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Deer Lodge, Montana, has more museums and historic collections than any other town in the northwestern U.S. The town sits between the beautiful Flint Creek and Boulder ranges, and is close to Montana’s historic mining towns.
Deer Lodge’s unique location and dedication to regional history make it a worthwhile trip, with plenty of interesting things to do, such as exploring the Grant-Khors Ranch or visiting a nearby ghost town. Read on for a list of the top 10 things to do in Deer Lodge, Montana.
10 fun things to do in Deer Lodge, Montana
Here are the top 10 fun things to do in Deer Lodge, Montana.
- Explorer ‘Sculpture in the Wild’ [FREE]
- Visit the Old Montana Prison Complex
- Check out the Montana Auto Museum
- Have a picnic or take a stroll in Cottonwood City Park [FREE]
- Stop in the William K. Kohrs Memorial Library [FREE]
- See the Grant-Kohrs National Historic Site [FREE]
- Take a trip to Garnet Ghost Town
- Tour the Frontier Montana museum
- Go bowling
- Go birding in the Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area [FREE]
1. Explore ‘Sculpture in the Wild’ [FREE]
One of the best things to do in Deer Lodge Valley is to take a short trip out of town to Lincoln, Montana. Here, you’ll find a series of contemporary sculptures made from natural and industrial materials that are associated with the community’s economic and cultural traditions.
The Sculpture in the Wild space is a 26-acre woodland area of unique structures, some of which are straight from the world of Harry Potter. Many convey a unique, undefinable message. Houses, “broken” bridges, iron teepees, and more await.
Each year, the site hosts a group of artists-in-residence, consisting of domestic and international artists. The site is open from dawn to dusk, and entrance is free.
2. Visit the Old Montana Prison Complex
One of the most common things to do in Deer Lodge, Montana, is to visit the Old Prison downtown. This is a former prison complex that is now open to the public.
The Old Montana Prison was the first Territorial Prison in the western United States. It was built in the late 1800s, with 24-foot (7.3 m) high gray sandstone walls. Inside, there are cell blocks, maximum security cells, and a courtyard for exercise.
The last prisoners moved to a new prison outside of town in 1979, and the city later opened the old prison to the public. Today, the old prison grounds contain five separate museums:
- Old Montana Prison
- Powell County Museum
- Frontier Montana Museum
- Yesterday’s Playthings
- Montana Auto Museum
The complex is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $10 for kids. Entrance is FREE for children ages 0 to 9. One ticket grants entrance to all museums.
3. Check out the Montana Auto Museum
In the Old Prison Complex, you’ll find the Montana Auto Museum. Visiting the Montana Auto Museum is easily one of the funnest things to do in Deer Lodge, Montana, especially if you’re a car enthusiast.
The museum features more than 160 cars from various eras, including classic Chevys, a Schacht high-wheeler, and muscle cars. One interesting car on display is the 1886 Benz Replica, which was the first internal combustion engine motor vehicle.
The Montana Auto Museum has been listed as one of the top 10 car museums in the United States by USA Today. The museum is open from Thursday to Sunday. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for kids.
4. Have a picnic or take a stroll in Cottonwood City Park [FREE]
When talking about the best things to do in Deer Lodge, Montana, we can’t overlook the town’s main public park, Cottonwood City Park.
If you’re into sport, Cottonwood City Park is the best place to catch a local football game, go for a stroll, or have a workout. The park is located near downtown, offering a connection to nature while in town.
5. Stop in the William K. Kohrs Memorial Library [FREE]
Conrad “Cattle King” Kohrs was a prominent figure in Deer Lodge history. He established the Grant-Kohrs Ranch. To commemorate their late son, Conrad and his wife, Augusta, constructed the WK Kohrs Memorial Library in 1902.
Today, the library has a wide book selection. Visitors enjoy modern furnishings, historic architecture, and a calm atmosphere. It’s one of the best things to do in Deer Lodge, Montana, for anyone looking for a moment of quiet.
6. See the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site [FREE]
The Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is one of the best national parks in Montana. It memorializes the icons of the western United States – cowboys, cattlemen, and homesteaders. It is one of the most unique things to do in Deer Lodge, Montana.
In 1862, Metis fur trader and trapper Johnny Grant established a ranch in Cotton Creek, Montana. While initially successful, Grant was a French-speaker, and he faced communication difficulties with incoming English-speaking miners. Eventually, he sold his holdings to Conrad Kohrs in 1867 and moved back to Canada.
Kohrs expanded his holdings to over a million acres across Wyoming, Montana, and Alberta, Canada, and become a prominent cattle rancher.
Today, the estate covers 1,618 acres (655 hectares), and the National Park Service maintains it as a working ranch. The ranch features 88 historic structures. Guided tours are available, and visitors can join various programs, such as the ranger program, to learn the history of the area.
7. Visit Garnet Ghost Town
Garnet isn’t just another Montana ghost town. It is considered one of the most well-preserved ghost towns in the state. When the gold dried up and the miners left in the early 1900s, Garnet was left to peril on its own. However, volunteers later renovated and restored its buildings.
Today, Garnet features many of its original historic buildings as well as a visitor center store. The town is open year-round from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm daily. Adult tickets cost $3 (16 and older). In the winter, visitors can access Garnet only by snowshoe, cross-country ski, or snowmobile.
8. Tour the Frontier Montana museum
Located in the Old Montana State Prison mule barn, this is one of the best exhibits in the country dedicated to frontier life. For those interested in historical exhibits, this might be one of the most interesting things to do in Deer Lodge, Montana.
The Frontier Montana Museum holds authentic items from daily life and work that reveal how settlers and Native American Tribes in Montana experienced life on the frontier.
All items on display are real, used by cowboys, ranchers, and frontiersmen and women, dating back to 1829. Items on display include hats, spurs, and chaps, plus beadwork and animal skin clothing from the Sioux and Cheyenne Native American tribes of the region.
9. Go bowling
Victory Lanes is a great place to go bowling in Deer Lodge. This recently remodeled bowling alley offers a clean and comfortable atmosphere. They also serve food – their pizza has a good reputation in town.
10. Go birding in the Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area
One of the best things to do while you’re in Deer Lodge, Montana, is to view wildlife in the surrounding area. The Deer Lodge Valley is a top spot among birders.
Twenty minutes by car south of Deer Lodge lies Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area. The ponds here are manmade. They were initially built to mitigate environmental damage as a result of nearby mining. Today, the area is a protected wetland region, home to wetland birds, song birds, and raptors.
One hour and 25 minutes by car north of Deer Lodge, near Ovando lies Browns Lake, another ideal place for birding. Browns Lake is a shallow, 500-acre body of water often inhabited by bald eagles, osprey, and waterfowl.
