Garnet Ghost Town

It was an adventure to get there. The 200 route is smoother but if you are coming from the east, longer. We came through the rough ( bear gulch and cave gulch) and left on 200. Both are beautiful. The roads are one lane and pretty rough. We were able to do it with a front wheel drive vehicle so 4x4 is not necessary, but follow the signs. It was super tight when we met a car coming in the opposite direction but we were able to squeak by. The town is fun and has a beautiful setting. Some buildings are pretty rough and some have been fixed up a little. Well worth the adventure!

This was a really fun detour on our trip. The roads were a little rough but was able to make it there in a sedan. The buildings are really cool to look at and the staff there are super fun to talk to. Might be a bit concerned with some of the wood in the buildings, I can see it becoming a safety issue in the future. Overall fun experience I would recommend stopping here

Amazing ghost town nestled on the top of a mountain. Well preserved and documented. Plenty of information plaques and most buildings have original furniture and items. Some buildings can be rented in the winter months too.

Note: entering from the north side is much easier than from 90. Driving in from 90 involves a steep rocky mountain pass that may be a little too much for a sedan or those afraid of heights

We took Bear Gulch Road to get there. Thankfully, we have a Jeep, and we enjoyed the rugged drive. The road out to hwy 200 was a much smoother experience. The grounds and buildings were well maintained. Nice little visitor center and brochures available, even placards at many of the buildings providing its historical significance.... nice to see school buses with kids learning our past.

Awesome town. I would not attempt in 2wd or a car. Last section of the road had some good size ditches. Road was pretty sketchy in Dec with snow and ice.

Such a sense of gratitude for those responsible for preserving our history and especially to the extent of dedication taken here at Garnet Ghost Town. Here you get an authentic interpretation of how an 1800s Old West Mining town could have looked and what life might have been like for these folks. Several well preserved buildings and a treasure of antiques from that period. I especially liked the Wells Hotel and Kelly's Saloon. Absolutely fantastic and worth every effort to see this Montana Treasure.

Beautiful spot & we’d definitely go again!! Absolutely no signal on the way up, so be sure to load map before heading there. Not a whole lot of signage. Hwy 200 is the best route to go. It’s a beautiful drive & room for 2-way traffic. The other route was totally harrowing! 😳

I agree with all the comments that this is a great stop with interesting history and is well preserved. I also want to emphasize that if possible you should enter/exit via the north route off hwy 200. The south route to I90 is almost impassable with any vehicle not 4-wheel drive.

Been here twice now. Well kept and rather secluded location. Both times I went there was only one other group of visitors. Unfortunately, today the doors to the main buildings (hotel, general store and speakeasy) were locked but we were still able to go into the miners' cabins. This is worth the visit, just be careful on the road up as it is very winding and it can be difficult to see other cars on the curves.

Cool place
Historical !
Not busy.
Good parking area, has multiple bathrooms.
Nice scenery

Beautifully preserved ghost town! You can even go inside the buildings, and some have multiple levels. The signage at each building provides great context that brings the character of the town to life. We came in from MT-200. The road up was pretty easy even though you gain a lot of elevation. We visited all the buildings in an hour and a half, but there are more trails in the area to explore. Bring cash to pay the entrance fee.

Took my kids here for a day adventure and it definitely didn't disappoint! Reading and seeing all the history from this place was absolutely amazing!

We loved the Garnet Ghost town!! Such an incredible site with loads of history and things to see. The map was really fun to follow and read along while we toured. We did take the Bear Gulch Rd back to I-90 and it was extremely narrow and very very rough at times. We didn’t have any service so we just followed the signs. I wouldn’t recommend taking that with anything less than an AWD or 4WD and absolutely no trailers or RVs. Wonderful stop and would highly recommend!

This is a must visit when road-tripping around Montana. The experience is definitely out of a movie. From the gravel road , to the “no man” parking and entrance (you get to park and pay for the parking using just an envelope and a dropbox) … to the eerie desolated town. I enjoyed every corner of this place. Very insightful ! 100% reccomend

About an hour's drive from Missoula including 9 miles of easy dirt road, Garnet Ghost Town is a fun family adventure. The site is well preserved and typically has knowledgeable staff to answer questions. Bring $3.00 per person over 15 years old (no change). Don't forget to stop at the little, 1890s grave yard on your way up or back.

Well kept buildings and an informative brochure to guide you through it! Beautiful area but low riding vehicles not recommended. Great handicap parking spots available.

They need to get rid of the back Highway which is extremely dangerous terrible on vehicles there isn't enough of a warning as to what you are getting yourself into they should close that and only have access via Highway 200 but the actual site is so amazing! I absolutely love what they did with it. it's easy to walk around and view. staff was super helpful, the washrooms were clean lots of rubbing alcohol and the walking path down to the historic area well cared for and easy to use. Love that there was a lower lot special for handi cap parking

What a treat! The steep, rough access road is well worth it! Cool Montana history! Easy walking around the town and quite peaceful.

Oh my goodness! This is a ghost town like no other I have ever been to. If you love ghost towns and mining this is a must see. This town has remained largely intact due to a few caretakers over the years and how remotely located it is. 11 miles of mostly gravel roads that are well maintained can lead you to the town. Elevation is about 6000 feet so be prepared to gasp for air as you hike from the town back to the parking lot. There is handicapped parking down in the town but everyone else gets the pleasure of hiking a short distance down to the town. The first view of the town on your hike is so surreal. It is hard to imagine how and why people lived here and created a town basically in the middle of nowhere. All of the history is noted in the brochure that is available at the main office cabin in town and on the signs for various sites and buildings. The buildings are in various states of decay or repair and some are still in use or privately owned. Many of the buildings are full of artifacts from long ago that have been found onsite or donated by kind contributors to the restoration of the town. You can stroll through log cabins, old saloons and general stores. Outhouses are everywhere to remind us how it was without indoor plumbing. Don't miss the short walk to the school house. The school house is furnished and kindly adorned with an Eagle Scout project full of pictures and history of the kids and teachers that used the facilities. Everywhere you walk be sure to look under bushes and trees for the discarded cans and materials of everyday life in a mining town. Every wash is full of ancient debris. It must have been an incredible place to see back in the day. At 6000 feet in elevation you are on the peek of the mountain and susceptible to weather changes. We ran for cover in the school as a rain storm passed over. I'm sure snow will close the road in October and probably not reopen til late spring.

Had a great time visiting Garnet! Easy to walk around between the buildings and lots of information regarding the buildings and the people that lived there. Very cool to see it all preserved!