Canyon Creek Old Charcoal Mines and Guest Ranch by Melrose Montana in 360 Degrees

Canyon Creek Charcoal Mines Melrose Montana

 Canyon Creek Old Charcoal Mines 

and Guest Ranch by Melrose Montana in 360 Degrees

For your nature fix today, here are some old Charcoal  Kilns on the road up to Canyon Creek Guest House close to Melrose Montana.  These fascinating structures used to be tightly stacked to the top with logs, and then closed up and lite.  The smoke turning from white to yellow to blue and would tell them how the process of infusing oxygen into the burnt wood was going.  When complete, the wood would be charcoal pieces that were lighter to transport and burned hotter  than wood.  This was used for the mining town that used to be about 10 miles from these kilns.  Fascinating spot.  Thinking about these kilns, it is both the fire and the oxygen that transform the wood to something better. Most of us are definitely feeling anxiety from our day, that is like the fire, but are we remembering to breathe the oxygen.  Take time to be outside and just breathe and be still and let the man upstairs communicate with you to help you become better and deal with these crazy times.  He is there and wants to help, you just have to ask.

360 Video at the Canyon Creek Charcoal Mines

Make sure you rotate around to see everything.  Of course the best way to watch it is by putting on a VRHeadset, and be transported here using YouTubeVR- ShaunasAdventures

Canyon Creek Charcoal Mines Melrose Montana

Google Earth Link to View Charcoal Mines

Tiny Planet Version of Charcoal Mines

Charcoal Kiln Canyon Creek Canyon Montana

2D Version of Charcoal Kiln Video 

Information about Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns. 

Map to the Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns

The Map above shows the map from Melrose, Montana. Location is 6 hours North of Salt Lake City and an hour south of Butte Montana. If you have an OHV vehicle, you can take the road at the Glendale Smelter up 8 miles to the old mining ghost town of Hecla. 

How they Fueled the Charcoal Mines

"Charcoal is produced when wood is burned in a low-oxygen environment.  In doing so, water and other gaseous materials contained in the wood are released, leaving charcoal, a black light soft material which is composed primarily of carbon. Because charcoal is almost pure carbon, it burns hotter than wood.  It is also lighter than wood and therefore, less expensive to transport, making it an efficient and economical means of smelting ore."  
- Information from above sign to you can read it easier.  

How they used the color of the smoke to detect charcoal process. 

This is very interesting information about the 15 day process used to create the charcoal, 

Views to Drive up to Charcoal Kiln Ruins

Canyon Creek Guest Ranch

 Canyon Creek Guest Ranch is an adorable place that was built and run around the 1930’s solely by a single woman.  Inside the lodge there are brands burnt into the wood from all the different cattle ranchers, initials sketched in the wood for miners.  Many people wonder if it was her food, bootlegging alcohol or women that was the big draw to this remote area, but whatever it was, it drew in ranchers from far and wide to come enjoy her ranch. Ranch has many cabins and is a wonderful place to feel away from it all.  It has beautiful trails to mountains lakes and wildflowers, and the areas nearby is renown for its excellent fishing.  If you have access to OHV vehicle, there is a cool mining ghost town about 20 miles away.  There is also a campground just down the road from the ranch if you are a camper.

Boat Ores on the fence from around the 1930's.

GoogleEarth Link to View Guest Ranch and Campground Area

Canyon Creek Main Cabin

360 Video of Canyon Creek Guest Ranch

Make sure you rotate around to see everything.  Of course the best way to watch it is by putting on a VRHeadset, and be transported here using YouTubeVR- ShaunasAdventures

One of the walls with brands and initials burnt in of ranchers who came to visit.

2D Video of Canyon Creek Guest Ranch

Link to Canyon Creek Guest Ranch

Link to Guest Ranch

Campfire by Canyon Creek

Campfire Canyon Creek Guest House

Cloud Time lapse with Fire at Canyon Creek Guest Ranch.

Campfire Canyon Creek Guest House

Inside Guest Cabins at Canyon Creek Guest Ranch

Inside our Guest House at Canyon Creek Guest Ranch

Lakes up Canyon Creek Trail

We had the fun opportunity to stay at this ranch because my Hubby was hired for a drone shoot here for Fly fishing in this area.  I came along for the ride.  As soon as I got here, I of course asked about the trails, for there are many.  One particularly attracted my interest, and that was Grayling Lake, for the pictures I saw are amazing.  It is a cute mountain lake with bright turquoise water, and white rock mountain backgrounds.  For those fisherman, it is one of those rare lakes with a Grayling Fish.  It is about a 3 hour hike into the lake, and a 2 hour out, with other beautiful lakes in the area.  Because I was only along for the ride, and because of time restraints, I did not get to hike to this lake, BUT I highly intend to go back.  There is absolutely NO cell coverage out here, so you need to make sure you have an eternal GPS, and the map downloaded on GAIA maps if you go.  Luckily the trail is well traveled so it is not one you should have to worry too much about getting lost.  I would also have a sound Alarm, hiking stick, and pepper spray on your body, just in case, for there are many wildlife in the area. If you can't afford to stay at the Guest Ranch, you could still do these awesome hikes from the campground.  For those who love mountain lakes, this is a perfect area to explore away from crowds.   

Photos of Grayling Lake

Map for Canyon Creek Trail #92 to Mountain Lakes

GoogleEarth Link to Cresent lake and Grayling Lake

Here is the map and map information.

Canyon Creek Trail #92 Information

GoogleMap information for reivews and Photos

My Favorite Fishing Gear