Entry No. 47 — the Butte file — filed under: ruins

Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns

Built in the mid-1880s, these 23 beehive-shaped brick kilns once produced charcoal to fuel the silver smelter in nearby Glendale. Today, the site is managed by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, featuring three restored, white-washed kilns alongside twenty others in various states of ruin being reclaimed by nature. Visitors can explore the structures and read interpretive signs detailing the area's massive 19th-century timber-to-charcoal operation.

The move: Take a scenic drive from Melrose into the Pioneer Mountains, then walk the interpretive trail to photograph the massive brick beehive kilns and read the educational signs together.

📍 Before you go The site is located on public land within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, featuring maintained walking paths, interpretive signs, and public access to the restored kilns.

• 📍 Divide
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Divide, MT 59727, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: southwestmt.com · fs.usda.gov

last checked: 2026-07-20