The Kings Hill Scenic Byway is a 71-mile stretch of US Highway 89 that passes through the Lewis and Clark National Forest and Little Belt Mountains. You’ll see wildlife, campgrounds, and the tiny communities of Neihart and Monarch. And if you turn left onto Hughesville Road, drive east for about 12 miles, and then take a walk through the woods, you’ll come to a deserted mining district known as Barker-Hughesville.

The Little Belts are filled with old mines and deep history, and the Barker and Hughesville mining district is no exception.
Marion Patterson / Flickr
Silver was first found in Galena Creek by two different men in the fall of 1879. They grew two mining camps, named for E.A. (Buck) Barker and Patrick Hughes.
Word spread quickly about the silver in the area, and Barker eventually had a mill, bunkhouses, a cemetery, and a boarding house.
Matt Lavin / Flickr
Eventually, the Montana Central Railroad completed a branch line to Barker.
But during the Silver Panic of 1893, many silver mines suffered, and after changing ownership a few times, the mining camps closed down during the Great Depression.
Josh Schwartzman / Flickr
The equipment and railroad tracks were sold for salvage.

Related Stories

This Scenic Hike Will Make You Fall In Love With Montana All Over Again

This Scenic Hike Will Make You Fall In Love With Montana All Over Again

 7 Glorious Waterfront Trails In Montana To Take On A Summer Day

7 Glorious Waterfront Trails In Montana To Take On A Summer Day

 The 9 Trails In Montana You Absolutely Have To Hike This Summer

The 9 Trails In Montana You Absolutely Have To Hike This Summer
To reach the Oti Park Trailhead, which will take you to the deserted area, take Highway 89 to Monarch (pictured here).
Pattys-photos / Flickr
Turn east on Hughesville Road and drive 10 miles to the intersection with Grey Creek Road. Follow Grey Creek Road to Oti Park Road until you find the trailhead.
Here's where things get a little eerie: This trail is considered the most haunted hike in Montana.
Bill Strong / Flickr
This area is beautiful and certainly doesn't look creepy. But many a hiker has reported hearing the sound of horses and men being whipped, and some have even seen apparitions of miners. The majority of the paranormal activity happens near the old cemetery at Hughesville.
But whether or not any ghosts join you on your adventure, seeing the remains of the old mining town is pretty great.
david / Flickr
Montana is full of abandoned mines and ghost towns, and since it's so vast, there may even be a few we have yet to discover.

 

Do you like your hikes to come with a spooky backstory? Here are a few other haunted hiking trails in Montana.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Montana