Serving as a stopover city for Continental Divide Trail hikers and 20 minutes from practically any outdoor recreation you could wish for, Anaconda, Montana is a good spot for those looking to connect with the West’s boom-and-bust history. The town was founded on smelting, the process of extracting metal from ore, and still holds its mining roots close today.
Anaconda’s Smelting History
In 1883 mining magnet Marcus Daly founded the town to process copper ore from the mines in nearby Butte. While the smelter was shut down in 1980 and cleanup efforts began, the original 585-foot smokestack remains standing and is the tallest freestanding masonry structure in the world. The stack, which is taller than the Washington Monument, sits in Montana’s smallest state park, Stack State Park. The stack can only be viewed from a distance, except for one day a year on Smelterman’s Day. In August, the town celebrates its heritage with live music, a brew fest, a parade and fun run, an art walk and more. On this day, the public can take a tour with a ranger to the stack and see it up-close.
On weekdays throughout the summer at 10 a.m., you can learn more about the town’s history by boarding a vintage 1936 tour bus that used to carry tourists in Glacier National Park at the Discover Anaconda Visitor Center. The volunteer-run tour will bring you past historic sites and buildings where you’ll learn more about the city’s early smelting days.
The city’s founder, Marcus Daly, was an Irish immigrant who started from nothing and became one of the west’s “Copper Kings.” His rags-to-riches story drew many Irish immigrants to work for him, and Anaconda still has a strong Irish heritage today. Residents go big for St. Patrick’s Day, but the rest of the year you can experience the town’s Irish roots by sampling Cornish pasties. This dish, which is like a turnover filled with beef and vegetables, was a staple lunch for miners. Try one at Peppermint Patty’s. Other immigrants brought their cultures and cuisines to Anaconda and they live on today in excellent specialities at restaurants like O’Bella with made from scratch Italian food and an impressive selection of Italian wines. Barclay II, adjacent to The Forge Best Western Premier Hotel, is a traditional Montana four-course Supper Club featuring local steaks (from the “small” 11-oz tenderloin to a 22-oz Porterhouse), fresh seafood, and a cozy lounge. Jordi’s Cantina offers a variety of delicious Tex-Mex specialties and more than 40 kinds of tequila. Don’t miss the smoked brisket street tacos with gourmet beans.
Get Outside
Once you learn about the history of the town, it’s time to focus on the present and that’s the incredible outdoor opportunities that await you. Take Hwy. 1, 20 minutes northwest of Anaconda to Georgetown Lake, a reservoir that sits higher in elevation than town making it the perfect place to cool off in the summer. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard at Moose Marina or enjoy a picnic along the shores of the lake.
Get a taste of the Continental Divide Trail, which crosses the entire United States from the Canadian border in Glacier National Park to the Mexican border in New Mexico outside of Anaconda by hiking the 13-mile out-and-back section to Upper Seymour Lake. Start at the trailhead just past Lower Seymour Lake Campground and hike to the stunningly clear alpine lake framed by craggy peaks.
For a mellower hike right in town, hit Anaconda’s trail system at the end of Cedar Street near the Visitor Center. You’ll reach a junction at 0.4 miles where you can head east to see the site of the Old Works Smelter, or west to reach Washoe Park which was built by the Anaconda Company and has a splash park, a swimming pool and a fish hatchery.
If you’re camping, Lost Creek State Park is one of the area’s best kept secrets. Forested campsites with views of picturesque cliff bands await. Don’t miss the short hike to Lost Creek Falls, where a 50-foot waterfall cascades down the mountain.
Or, for a unique perspective on the surrounding Montana wilderness, experience it from the air. Book an adventure with Montana Zipline Adventures just outside of Anaconda where you’ll soar through the air at the state’s longest zipline course.
Discover a Winter Playground
In winter, Anaconda becomes a winter wonderland, with its 160 downtown historic lamp posts adorned with garlands and white lights. Enjoy the snow with downhill skiing at nearby Discovery Ski Area, or snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on groomed local National Forest trails. For the angler, there’s ice fishing at Georgetown Lake. A special treat is skating at the outdoor Kennedy Commons ice rink in the heart of downtown. Skate rentals are available at Sven’s Bicycles. Or ski a loop on the groomed cross-country trails at the Old Works Golf Course (trail is lit in the evenings), then relax next to the firepits in the enclosed patio of the Clubhouse with a hot beverage and delicious meal. Ski rentals are available at Anaconda Bicycles.
For More Information:
Discover Anaconda Visitor Center
306 East Park Avenue, Anaconda, MT 59711
406-563-2400
DiscoverAnaconda.com