Trail Overview
This unimproved and fairly steep dirt road leads from Phillipsburg, MT, east into the mountains to the Granite ghost town and mine, and the Bimetalllic mine complex, now a state park property. Roads require high clearance in some areas due to boulders in the road, and 4WD is mandatory for wet or snowy weather conditions;there are no facilities at the state park but Phillipsburg is a full-service town only 5 miles from the ghost town and mine site. Signs are minimal but maps, historical photos, and a mining display are available at the museum in Phillipsburg. In dry weather, any vehicle (including OHVs) can navigate this terrain but low-clearance rigs should park in the ghost town and the mines and mills are within easy walking distance. The Bimetallic mine is visible but behind a locked fence on private property. Buildings and the old mine tramway are visible on the access road below the ghost town.
Difficulty
Dirt, unimproved access road with many boulders near the mine and mill sites. High-clearance is required for some areas, but there's parking available in the ghost town and the mines/mills are within easy walking distance for those with low-clearance vehicles. OHVs are legal in Montana if you have a state permit (check online for permit sellers). This area is fairly high altitude and roads might be impassable in snow; wet weather can make the road quite slippery in spots as there's no gravel surface.
History
Granite and Bimetallic mines were huge operations back in the day, making this area one of the most productive in Montana for minerals. Although it's now a state park, it's not a well-maintained one and has no staff or facilities on site, so you'll feel like you're back in history when you visit!
