New Anaconda Area Trails

Pic: Fall views from "C" Hill

ATS Foundational Trail

Copper Link

In 2026 one of our goals of creating a foundational trail that connects our community to our local hills with a non-motorized trail experience became a reality! We are excited to present Copper Link, a trail that traverses the hills right above the southern edge of town and provides a seamless connection from “A” Hill on over to “C” Hill. This trail was developed by the Anaconda Trail Society as our foundational trail project and was later adopted as part of the Open Lands Trails & Recreation Plan, helping bring the community’s long-term vision for connected recreation opportunities to life. This trail has been built with reverse grades and supported turns so that it maintains it’s shape, provides good drainage, and can be lots of fun to utilize for all trail users! It meanders though woods and aspen groves then breaks out at key points into great views of the town and the valley. Take an opportunity to get out and explore, whether that’s for an after work dog walk, a hike with your friends, a horseback ride, or taking out your bike.

Distance: ~2.8 miles end to end
Use: Non-motorized, multi-use
Difficulty: Green / beginner-friendly with a couple sections of punchy climbs
Users: Hikers, runners, mountain bikes/Class 1 e-bikes, equestrian

This trail can be easily accessed from Sunnyside Road, Birch Street, or Sheep Gulch Road from behind the court house. There are a few connector trails that go straight up from town and the cemetery, view the pdf town trail map or the interactive trail map for options on where you can start your adventure.

Interactive Trail Forks Map Page

Google Maps Link for Sunnyside TH Location

Google Maps Link for Sheep Gulch Trail Location

Google Maps Link for Birch St TH Location

PDF Map of Town and Town Trails

Copper Link Funding & Partnerships

Copper Link was made possible through community fundraising and partnerships with Montana FWP and Anaconda-Deer Lodge County. ATS raised funds to provide the required match and additional project costs for a $60,000 FWP Trail Stewardship Program grant, with ADLC providing the remaining funding through Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP) funds.

Together, these partnerships helped turn the vision for Copper Link into a completed trail connecting our community to the open lands above town.

ADLC Open Lands Trail Network

Stucky Ridge

The Anaconda Open Lands Trail Network is a collaboration between Anaconda-Deer Lodge County and the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP). Planning and implementation are guided by the ADLC Open Lands Steering Committee, whose local volunteer members represent a range of community and recreational interests.

Developed through public input, the Open Lands Trails & Recreation Plan provides direction for a community-led trail network designed to offer inclusive and sustainable recreation for a wide range of trail users while helping protect wildlife habitat and restored lands.

We are starting to see some of this plan come to fruition with a new set of trails now completed and open for use on Stucky Ridge just North of town. These are multi use non-moterized singletrack trails that start from the Upper Old Works trail.

Distance: ~6 miles
Trails: 101, 102, 103
Use: Non-motorized, multi-use
Difficulty:
Users: Hikers, runners, mountain bikes/Class 1 e-bikes, equestrians

ADLC Open Lands PDF Document

From Restoration to Recreation

Anaconda’s growing trail network is part of a much larger story. After years of remediation, reclamation and restoration of lands impacted by Anaconda’s industrial history, our community is entering a new chapter in how these open lands can be enjoyed and cared for. Through the partnership between Anaconda-Deer Lodge County and the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program, investment in these lands is creating new recreational opportunities while continuing to protect restored lands and wildlife habitat.

Trail Builders

Copper Link — Phat Trak Trail Co.

We want to extend a special thanks to Chase and Chris of Phat Trak Trail Co. for their incredible work bringing Copper Link to life. They took ATS’s vision for a fun, approachable foundational trail and created a trail that works with the landscape while incorporating sustainable drainage, grade reversals, supported turns and plenty of continuity. We’re incredibly proud of the trail they designed and built for our community.

Stucky Ridge — DeWolf Trail Co.

DeWolf Trail Co. constructed the new Stucky Ridge trails as part of the ADLC Open Lands trail development, adding miles of new singletrack and additional opportunities to explore the open lands north of Anaconda.