The BA&P Hill Trail provides a fascinating glimpse into Butte's early history, winding its way through the town's historic neighborhoods and abandoned mineyards. The area was known as the "The Richest Hill on Earth" for its gold, silver and copper deposits. The former Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railroad, on which the trail is built, was founded in 1892 to transport these precious ores from Butte mines to smelters in Anaconda. In 1913, BA&P also became the first freight railroad in the world to electrify.
For a look at this history, follow the interpretive signs along the way, stop at the World Museum of Mining mid-trail and view the line's last surviving engine at the Anselmo Mine Yard.
The eastern half of the trail (Butte end), from the museum east to Wyoming Street, is paved; the western half (Rocker end) from the museum to Grizzly Trail (a road) is gravel. At the western terminus, you can travel just 0.2 mile farther down Grizzly Trail to a large parking area on the south side of the road, where you can pick up the Silver Bow Creek Greenway.
Mid-trail, parking can be found at the World Museum of Mining (155 Museum Way) and the Anselmo Mine Yard, just off Excelsior Street. You can also park at the Silver Bow Creek Greenway parking area on the western end of the BA&P Hill Trail along Grizzly Trail (a road) in Rocker. From the parking area, travel 0.2 mile down Grizzly Trail road (heading east toward Butte), and watch for the gravel BA&P Hill Trail on the south (right) side of the road. It peels off the road just before the road goes under the railroad trestle.
The paved section through Butte is on about a 3% grade, a little steeper than most rail trails. At Wyoming Street the trail leaves the railroad grade and heads up the mountain another mile or so to the miner's memorial that looks over the Berkley Pit. The mountain section is steep, I had to walk my bike up two of the grades, but the effort was well worth it as the views over Butte area were terrific. There are modern restrooms and picnic area on the mountain section.
The gravel section between the mining museum and rocker is in good shape.
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