Montana's Ghost Towns

   ~Montana Office of Tourism

HELENA, Mont., May 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- During the late 1850s, the gold rush was booming in Montana. As the gold disappeared, so did the people, leaving behind deserted towns. Exploring Montana's ghost towns is an amazing way to get a glimpse into the past. Throughout the state, you'll find 12 ghost towns to explore, with the majority of them located on the western side of the state.

The southwest corner of Montana is home to the largest number of ghost towns, including three of Montana's most impressive and historical communities—Bannack, Virginia City and Nevada City.

Discover the deserted streets of Bannack and explore the site of Montana's first major gold discovery. Once a wild and roaring town, as well as the first territorial capital of Montana, Bannack is a well-preserved ghost town that offers an unforgettable look at what the old west once was. The town became a state park in 1954 and has more than 60 preserved structures, with guided tours and opportunities to pan for gold, as well as a Living History Weekend, which offers an experience to know what life was like back in the Gold Rush era. A scenic 90-minute drive east of Bannack will take you to the living ghost towns of Virginia City and Nevada City.

Sitting just over one mile apart, they are home to 150 National Historic Landmarks. Both towns offer overnight accommodations, dining options, historical reenactments and local watering holes. Virginia City was also home to the first theater company in the state. Today, travelers can attend a performance from the Virginia City Players, with live shows that run from late May through early September.

Round out your ghost town tour in this corner of Montana with a visit to nearby Laurin and Karst's Camp outside of Big Sky.

After perusing these living ghost towns, plan to travel north toward Helena and Missoula.

On your way, stop and spend a day in Butte. While it's not a ghost town, Butte provides an incredible glimpse into Montana's mining past. Thanks to its rich mineral deposits, the town has more than earned its nickname, "The Richest Hill on Earth." Take a tour of Butte's famous underground and see the Roaring 20s Rookwood Speakeasy, a deserted barber shop and the Old City Jail. For an overview of the city and its past, book a two-hour Butte Trolley Tour. Along the way, you'll learn about the National Historic District and see lavish mansions that were once home to Butte's Copper Kings.

After learning about Butte, continue to Helena and its nearby ghost towns, Elkhorn and Marysville. To access Elkhorn State Park, you'll travel on backcountry roads before being greeted by two frontier-era structures – Fraternity Hall and Gillian Hall.

Meanwhile, nearby Marysville is a 30-minute scenic drive northwest of Helena. Once a booming gold camp, travelers today will find a handful of locals who call the town home, as well as the Marysville House Historic Restaurant. The restaurant is located in a historic railroad station from the late 1800s and is a favorite among Montanans.

Montana's Little Rocky Mountains, situated in the northeast area of the state, are home to the lone ghost town of Zortman. At its peak, Zortman was a community of about 2,000 people in a town made up of nine bars, a few general stores, two hotels, a small hospital, livery stables and other local establishments. A visit today will take you to a town of approximately 60 residents, historic cabins and miners' shacks that sit between modern-day structures.

Additional Montana ghost towns that are worth exploring include Coloma, Garnet Ghost Town, Rimini and Granite Ghost Town State Park.

If your travels have you visiting Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, Montana's Ghost Town Route takes you on an impressive road trip that includes many ghost town stops, as well as other family-friendly destinations along the way.

Learn more about Montana's history and ghost towns at WWW.VISITMT.COM.

The Spawn

   ~Sean Jansen

As winter shifts to spring, the landscape slowly changes. Snow begins to recede, the rivers slowly swell, and the temperatures begin to rise. Sunny days beat down on the mountains and trickle the remaining snowpack down the peaks, off the roofs, through the rain gutters and slowly to the rivers. The low deep pools of the slowly churning clear water begin to green with the snowmelt ever increasing, adding to the dominoes of winter run off. Water flows in places it hasn’t in months and the riverbanks and forest floors thaw and sprout, creating life. Life that begins to open its eyes both on land and below the surface. Even we are beginning to hang up the skis and reach for the waders and fly rod with mindsets shifting to the rivers and bodies of water that begin their life where we spent playing the last four months.

Spring is the season of life. Season of love. Excited with the arrival of warmth and sun, new life flourishes. Bears crawl out of their dens, elk and moose begin climbing to elevations buried in the months previous, and fish begin to move upstream out of their deep holes and into the riffles, lifeless during winter months. All life in spring is important, but none here in Montana may have such an importance more so than that of trout.

The fishing industry in the state of Montana is indeed a Billion dollar industry, yes billion. With that being said, people from all over the country and around the world flock to Montana for the fishing. I myself first came here from California simply for the fly fishing. And with more and more pressure on the precious river systems and fish, the understanding and knowledge of the ethical and practical methods with which we fish and the environment they thrive in is needed no more than ever.

Many species of fish call Montana home, but the numerous specie of trout are undoubtedly the prized possession. The kaleidoscope of color, wide range of size, and the environment they live in are all part of the system that make Montana so unique. Trout are a keystone specie, meaning they must thrive and in healthy numbers in order for all other species of life in the state to as well. The trout go, all life thereafter will go as well. In saying that, Spring is the unofficial start of movement for anglers to begin their casts. However it is the official movement of the Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout spawn.

Trout typically spawn in what is known as a Redd. A redd is a small fine graveled area of the creek or river bottom where the female lay there eggs and the males swim over the release their sperm on top of the eggs. Typically in a shallow and narrow section of river away from the main stem and main current where for the most part, it is relatively safe from predators and calm so the fry can get used to its new life cycle.

For anglers this knowledge is of the utmost importance as knowing where and what a redd is so one doesn’t step into and kill the possibly hundreds of eggs laying dormant. Spring is a popular time for anglers as the egg bite and swinging of fish fry patterns can be some of the hottest fishing on the river. But you must be cautious wading and actually fishing over a redd. If a trout is spotted on one, please refrain from fishing on that particular section of river as to let nature run its course so the trout can remain healthy despite the growth and popularity of angling in Montana.

Logan State Park

   ~Glacier Country

Just off Highway 2 between Libby and Kalispell, you’ll find Logan State Park, a local hotspot. 

Located in the middle of the 3,000-acre Thompson Chain of Lakes, Logan is heavily forested with Western Larch, Douglas-Fir and Ponderosa Pine making for a beautiful view of the tree covered, mountainous area.

Things to do:

✅ Take a dip in the lake and go swimming

✅ Go for a boat ride and find some peace.

✅ You and your friends or family can even play a game of horseshoes!
  
✅ Take a chance and go water skiing!
  
✅ More of a fisher? You’ll find loads of salmon, trout, perch, pike, bass!
  
✅ Plus so much more!

Logan has 37 campsites, but no tent-only sites. RVs and trailers are more than welcome as long as they are no longer than 40 feet. The RV dump station closes in early October.

You’ll even find a playset for the kids and a short nature trail here.

Let’s get outside!

Curious what other visitors have had to say about the park?

"Awesome area. Great camp hosts."

"Awesome state park. The most kind and helpful staff I have ever met, really nice lake to swim and fish in. Nice washrooms, dish washing station, running water. You can hear the cars on the highway loud and clear but if you can deal with that this is a great camping spot."

"Great for a day or a week. Hosts are great."

"We camp host here. The people are fantastic. The campground is clean,quiet and right on a beautiful lake with great fishing. All sites have electric. There is water, showers and dump station available on site. Boat slips are available and there is a paved boat launch ramp. There is a playground for the kids and a grassy beach area for swimming. Great place to camp."

"Beautiful place!"

Watching Wildlife

   ~Visit Mt

Montana has a greater variety of wildlife than anywhere in the lower 48. It's easy to spot a bison on the road near Yellowstone National Park or a mountain goat on a hike in Glacier National Park. Between the parks fauna is just as abundant. No matter how cute, cuddly or harmless they make look, it's essential to rem

TAKE A MAP & FIELD GUIDE

A map will show you the accessibility of the area and the available services. You can find maps with the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or even a state highway map. Look for wildlife refuges or land set aside for wildlife preservation. Guidebooks can help you identify species, habitat and tracks. Local bookstores and gift shops are usually well stocked with options. 

ember that wild animals in their natural habitat are not pets. Disrupting their natural order can be disastrous for the animals and for you. Being prepared is essential for a safe and rewarding viewing experience and these guidelines and tips are great starting points. 

KNOW WHEN ANIMALS ARE MOST ACTIVE

The best times of day for most wildlife viewing are dawn and dusk, so plan to get up early or going to bed late if you want to catch the best viewing opportunities. Seasonal changes also affect animal behavior; some species are more active at certain times of the year. For example, fall migration is the best time to watch waterfowl and spring for snow geese.

BRING BINOCULARS & BEAR SPRAY

Certainly everyone knows that bears, mountain lions and other large animals can pose dangers. But keep in mind that any wildlife can be dangerous—even animals as seemingly harmless as deer can injure if provoked. Most animals react with alarm when approached by humans on foot or in any type of vehicle. Depending on the situation, an animal may stand its ground, flee or attack. What's the best way to avoid injury? Keep your distance and enjoy with the help of binoculars. When enjoying the outdoors in bear country always carry bear spray.

LEAVE NO TRACE

This means just what it sounds like: respect wildlife and their habitat by not leaving behind your empty soda cans and potato chip bags. If you see trash left behind by someone else, pick it up. Wherever you camp or picnic, leave the spot in better condition than you found it. Camp in designated areas only. Use pre-existing campfire rings. Do not start chopping at live trees and vegetation for your campfire. Instead, use only dead wood from fallen timber on the ground. 

TREAD LIGHTLY & NO HANDOUTS

Stay on designated roads and trails to minimize the impact of vehicle and foot traffic. In delicate ecosystems of Montana, there really is a fragile balance. Traffic (whether by foot or vehicle) can create ruts and trails where they didn't exist before. These ruts can lead to erosion, loss of plant life, habitat and so on. While it may be tempting, keep your food to yourself. That sandwich may taste great to you, but it can harm the digestive systems of wild animals and convince them to look for handouts from other people.  Such actions can cause habituation. Animals get used to human food and human contact, which in turn can lead to aggression. No one wants to see chipmunks getting aggressive. Or bears.

_{Montana’s Most Unique Visitors: The Sandhill Crane}

   ~Sean Jansen

The loud, rattling, and unique call is unmistakable. The deep, high pitched bugle is easily distinguished between its other feathered friends the geese. You instantly scan the horizon in search of the unique sound, all to discover the stork like body and immense size. Almost always paired with another, flying around like pterodactyl from Jurassic Park. What are commonly joked about as the, “Ribeye of the Sky,” this seasonal Montana visitor is a treasure for anyone who appreciates our ornithological visitors.

The Sandhill Crane or Anitgone Canadensis, have to be the most unique visitors migrating to Montana. Beyond the extraordinary tourists that flock to our state and National Parks. With Southwest Montana being the headquarters for viewing in our state do to breeding grounds, the state is also a literal layover in their incredible migratory route to Alaska and far northern Canada. These gargantuan cranes and their migrations are a spectacle to be seen and heard.

In winter months, they head south to areas of our country that border both the Caribbean as well as Mexico. Some have even been seen in Cuba. Where on the contrary, their summer destinations are in the far northern reaches of North America. Alaska as well as the Yukon and far Northern Canada with some even crossing the Bering Strait into Russian Siberia. Some of which also over winter and summer in destinations only migrating within the state they choose. Our chance at viewing these long distance travelers happens in Spring and Fall, where we get to hear and see these unique giant birds.

Seeing them in the air is certainly not a difficult task as their calls are loud and harmonious with the others they fly with. But typically throughout our state, they will be seeing in the fields and farmlands foraging. They feast on a multitude of items including small rodents and reptiles, frogs, insects, seeds, and berries. In the fields they also court and breed. Their courtships are a beautiful dance where both birds open their wings and jump to incredible heights. All the while calling back and forth to one another, more jaw dropping than anything Dancing with the Stars and Americas Got Talent could showcase.

Luckily for us, these birds are indeed numerous and therefore your chances of seeing one are quite high if you were to head out in the spring and fall months between migrations. As they are a large bird, their size will help you spot one. They get their name from the gorgeous gray to sand colored feathers, uniquely capped as well with a red forehead and tan cheeks. Whether you get the chance to head out into the fields in search of these birds or are simply walking downtown, the pleasure of hearing and seeing these birds fly overhead is a beautiful expression of nature that Montanan’s are lucky to have.