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

VR Nature Vacation to Old Charcoal Kilns & Ranch in 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.

Grab your VR Headset and Transport yourself here with me. 

YouTubeVR Virutal VR Headset Version for 

Canyon Creek Kilns and Ranch in Melrose, Montana


Canyon Creek Charcoal Mines Melrose Montana
Canyon Creek Charcoal Mines Melrose Montana

360 Video at the Canyon Creek Charcoal Mines

Make sure you rotate around to see everything.  Use the Toggle button on the bottom corner to switch between modes.  It makes it fun!


Canyon Creek Charcoal Mines Melrose Montana
Canyon Creek Charcoal Mines Melrose Montana

Google Earth Link to View Charcoal Mines

2D Trailer Short for Montana Charcoal Mines and Canyon Creek Guest Ranch



Charcoal Kiln Canyon Creek Canyon
Charcoal Kiln Canyon Creek Canyon Montana


Information about Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns. 

Map to the 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. 

>"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 Fueled the Charcoal Mines
How they Fueled the Charcoal Mines
How they used the color of the smoke to detect charcoal process.
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
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.

Here is a link to the website of Canyon Creek Guest Ranch.  
If you are interested me in doing a spotlight of your vacation rental and the surrounding attractions please contact me.  I would love to set something up!  
Old Wooden Boat Ores on the fence from around the 1930's.
Boat Ores on the fence from around the 1930's.


Canyon Creek Main Cabin
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.
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


Campfire by Canyon Creek
Campfire Canyon Creek Guest House
Campfire Canyon Creek Guest House

Cloud Time lapse with Fire at Canyon Creek Guest Ranch.


Campfire Canyon Creek Guest House
Campfire Canyon Creek Guest House



Inside Guest Cabins at Canyon Creek Guest Ranch


Inside our Guest House at Canyon Creek Guest Ranch
Inside our Guest House at Canyon Creek Guest Ranch

Web AMP Story for Melrose Montana's 

Charcoal Kilns and Canyon Creek Guest Ranch

AMP Web Story for Immersive VR 360 Melrose Montana Kilns and Gues Ranch

San Rafael Reef Mine Web Story

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.   


Map for Canyon Creek Trail #92 to Mountain Lakes
Map for Canyon Creek Trail #92 to Mountain Lakes



Here is the map and map information.

Canyon Creek Trail #92 Information
Canyon Creek Trail #92 Information

If you have enjoyed this post, do me a favor and check out my Favorite Fishing Gear






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