Garnet is a ghost town in Granite County, Montana, located on the dirt Wallace Creek Road, it is an abandoned mining town that dates from the 1860’s. In First Chance Creek in western Montana, the town is at the edge of the high desert in the Front Range, but sheltered in a forest. The town is at about 6,000 feet elevation.
Garnet was named for the garnet, a semi-precious stone, and the first item to be mined here, although gold quickly followed. In 1898, as many as 1,000 people lived here; it was abandoned 20 years later when the gold ran out. A fire in 1912 destroyed half the town, which was never rebuilt. Supplies needed in Garnet were generally obtained from nearby Bearmouth.
Garnet is one of the state’s best preserved (and least visited) ghost towns. Visitors can book tours with local guides. The best part about Garnet is Garney Day Festival which occurs in the end of June every year. Garnet’s oldest living member, Mary Jane Adams Morin, came to visit every year.
Garnet has everything inside of it from hotels, to 13 saloons, and food stores. The hotels were started for passers-by, or people coming to pick up gold. They typically ranged from 1-3 dollars, and the poor miners who could not afford that price could sleep in the attic without any windows for a quarter. It is suspected that Garnet even had a brothel, but prices and the exact whereabouts are uncertain. Garnet was famous for its saloons, at its peak the saloons were one of the hottest spots in Garnet.
History of Garnet
Historical Background and Significance of Garnet Ghost Town: (PDF)
(From the National Register of Historic Places nomination of 2009; prepared and written by Sunday Walker-Kuntz, Jerry Clark, Terri Wolfgram, Maria Craig and Allan J. Mathews.)
Garnet Ghost Town Residents (PDF)
Click here for Garnet Ghost Town Brochure (PDF)
Garnet Ghost Town Website
What to Photograph:
The many old buildings are the main photographic subjects, but there are also many unique relics inside of the buildings that make great photos.
Getting There:
DIRECTIONS
Recommended: From Montana Hwy 200, turn south at the “Garnet Ghost Town” sign between mile markers 22
and 23 and follow the gravel road 11 miles to Garnet.OR (trailers not recommended): From I-90 going east,
turn off at the Bearmouth exit and follow Frontage Road on the north side of the interstate 5.5 miles east to Bear
Gulch Road. From I-90 going west, turn off at the Drummond exit and follow Frontage Road 10 miles to
Bear Gulch Road. At Bear Gulch Road, follow signs approximately 10 miles to Garnet.
Maps:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.
Cost:
The fee for Garnet is $3.00 per person for those 16 years old and older. All federal passes are also accepted. The fee is charged during the non-winter months when staff is on site. You can visit Garnet after hours for no fee, but several of the key buildings will be locked at that time.
Facilities:
Garnet is a primitive area with few services, there are primitive toilets at the parking lot.
The visitor center is open seven days a week from Memorial Day through September.
Location Contact Information:
Bureau of Land Management
Missoula Field Office
3255 Fort Missoula Road
Missoula, MT 59804
(406) 329-3914
www.garnetghosttown.net
MT_Missoula_FO@blm.gov
Nearest City or Town:
Missoula MT
Garnet Ghost Town Photo Gallery
Click Here for full page gallery
More Photographic Destinations in Montana:
Interactive Google Map
Use the map + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views. Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.
Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State
Great Places for Great Photos
Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure. I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography. I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination. I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip. I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!
Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country. Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos.
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