Garnet Ghost Town Road — Drummond to Garnet via the Blackfoot River Benchlands
Gold rush ruins at the end of a Montana dirt road.
Garnet Ghost Town is the real deal — not a reconstructed tourist prop but a legitimately crumbling mining camp clinging to a ridge above the Blackfoot River valley at 6,000 feet. From Drummond on I-90, the route climbs east through rolling ponderosa benchlands on BLM Road 6272, a single-lane dirt track that narrows and roughens the closer you get to the mine headframes. At its peak in the 1890s and again during the 1930s gold rush, Garnet held over 1,000 residents. Now about 30 structures survive — the hotel, a saloon, a school — slowly collapsing into the hillside. The last mile of approach drops into a drainage with loose rock and eroded ruts that will sort out low-clearance vehicles quickly.
A high-clearance 4WD is strongly recommended, especially after any precipitation — the clay-heavy soils above the Blackfoot become genuinely impassable when wet. The BLM manages the site; no entry fee but the road can be gated in winter and during spring mud season (typically November through May). Closest fuel is in Drummond, 10 miles west. The site has vault toilets and limited dispersed camping nearby on BLM land — no hookups, no services. Come with water, a full tank, and expect zero cell service once you leave the interstate corridor. The Garnet Preservation Association maintains the structures; respect the ropes and stay out of condemned buildings.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 12 mi / 19.3 km |
| Duration | Half day–1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6000 ft |
| Best season | June–October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Drummond, MT |
| Land manager | BLM Missoula Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | blm.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this without modifications?
Yes, a stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner handles this without issue. The road is rough two-track with rocky sections, but nothing requires a lift — just don't attempt it in a low-clearance car or crossover.
Is the road to Garnet open year-round?
No. The road is typically accessible June through October. Winter snows close the upper benchland section, and spring mud can make it impassable well into May — call the BLM Missoula Field Office before going in shoulder seasons.
Do I need a permit or is there an entry fee to visit Garnet Ghost Town?
There's a day-use fee to enter the Garnet Ghost Town site itself — $3 per person as of recent BLM info, collected via an iron ranger on-site. No permit needed for the road or dispersed camping outside the townsite boundary.
What's the hardest section of this trail and what should I expect?
The steeper rocky pitches on the benchland approach are the roughest parts — loose rock, embedded ledges, and some shelf road with limited turnaround. Nothing extreme, but it demands attention and you'll want low range on the descent if your rig is heavy.
Is there any cell service on this route, and where's the nearest gas?
Zero cell service from the time you leave the Drummond area until you return — plan accordingly and let someone know your timeline. Fill up in Drummond before you go; it's a small town but has fuel, and there's nothing out on the trail.
Trail track
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