Entry No. 51 — the Helena file — filed under: ruins
Mountain Consolidated Mine
Standing as one of Butte's most iconic landmarks, the Mountain Consolidated Mine—affectionately known as 'The Con'—was once one of the world's deepest copper mines, plunging 5,291 feet into the earth. Active from the late 1880s until 1974, the site has since been reclaimed as a public park. Today, visitors can marvel at its towering steel headframe and explore the surrounding trails lined with historic interpretive signs.
The story
Underneath the dirt on Butte Hill sits a mile-deep void. Active from the late 1880s until 1974 under the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, the Mountain Consolidated Mine—known locally as "The Con"—punched 5,291 feet straight into the earth. That made it one of the deepest copper mines on the planet, a vertical subterranean city where crews worked in sweltering underground heat to pull out the metal that wired the nation.
When the pumps stopped and the mine closed in 1974, the site wasn't leveled—it was reclaimed into a public park. Today, the towering steel headframe remains anchored to the ridge like an industrial skeleton, marking the exact spot where thousands of men plummeted a mile into the dark every shift.
What it's like
Drive up to the site and follow the paved Mountain Con Trail as it winds toward the massive steel headframe. The actual mine shaft is sealed tight with concrete and wrapped in safety fencing, so your boots stay firmly above ground, but standing under that lattice of steel gives you a dizzying sense of scale. The site is breezy, quiet, and uncrowded. Aim for an evening visit: sunset hits the red metal frame and lights up panoramic views across the Butte basin.
The move: Walk along the paved Mountain Con Trail to admire the massive steel headframe up close, read the historical plaques, and enjoy panoramic views of Butte at sunset.
📍 Before you go The mine shaft is sealed and fenced off for safety, but the historic headframe and surrounding grounds are fully visible from the public Mountain Con Mine Park trails.
- 📍 Butte
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Butte, MT 59701, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Kelley Mine Yard — Walk a third of a mile south to compare 'The Con' with the tallest headframe on Butte Hill, which marked the final era of underground mining here.
- Diamond Mine — Head less than half a mile away to inspect the oldest surviving steel headframe on the hill, erected in 1898.
- Uptown Crystals & Wellness Shoppe — Drive under a mile downhill into historic uptown Butte to trade industrial iron relics for raw earth minerals and crystals.
- Ringing Rocks — Drive 15 miles east toward Pipestone to swap heavy mining steel for a natural boulder field that chimes like metal when struck.
Good to know
Can you go inside or underground at the mine?
No. The shaft is permanently sealed and fenced off for safety. Public access is strictly above ground along the park trails and around the headframe.
How deep was the Mountain Consolidated Mine?
It reached a total depth of 5,291 feet—well over a mile down into the earth.
When did the mine operate?
The Con was active from the late 1880s until operations permanently shut down in 1974.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: storyofbutte.org
last checked: 2026-07-20