Copperway Trail and Big Butte

Butte is a mining city, but it is also a trail town with mountains on every side. The Copperway Trail and the Butte-Anaconda-Pacific (BA&P) Trail are in-town paths for walking and biking that wander past historic headframes, ore-car routes and views of the hills, turning the scars of mining into green corridors. Big Butte Open Space, a hillside on the edge of town, adds a short hike to a summit with a large M on the slope, and the reward at the top is a broad view of the valley and the surrounding ranges. These trails are a gentle way to see the outskirts and to understand how the city sits in its landscape. Surfaces vary from paved to packed gravel, and distances can be as short or as long as you like. Birds, wildflowers in early summer and wide western skies are the main attractions. Thompson Park, about nine miles south of Uptown, offers more than twenty-five miles of multi-use trails and a disc golf course, for those who want a longer outing.

Bring water, sunscreen and layers, since there is little shade and the altitude makes the sun strong. Mornings and evenings are the best times for walking or riding, when the light is soft and temperatures are comfortable. Check trail conditions in spring, when snow and mud can linger, and in late autumn, when ice returns. Dogs are common on the trails, but keep them leashed and clean up after them.

Biking is easy to arrange if you bring your own bike, although rentals are limited in town. The in-town paths are flat enough for families, and the hills reward stronger riders. Walkers can combine a trail with a visit to a mining site, such as the headframes near Uptown, to get a better sense of scale. Photographers will love the contrast of rusting steel and green hillsides.

Big Butte requires a short climb on a dirt path, so wear sturdy shoes. At the top you can see Uptown, the pit, the distant Highlands and the flat valley floor. Sunset is especially good, but plan your descent before dark. Do not expect cell service everywhere on the hill.

For visitors who want a bigger day, drive to Georgetown Lake or the Pintler Scenic Route, or soak at Fairmont Hot Springs afterward. Trails are free, so this is an excellent budget option, and it pairs well with a pasty picnic.

Trail etiquette is simple. Yield to uphill hikers, keep right on shared paths, and stay away from fenced mine properties and open shafts, which are dangerous. Many old workings have been capped or fenced, but never cross a barrier for a better photo. Ticks and rattlesnakes are rare at this elevation, but wildlife such as deer, marmots and birds of prey are common, and spotting them adds to the outing.

Weather on the hill can shift quickly, so check the forecast and carry a rain shell. In spring and early summer, wildflowers bloom on the hillsides, and in autumn the light is superb for photographs. The trails are open to everyone, and local groups sometimes organize walks and cleanups that visitors can join.

If you only have an hour, choose the Big Butte climb for the view, then spend the rest of the time on a flat section of the Copperway Trail.