cruse sold the mine for about $1.5 million and became one of the richest men in Helena.

Today about 80 people live in Marysville. Walk past the historic buildings, visit the Pioneer Memorial Building museum, see the restored 1886 Methodist Episcopal Church and stop for a meal at Marysville House, housed in a historic railroad depot. It’s still a lived in town, so please respect private property.

Getting there: About 45 miles from Lincoln. Take Highway 200 east to Highway 279, head over Flesher Pass toward Helena, then follow Marysville Road west into town. Pairs well with a Helena day trip. See our Helena guide.

Granite Ghost Town State Park

Granite was known as Montana’s Silver Queen, with more than 3,000 residents at its peak. Legend has it the mine’s backers had ordered it shut down, but the telegram was delayed, and the last blast on the last shift uncovered a bonanza that produced $40 million in silver. The silver crash of 1893 emptied the town almost overnight.

Today the park preserves the mine superintendent’s house and the ruins of the 1890 Miners’ Union Hall, which once held a saloon, union offices and a third floor dance hall. On the way up you’ll pass old mine sites and the Bi-Metallic Mill stacks.

Getting there: About 75 miles from Lincoln. Take Highway 200 west to Highway 141, then Highway 271 through Helmville to Drummond and Highway 1 to Philipsburg. From Philipsburg, follow Granite Road about 4 miles up the mountain. The road gains 1,280 feet and is narrow, steep and winding. Montana State Parks says a high clearance vehicle is necessary, and it’s not accessible by RV or bus. Snow can block the road into late May.

Granite access and visitor information

A few tips

Bring water and snacks. Services are limited at all three.
Stay on marked paths and respect closures and private property.
Leave historic objects where you find them.
Make it a full day. Garnet pairs well with Missoula, Marysville with Helena, and Granite with Philipsburg.

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