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Continental Divide Trail Coalition

Mountain Range

Anaconda

Where Main Street Meets the Mountains

Mountain Range

Humbled by the towering Pintlers, situated in a mile-high valley in the Deer Lodge National Forest, Anaconda presents unsurpassed recreational opportunities just outside town in any direction. The town sprang up when the giant Anaconda Copper Mining Company of Butte needed a smelter for its vast amounts of copper ore. Smelting operations were suspended in 1980, but “The Stack” remains an important landmark and state park.

Mountain Range
Mountain Range
People smiling holding sign
Mountain Range

Getting There

The closest international airport to Anaconda is Missoula (MSO) which is about 1 hour and 45 minutes away via I-90 East. The Bert Mooney airport (BTM) is the closet airport to Anaconda, about 30 minutes away via I-90 West and MT-1 North. It is serviced by Delta Airlines and has a direct flight from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Getting Around

Linked Adventure, 406-498-9653. Shuttle transportation and route planning in
Butte, Anaconda and surrounding SW Montana.

Trail Angel contact information can be found on the Anaconda Trails Society website: https://anacondatrails.com/

Anaconda Historic Bus Tours: https://discoveranaconda.com/attractions/historic-bus-tour/

Ten Things to do in Anaconda

  1. Visit the Copper Village Museum & Art Center

  2. Explore Smoke Stack State Park

  3. Go bowling at Cedar Park Lanes

  4. Enjoy some art at the Spotlight Art Gallery

  5. Learn something new at Washoe Park Trout Hatchery

  6. Catch a film at the historic Washoe Theatre

  7. Play a round of golf at Old Work Golf Course

  8. Celebrate Smelterman’s Day

  9. Discover a waterfall at Lost Creek State Park

  10. Spend some time at Georgetown Lake

Mountain Range
Featured Hike
view our hike suggestion database
Upper Seymour Lake on the CDT

  • Difficulty: Moderate

  • Length: 13.7 miles

  • Closest Town: Anaconda, MT

  • Directions: Directions from Anaconda, MT: Take MT-1 south for 3 miles before continuing onto MT-569/Deep Creek Rd. After 18 miles, turn right toward Seymour Lake Rd/FR 934. Stay on Seymour Lake Rd for 2.4 miles, keep right at the fork and then continue 1.4 more miles. Continue onto Seymour Creek Rd for 3 miles before reaching the Seymour Lake trailhead (45.991161, -113.182981). While there is space for a horse trailer, turn around could be challenging if the parking area is full. There is a USFS campground at Lower Seymour Lake about 1/2 mile south of the trailhead.

  • Maps:

    USGS 7.5 quadrangles: Storm Lake, Mount Evans, and Lower Seymour Lake; CDTC Map Set: Map 348, Section MT15.

  • For More Information:

    Montana Office of Tourism: visitmt.com; Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest, Wisdom Ranger District: (406)-689-3243.

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Thanks to our Anaconda Business Members for their support

Getting to the Continental Divide Trail

CDT via Twin Lakes Trailhead
Although it is the closest trailhead to Anaconda, the Twin Lakes trailhead will take trail users to a CDT access trail, not the CDT itself. It can be accessed via MT-1 N and Twin Lakes Creek Road. From the trail head, it is about a 10 mile hike to the Continental Divide Trail.

CDT via Seymour Lake
The Seymour Lake trailhead is the closest trailhead to Anaconda with direct access to the CDT. It is accessible by MT-1 S and Seymour Lake Road. This is a lightly trafficked area of the trail and several miles follow Seymour Creek. At about 4.5 miles in, the trail begins to ascend, though there is not a dramatic increase in difficulty.