Hiking in Montana is an experience like no other. The Treasure State is a rugged, breathtaking masterpiece full of diverse scenery. But sometimes, our hiking trails aren’t about walking to waterfalls or getting breathtaking lake views. Sometimes they take you back in time.
There are a few haunted hikes in Montana, but the Oti Park Trailhead is in its own league. The path takes you straight to an abandoned mining town, and paranormal activity has been reported.
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.
Sue Kunda / Flickr The Little Belts are full of old mines and the history that goes with them.
To access the Oti Park Trailhead, just take Highway 89 to Monarch.
David / Flickr Turn east on Hughesville Road and drive for about 10 miles to the intersection with Grey Creek Road. Then just follow Grey Creek Road to Oti Park Road until you find the trailhead.
The trail will eventually take you to Barker, an old mining town. The Barker and Hughesville mining district has a lot of history.
Josh Schwartzman / Flickr It all started in 1879, when silver was discovered in Galena Creek by two men. Word spread quickly, and before long, Barker had a mill, bunkhouses, a cemetery, and a boarding house. But the mines suffered during the Silver Panic of 1893, and the mining camps in the area officially closed down during the Great Depression.
While the town is long gone, a few of the buildings remain. And clearly more than the structures stayed behind, because this is considered one of Montana’s most haunted hiking trails.
Bill Strong / Flickr Plenty of hikers have 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.
Of course, none of these stories can be proven, and if you take this hike you might not see anything out of the ordinary.
David / Flickr Still, seeing the remains of the old mining town is pretty extraordinary, all things considered.
Have you ever heard of this hiking trail? Believe it or not, there are more haunted hikes in Montana.
Sue Kunda / Flickr
The Little Belts are full of old mines and the history that goes with them.
David / Flickr
Turn east on Hughesville Road and drive for about 10 miles to the intersection with Grey Creek Road. Then just follow Grey Creek Road to Oti Park Road until you find the trailhead.
Josh Schwartzman / Flickr
It all started in 1879, when silver was discovered in Galena Creek by two men. Word spread quickly, and before long, Barker had a mill, bunkhouses, a cemetery, and a boarding house. But the mines suffered during the Silver Panic of 1893, and the mining camps in the area officially closed down during the Great Depression.
Bill Strong / Flickr
Plenty of hikers have 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.
Still, seeing the remains of the old mining town is pretty extraordinary, all things considered.
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Address: Barker, MT 59447, USA
