Garnet Ghost Town
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
RV travelers who appreciate historic settlements of the West will enjoy exploring Garnet Ghost Town, a Bureau of Land Management site in Montana that was once a booming home for prospectors. In the 1890s, thousands of people lived here while they searched for gold in the nearby Garnet Mountain range. When the gold rush ended about 20 years later, the homesteaders abandoned the town. Today, visitors flock to Garnet Ghost Town to see what life was like for these adventurers. The land that Garnet Ghost Town sits on is owned and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Visitors can enjoy free primitive camping on surrounding BLM lands ½ mile away for 14 days at a time.
Quick Facts About RVing in Garnet Ghost Town
• RV Friendly: Limited • Max RV Length: 20 feet • Camping Type: Dispersed camping • Reservations: No • Hookups: None • Dump Station: None • Potable Water: Bring your own • Cell Service: None • Pets: Allowed if leashed • Roads: Rough, steep dirt and gravel access routes • Best Season: Spring and early fall
Why RV Travelers Love This BLM Area
• Provides a look back at turn-of-the-century gold-mining • Great for history buffs • Great for rugged outdoor recreation • 30 miles of BLM roads for mountain biking and off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding. • Free boondocking • Bird and wildlife watching opportunities • Accessible from I-90 and MT-200 • About an hour away from Missoula
What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Warren's Park Trail
The Warren's Park Trail is a trail within Garnet Ghost Town that travels to a picnicking and lounge area named Warren's Park. A one-way path on the trail measures under one mile long.
Length: Less than one mile
Intensity: Easy
Sierra Mine Loop Trail
The Sierra Mine Loop Trail follows the path gold miners from Garnet Ghost Town took when hiking to the Sierra Claim and the Forest Lode Claim.
Length: One mile
Intensity: Easy
Placer Trail
The Placer Trail ventures off the Sierra Mine Loop Trail in Garnet Ghost Town and follows a route over small walking bridges and through the woods where deer are often spotted.
Length: One mile
Intensity: Easy
Fishing
Elk Creek, located just two miles from the edge of Garnet Ghost Town, is home to many species like brook trout, cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout. Visitors to Garnet Ghost Town may enjoy spending an extra day in the town to explore the northern edge of the area and to fish in Elk Creek.
Picnicking
There are a few picnic tables set up in Garnet Ghost Town and the nature area around the town. Along the Warren Park Trail, you'll find picnic tables and rest areas for picnics and snack breaks along the route. There are some trash bins along the trail and in the center part of the ghost town.
Touring
Garnet Ghost Town is a famous tourist location in Montana, and there are many interpretative signs set up around the town for you to read when you take a self-guided tour. There is also a visitor center in the ghost town that is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, May through September, which houses information about the ghost town, including maps and even a scavenger hunt activity sheet for visitors of every age.
Around Garnet Ghost Town, visitors can check out deteriorating log cabins and town buildings that were once schools, mining operations, and stores. A lot of these buildings can be explored inside and outside unless otherwise specified; some buildings are in the process of reconstruction by the BLM. Two of the log cabins are even available for visitors to stay overnight.
Hunting
While you may not find many large game animals within the "city limits" of Garnet Ghost Town, you can encounter species like elk, moose, black bear, mule deer, mountain lion, and grouse in the Garnet mountain range just outside of the ghost town. If you'd like to hunt in the mountain range, you may do so with a valid hunting permit issued by the state of Montana.
Bureau of Land Management Camping
RV Camping 
When you're looking for Bureau of Land Management campgrounds but don't want the primitive camping experience, consider taking your RV to another campground nearby that offers full hookups. One option you have is Bearmouth RV Park, which has electricity, water, and free Wi-Fi. You may also want to try Town of Drummond Campground, which has some electrical sites with fairly inexpensive rates.
Dispersed Camping
Free dispersed camping is allowed on BLM public lands outside a strict 0.5-mile radius from the historic site. You can park along the forest roads and turnouts outside this zone and stay for up to 14 days. There are no hookups, water, or trash services available on the BLM public lands near the ghost town. When the Visitor Center is open, you can obtain drinking water and use the restroom. Since there is no cell phone coverage, Wi-Fi, or access to services like fuel, food, and water in the area, bring emergency supplies like a full-sized spare tire, an air compressor, extra fuel, food, and plenty of drinking water. Pack out all waste when you leave and “leave no trace.” For more tips, read our guide on RV water fill and dump stations.
Is This BLM Area Good for Your RV?
Smaller RV classes with 4WD, high clearance, and off-road capabilities tend to be best for a visit to Garnet Ghost Town. The single-lane mountain roads MT-200 and Bear Gulch that provide access are steep, rough, and hard for large RVs to navigate. Sharp rocks, deep water ruts, and washouts can make driving uncomfortable and hazardous. Camper Vans: A high-clearance, 4WD camper van is a good choice, so long as it can handle the steep dirt roads near the ghost town. Travel Trailers: A travel trailer is not recommended if you’re camping on BLM lands near Garnet Ghost Town. The trailer could get stuck or damaged on the steep, winding mountain roads, and there’s no place to back up or turn around. Fifth Wheels: A fifth wheel is not a good choice for traveling to Garnet Ghost Town if you plan to boondock in the area. These RVs are too large and heavy to maneuver easily on the road. Class A Motorhomes: Class A motorhomes are not a good choice because they are too large and top-heavy for the rugged, twisting mountain roads. Class B Motorhomes: Class B motorhomes can be a good choice for visiting if they are small, high-clearance vehicles with 4WD. Class C Motorhomes: Class C motorhomes tend to be large vehicles with low clearance and 2WD, so they are not suitable for visiting Garnet Ghost Town.
Free Camping 
If you're looking for BLM camping, look no further than the BLM-owned Garnet Ghost Town land. Though there are no organized campgrounds set up within the ghost town, visitors are permitted to stay on the public land in a dispersed camping style about a half-mile away from the town. This Bureau of Land Management free camping option is considered primitive — there are no electrical or water outlets available, and RVs may have difficulties traveling the roads up to the area, so tent camping is more common.
RV Rentals Near Garnet Ghost Town Plan your next adventure
Planning your Garnet Ghost Town BLM trip
If you plan to visit Garnet Ghost Town, consider the time of year and predicted weather conditions. RVs and larger vehicles may have trouble reaching the town any time of year, but almost all vehicles find the roads too icy to travel during the winter months. If you want to visit Garnet Ghost Town during the winter, consider using a snowmobile or traveling to the town on snowshoes or cross-country skis.
If you plan on camping on the Garnet Ghost Town BLM-owned land, be sure to pack your own water and battery-operated equipment since your camping options will be primitive only. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
What RV Travelers Should Know Before Arriving
Garnet Ghost Town and the surrounding BLM lands do not have necessities like potable water, food, fuel, or propane available. You’ll need to stock up on supplies in Missoula (about 30 miles west via MT-200 or I-90) or Drummond (about 15 to 20 miles east via I-90 and Bear Gulch Road) before making your way to the site. Missoula has full-sized grocery and hardware stores, RV service stations, and propane fill-ups. Drummond has convenience stores and fuel. Since there’s no cell phone service or Wi-Fi near the site, consider downloading offline GPS maps and bringing paper maps from the BLM Missoula Field Office to keep your bearings. Check the National Weather Service forecast for weather updates near Missoula. For information about road conditions, visit the 511 MT Web Map. The Missoula County Sheriff's Office, the Granite County Sheriff's Office, and BLM Rangers usually handle emergencies and search and rescue operations.
Leave No Trace 
When you visit Garnet Ghost Town, you are asked to follow the BLM's Leave No Trace Policy, which works to preserve the natural state of the ghost town. This policy includes rules like properly disposing of your trash and food and keeping your distance from wildlife.
Garnet Ghost Town Location
To reach Garnet Ghost Town from Missoula, Montana, take State Highway 200 east for about 30 miles. Then turn south in between mile markers 22 and 23, and continue on for about 10 miles until you reach Garnet.
Ready to visit Garnet Ghost Town? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
Plan Your Day at Garnet Ghost Town
• Morning:Get up early and have coffee and breakfast at your campsite. Pack a picnic lunch, then drive to the Garnet Ghost Town parking area, aiming to arrive when the site opens at 9:30 a.m. • Afternoon: From town, find the Warren Park Trail and walk about ¾ mile to the picnic grounds at the historic park area. Enjoy your lunch, rest for a bit, then hike along the Placer Trail or Sierra Mine Loop. • Evening: Take some time to relax and prepare dinner at your camp. Before night falls, take a drive down Garnet Range Road. Stop to check out the scenic overlooks, which provide gorgeous views of the Blackfoot River Valley.
Nearby Attractions
The BLM lands near Garnet Ghost Town are an ideal place for RV travelers to explore Montana’s beautiful wilderness. You can enjoy boondocking, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, and more during your stay. While you’re visiting the area, these attractions might interest you: Coloma (Mystery Camp): This early 1890s mining camp, featuring standing cabins insulated with vintage newspaper, is located a few miles north of Garnet. Garnet Range Mining Camps: As you drive along the 13-mile-long Garnet Range Road loop, you’ll pass old mining settlement sites, including Reynolds City, Springtown, and Beartown. Ohrmann Museum & Gallery: This museum in Drummond showcases paintings and life-sized metal sculptures of wildlife created by Bill Ohrmann, a local artist. It’s about an hour-and-a-half long drive from Garnet Ghost Town. Clark Fork River: This river near Missoula is a great place to go tubing or paddleboarding. It’s in Missoula, about an hour’s drive from Garnet Ghost Town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a campfire at my BLM campsite? Depending on current fire restrictions, you may be able to have a wood or charcoal fire at your BLM campsite. Check with Montana Fire Info or the Missoula Field Office before lighting. Are generators allowed at BLM campgrounds onsite? Generators with an approved spark-arresting device are typically allowed on BLM campsites. You must operate your generator in an area with no flammable vegetation within three feet. What should I wear to visit Garnet Ghost Town? To stay comfortable at Garnet Ghost Town, wear sturdy hiking boots, long pants, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a fleece or sweater. When is the best time to visit Garnet Ghost Town? Summer and early fall (July-September) are ideal times to visit Garnet Ghost Town because the weather is pleasant and the roads and historic buildings are fully open. Visitor centers and interpretive exhibits will also be fully open and staffed during this season. Can I camp in Garnet Ghost Town? You cannot camp directly inside Garnet Ghost Town or within a 0.5-mile radius of the townsite. Once you are outside this border, you can camp on the surrounding BLM lands.
Rent the Right RV for This Trip
When you’re planning a trip to Garnet Ghost Town, renting the right RV will help you enjoy stress-free travel. We think a compact, high-clearance, 4WD camper van is the best choice for your trip thanks to its off-road ability. Driving a smaller rig also makes it easier to explore other destinations in Montana, including Travelers’ Rest State Park and Glacier National Park. To book your vehicle, visit our Class B RV rentals in East Missoula page before your journey to Garnet Ghost Town.