Philipsburg (Montana)

Philipsburg is a town of about 800 people (2020) in southwestern Montana, originally formed around an ore smelter in 1867. The surrounding county is home to more than 24 ghost towns. Since the 1990s, numerous buildings in the town's historic district have been restored and filled with rock and jewelry shops, art galleries and candy stores. == Get in == State Route 1 (MT-1) passes north-south along the west edge of Philipsburg, between Drummond and Anaconda. State Route 38 (MT-38) is a scenic primitive seasonal road over Skalkaho Pass to Skalkaho Falls and Hamilton. No RVs or trailers. There are no guardrails on this narrow, mostly gravel mountain road. === By plane === 1 Riddick Field Airport (KU05) (1 mile south of town). A public use airport. (updated Jul 2026) == Get around == Most businesses are on Broadway St. == See == 1 Granite County Museum, 135 South Sansome St (in the historic Courtney Hotel), ☏ +1 406-859-3020. In addition to exhibits on early town history, the museum features the Ghost Town Hall of Fame and the Granite Mountain Mining exhibit. (updated Jul 2026) == Do == 1 Discovery Ski Area, 180 Discovery Basin Rd, ☏ +1 406 563-2184, info@skidiscovery.com. Nov-Apr: 9:30AM-4PM. For all abilities. Tree skiing, powder bowls, groomed trails, and mogul runs. $50 lift ticket. (updated Apr 2023) 2 Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine, 21 Sapphire Gulch Ln (Skalkaho Pass Rd MT-38, mile marker 38.4), ☏ +1 406-859-6463. May-Sep. This has produced over 180 million carats of sapphires since 1892, and is now developed for rock hounds to dig for sapphires by hand. (updated Jul 2026) 3 Granite Ghost Town State Park, 347 Granite Rd. Memorial Day-Sep 30. Granite thrived as a silver mining town in the 1890s and is now completely deserted. The state maintains the mine superintendent's house and the ruins of the union hall, and there are other large industrial relics on the hillside. The road from Philipsburg is narrow, steep and winding. (updated Jul 2026) 4 Georgetown Lake (on MT-1 N). Over 3,000 acre mountain lake. Used for boating, fishing, camping, and windsurfing. Four public boat ramps and multiple National Forest campgrounds. Access to lodging, restaurants, and a marina. (updated Jul 2026) == Buy == == Eat and drink == == Sleep == == Connect == 1 Philipsburg Public Library, 106 W Broadway St, ☏ +1 406-859-5030, phl5030@blackfoot.net. (updated Jul 2026) == Go next == Anaconda Hamilton Missoula