Road to Garnet - I-90 Route to a Montana Ghost Town in 4K - near Missoula, Montana MT.

Road to Garnet - I-90 Route to a Montana Ghost Town in 4K - near Missoula, Montana MT.

** Warning - Updated September 2024 ** The upper reaches of this I90 route have been closed to vehicle traffic due to severe water ruts (from 3:25 on). Just follow the signs to Garnet using Cave Gulch Road. It is well-marked and easy for automobile traffic. Just be aware that some of Cave Gulch Road is two tracks and meeting a vehicle can be challenging to some.

** Warning - Updated September 2023 ** The last mile of this road is nearly impassable for most vehicles due to road washouts and deep-cut ruts caused by rushing water. Cave Gulch Road is recommended if you travel from I90. Follow the signs just after Beartown.

Four-wheel drive vehicles can use this route but be sure you are comfortable driving one-lane mountain roads and be prepared to backup when meeting another vehicle. Fall/winter/spring can produce snow and ice on these mountain roads and can be extremely treacherous. No cell service is available on this road so be aware before traveling. As you can see, the upper stretches of this road cannot accommodate trailers or motorhomes.

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High in the mountains of western Montana you will find a REAL ghost town, Garnet, one of Montana’s best preserved and least visited. Garnet was started in 1895 when gold was discovered. I have been visiting Garnet since 1972 during the start of the stabilization/preservation movement.

The elevation starts at 3,900 feet and climbs to 5,900 feet. This I-90 route up Bear Gulch was the only road into Garnet until recently. China Grade towards the top was the worst part of the 10-mile trip, much narrower and rockier than what you see now. Even so, be extra careful on this stretch.

Garnet thrived with over 1,200 miners and their families. Garnet had four hotels, four stores, two barbershops, a butcher shop, a doctor’s office, laundry facilities, and thirteen saloons. It even had a stagecoach service!

After a few years the gold ran out and so did the population. It dwindled down to 150 people by 1905. In 1912 a fire wiped out half of the commercial buildings and was never rebuilt.

What you see today are efforts of stabilization, preservation, and restoration from many volunteers who are dedicated to helping preserve Montana’s rich mining history. Congratulations to each and every one of you!

Please see http://www.garnetghosttown.net/ for more information.

This sequence was captured in June, 2020 with a GoPro Hero8 camera and edited with Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve.

Music for Manatees by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...