With a prominent railroad history like ours, you’re bound to see evidence of our old railway systems throughout the state. And in some cases, you can get up close and personal with parts of our past. The Milwaukee Railroad trail is located a few miles south of Butte. Not only is it a fairly easy hike, it gives you an unforgettable glimpse into our history.

The four mile out and back trail sits on the former Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad.
KT McKenna / alltrails.com
This section of railroad was one of the first in the country to be electrified.
KT McKenna / alltrails.com
Thomas Edison even came out to Butte to ride the Milwaukee Railroad.
You’ll venture through two tunnels on your hike.
KT McKenna / alltrails.com
One of them is 550 feet long, the other is 1,110 feet.

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The trestle rises 130 feet above the valley floor.
KT McKenna / alltrails.com
This hike is like a walking history tour for anyone interested in seeing firsthand how the old railway system worked.
Mark Holloway / Flickr
You’ll end up a few yards from the 2,300 foot long Pipestone Pass tunnel.
Wikipedia
The tunnel is closed to the public, but you can walk up to the entrance.

To reach this trail, take State Route 2 south of Butte for about nine miles. Look for a Recreation Area sign, turn right onto a dirt road, and climb to the summit at Sagebrush Flats to find the trailhead. And for a spooky seasonal hike, try one of Montana’s haunted trails.

 

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