Anaconda

main street

Anaconda is a city in southwestern Montana. In the 2020 census, the population was 9,400. It is located in a valley of the Deer Lodge National Forest, giving impressive views and plenty of nearby outdoor activities.

Understand

Anaconda was founded by Marcus Daly, one of the Copper Kings. He constructed a smelter on nearby Warm Springs Creek to process copper ore from the Butte mines. The work drew immigrants from a variety of countries. This made Anaconda one of the more diverse towns in early Montana.

Get in

• East or west: From I90 merge to MT 1 on exit 208
• North or south: Take I15 to I90 West. Merge to MT 1 on exit 208.

Get around

There is no public transportation in Anaconda. The main part of town is easy to walk or bike. Oddly for such a small town, the main road splits into 2 one-way streets in the downtown area.

See

• 1 Anaconda Stack State Park, 100 Smelter Rd, ☏ +1 406-287-3541, cherylmorris@mt.gov. Open daily all year, daylight hours. The Anaconda Smelter Stack is 585 feet (178 m) tall, one of the tallest free standing masonry structures in the world. It cannot be visited but can be seen and photographed from the information plaque at this address. $8 per vehicle for non-Montana residents. MT residents are free. (updated Oct 2024)
• 2 Copper Village Museum and Arts Center and Marcus Daly Historical Museum, 401 East Commercial, ☏ +1 406 563-2422, copper_village@hotmail.com. Tu-f 9AM-4PM. Exhibitions of contemporary Montana artists and a variety of tradition and heritage arts. Also houses a collection about Marcus Daly. Hosts the annual Art in Washoe Park, a free 3-day event every July. Free. (updated Apr 2023)

Do

• 1 Benny Goodman Park (Snake Pit), Highway 1 East at Van Buren Street, ☏ +1 406 563-4000. 6AM-midnight. Community park with professionally designed skate park. Pit open to skateboards, inline skates, bikes, and scooters. Free. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Discovery Ski Area, 180 Discovery Basin Rd (23 miles west of Anaconda), ☏ +1 406 563-2184, info@skidiscovery.com. Nov-Apr: 9:30AM-4PM. For all abilities. Tree skiing, powder bowls, groomed trails, and mogul runs. $50 lift ticket. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Old Works Golf Course, 1318 Old Works Drive (turn north off Highway 1 at Cedar Street and then right onto Pizzini Way), ☏ +1 406-563-5989, mngr-professional@oldworks.org. Created by Nicklaus Design this 18-hole course has a 72 par. Offers stay and play packages with local lodging. (updated Apr 2023)
• 4 Washoe Park Trout Hatchery, 600 W Pennsylvania St, ☏ +1 406 563-2531. Open during daylight hours. Visit the hatchery to see trout. There is an interpretive center and a live stream aquarium. Free. (updated Aug 2023)

Buy

• 1 Giddy Up Mercantile, 116 Alder St, ☏ +1 406 563-7571, giddyupmercantile@gmail.com. Western style department store (updated Apr 2023)

Eat

• Barclay II, 98 Union Avenue, Anaconda, MT 59711 (attached to The Forge Hotel), ☏ +1 406 563-5541. Steakhouse Fine dining. 
• 1 Donivan's Restaurant, Pub, and Casino, 211 E Park St, ☏ +1 406 563-6241, donivansanaconda@gmail.com. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Haufbrau, 10345 Hwy 1 West, ☏ +1 406 563-9982, hello@haufbrau.com. Daily, 11AM-10PM. Anaconda icon with a large menu (burgers, pizzas, steak, pasta, wraps). Local microbrews and 7 TVs in the bar. Arcade room with Air Hockey table. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 June's Pasty Shop, 513 E Park Ave, ☏ +1 406 563-2205. Pasty's were a traditional lunch for miners making it no surprise to find a shop in Anaconda. June's packages and ships. (updated Apr 2023)

Drink

• 1 Lost Mine Saloon and Casino, 906 E Commercial Ave, ☏ +1 406 563-0299. Multiple TVs and 24 draft beers. Laundromat on site. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Smelter City Brewing, 101 Main St, ☏ +1 406 563-0344. Local brewery with regular trivia, singo!, and music. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Thompson's Bar, 213 Main St, ☏ +1 406 563-9921. Live poker, live keno on weekends, package liquor (updated Apr 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, 1500 Fairmont Road, Fairmont (Exit 211 from I-90 leads directly to Fairmont), ☏ +1 406 797-3241, info@fairmontmontana.com. Resort with indoor and outdoor hot springs. 18-hole golf course which also has an 18-hole mini golf area. There are no nearby businesses, so be prepared to eat at the resort. Rooms do have fridge/microwave. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 The Forge Hotel, 100 Union Ave, ☏ +1 406 797-4100. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Best Western. Pool, WiFi, pet friendly. (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Hickory House, 218 E Park Ave., ☏ +1 406 563-5481. Bed and breakfast in historic building. 5 guest rooms with private bathrooms. Pet friendly. (updated Apr 2023)
• 4 Marcus Daly Motel, 119 W Park Ave., ☏ +1 406 563-3411, toll-free: +1 800 535-6528, marcusdalymotel@gmail.com. Enclosed parking, WiFi, fridge/microwave, grab and go morning snack. (updated Apr 2023)

Connect

• 4 Coffee Corral, 112 E Park, ☏ +1 406 563-4596. M-F 7:30AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-3PM. Espresso coffee drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, sandwiches and baked goods. Free WiFi. (updated Apr 2023)

Go next

• Georgetown Lake: Over 3,000 acre mountain lake. Used for boating, fishing, camping, and windsurfing. Four public boat ramps and multiple National Forest campgrounds. Access to lodging, restaurants, and a marina. 23 miles west of town on MT-1 N
• Lost Creek State Park: Short hike takes you to Lost Creek Falls cascading over 50 feet. Golden eagles and bighorn sheep are frequently seen on the cliffs, plus plenty of other wildlife. Longer hiking path available plus 25 campsites. Park opens May 15 and closes Nov 30 and campground and trails can be inaccessible due to snow. $8 day use entrance fee. 22 miles away.

Routes through Anaconda

Missoula ← Deer Lodge ←

W  E

→ Butte → Bozeman