Anaconda, the county seat of Deer Lodge County, is a city in southwestern Montana, about 25 miles from Butte. It is a quiet small town on the scenic route from I-90 to Georgetown Lake, Discovery Ski Area, and Philipsburg MT., ultimately you arrive at I-90 in Drummond, MT. It is a beautiful side trip.
Anaconda is small-town Montana with a few hotels, restaurants, two grocery stores, shopping, and a Jack Nicklas Signature golf course. It is also the gateway to the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area and Lost Creek. Activities include hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, downhill and x-country skiing, and plenty of amazing scenery.
In 1891, the choice for the state capital was between Anaconda and Helena… Helena persevered. In the same year, the railway was built to bring ore from Butte to Anaconda for smelting. After the smelter closed, the 585 ft. stack was designated as a state park and is one of the highlights of Anaconda which is open daily to tour.