Anaconda combines industrial history with culture and outdoor activities. The city lies in a valley about a mile above sea level in the Deer Lodge National Forest. Three distinct perspectives can help you get your bearings: an industrial landmark, historic attractions in town, and a multi-use trail over the hills above the southern edge of the city.
Industrial History from Two Eras
The Anaconda Smoke Stack is a former chimney of the Anaconda Copper Company in Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park. Completed in 1919, it stands 585 feet tall. It can only be viewed and photographed from a distance. Information panels about the chimney’s history are located at the viewpoint near Goodman Park. This pairs a view of the structure with a specific historical context, without access to the chimney itself.
The Old Works area is also part of Anaconda’s industrial history. From 1884 to 1902, it was the original site of the first copper smelting facilities built in Anaconda; ores from Butte were processed there. The two historical points of reference are from different periods: the Old Works smelting facilities date to the period ending in 1902, while the Smoke Stack was completed in 1919. This comparison places early ore processing and a later structure in chronological context.
Museum and Historic City Tour
The Copper Village Museum and Arts Center is a free museum in the Anaconda City Hall Cultural Center. The Anaconda Historic Bus Tours offer a different way to explore the city: they travel through historic Anaconda and include the Washoe Theater and other historic buildings. This gives you two distinct ways to visit—a museum in one fixed location and a tour that takes in several historic buildings. If you plan to make the bus tour a set part of your itinerary, check the schedule in advance.
Copper Link Trail and Golf
The Copper Link Trail runs over the hills above the southern edge of Anaconda and connects “A” Hill with “C” Hill. It is about 2.8 miles long and rated green, or beginner-friendly. At the same time, it has short, challenging climbs in some sections. Both the approximate length and these more challenging sections are worth considering when assessing the trail. It is a non-motorized multi-use trail for hikers, runners, mountain bikes, Class 1 e-bikes and horseback riders.
Old Works Golf Course is a public 18-hole course with a par of 72. Its bunkers contain black slag from the copper smelting process—a tangible detail that connects the course to Anaconda’s industrial history. Check the current operating status before your trip if you plan to include the golf course in your itinerary.
For the broader travel overview: Deer Lodge.
