Bearmouth

Montana's ghost towns span gold-rush gulches and the great homestead bust that emptied the Hi-Line.

Bearmouth is a former town located in Granite County, Montana, USA. It began as a trading post for the placer mining camps of Beartown, Garnet and Coloma, located in the hills north of Bearmouth in Granite County. A pioneer family named Lannen operated the gold exchange and ferry boat across the Clark Fork River. Bearmouth was not a mining camp, but rather a town that depended on the survival of other towns that were mining camps. During the late 19th century, enormously rich ores from Garnet were brought into Bearmouth to be shipped to smelters.

The on-the-ground condition of Bearmouth is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Bearmouth is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.