Exploring Garnet Ghost Town in Montana 👣🏚️

Hidden high in the mountains near Missoula, Montana, Garnet Ghost Town is one of the best-preserved mining towns in the state. Once alive with the bustle of miners, merchants, and families during the 1890s gold rush, Garnet is now a fascinating step back in time. Simba 🐾 and I set out to explore this unique site, and it felt like walking through the pages of Old West history.

📍 Highlights from Our Visit

👣 Walking the dusty streets of Garnet Ghost Town
🪵🏚️ Exploring historic log cabins, saloons, and storefronts
🪙 Learning about the gold mining boom of the 1890s
📸 Capturing eerie yet fascinating photos and videos of abandoned buildings
🐾 Enjoying a unique, dog-friendly Montana adventure with Simba

A Step Back in Time

Founded in the 1890s, Garnet was named for the semiprecious stone found nearby. During its peak, around 1,000 people lived here, drawn by the lure of gold. The town had everything—from saloons to general stores—but when the gold ran out, Garnet’s residents moved on, leaving behind the skeleton of a once-thriving community.

Walking its wooden sidewalks and peering into the cabins, it was easy to imagine the sound of boots on the floorboards, laughter in the saloon, and the hopes of prospectors searching for fortune.

Exploring Garnet Today

Today, Garnet is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and preserved as a historical site. Many of the original buildings remain standing, offering a rare glimpse into Montana’s past. It’s a ghost town with character—remote, atmospheric, and full of history around every corner.

Simba enjoyed sniffing around the trails and buildings, and I enjoyed photographing the weathered wood and rustic charm that make Garnet so unique.

🎥 Watch the Video

Come along as Simba and I wander through Garnet Ghost Town, capturing the haunting beauty of abandoned cabins, the echoes of the gold rush, and the Montana wilderness that now surrounds it.

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