Visiting Garnet Ghost Town This Fall? Be Ready for Higher Prices

One of the fun ways to celebrate spooky season in western Montana is to visit Montana's ghost towns, like Garnet Ghost Town. But if you haven't visited in a while, or have never been, there are a few logistics you'll want to be prepared for.

The Prices at Garnet Ghost Town Have Gone Up

Back when we covered this story in December of 2023, Dennis Bragg shared that the reason for the price increase was the need to cover "preservation and operation costs." Before the price changes, the entrance fee was only $3 and cabins were either $30 or $40, depending on which one you reserved.

Which Fees Increased at Garnet Ghost Town?

I called the Missoula Field Office to confirm the new pricing and Allison Hurcomb, the Administrative Support Assistant gave me the new prices.

• Entrance Fee $10
• Dahl Cabin $50
• McDonald Cabin $50

Keep in mind that the cabins are only available from December through April and you'll need to be prepared to access the areas using winter travel methods, like a snowmobile or cross-country skis.

Best Fall Activities at Garnet Ghost Town

Yes, you can enjoy all the spooky vibes of a ghost town during October, but one of the best activities to do at Garnet is to take advantage of the trails. Near the town is the Wales Creek Wilderness Study Area where you can hike or you can mountain bike the back country roads. The Missoula Field Office has a specific Garent Mountain Bike Trail Map if you're interested.

Insider Advice About Visiting Garnet Ghost Town

Hurcomb also mentioned that she gets calls from people who have trouble finding Garnet, and it's usually because they were using Google Maps. Don't use Google Maps to find Garnet. Those directions probably won't work.

Visit the Directions page on the Garnet Ghost Town website for the best routes. There's one from Route 200 and one from Interstate 90. You can also use the geographic coordinates 46.82559, -113.33945 provided by the Bureau of Land Management.

If you're trying to decide when to visit, here's an idea of when the area will have peak foliage.