Mt. Haggin Montana Wildlife Management Area
The iconic Mount Haggin towers over Anaconda, MT, and it is a wildly impressive landmark. The 10,607 ft. mountain, located at the northwestern end of the Pioneer Mountains and the northeastern end of the Anaconda Range, was named after James Ben Ali Haggin, a principal in the historic Anaconda Mining Company. The mountain, and the area around it, support important and various flora, fauna and outdoor adventure and recreation. The mountain is treasured by the locals, the state, and visitors from all around the world.
One of the six Wildlife Management Areas in the Anaconda, MT vicinity, the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area is the largest WMA in Southwestern Montana. It is the first of the six WMAs we will explore as part of our series of blogs on Open Space: Anaconda, MT Style.
WMAs are designed to restore, recover and preserve habitat and the species that habitat supports. Remarkably effective, the Mt. Haggin WMA has proven to achieve that mission and provide the public with year-round opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, camping, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and wildlife viewing.
Some restrictions exist on a WMA to provide security for wintering big game and protect sensitive species. For example, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and other forms of winter recreation is permitted within Mount Haggin WMA on the east, or Big Hole side of the Continental Divide, only. The remainder of the WMA is closed from December 1 through May 15th, during the big game calving season.
History
This area historically supported big game animals and a diverse community of wildlife. Its vast fields became a popular area for cattle grazing, and its grounds were heavily mined and forests aggressively logged to support the furnaces at the Anaconda Smelter and structural lumber for the Butte and other area mines.
Recognizing its significant ecological value, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks worked with the U.S. Forest Service to establish this area as the Big Hole Forest Reserve in 1906. In 1907 it became a National Forest, and in 1908 it was divided into the Beaverhead, Bitterroot, and Deerlodge National Forests.
In 1976, the Montana Department of Fish and Wildlife purchased the Mount Haggin Ranch, which was, at the time, surrounded by the Deerlodge National Forest. Now gathered into one mission-specific management area, the WMA provided recreation, summer range for cattle and habitat for a declining population of moose and many other species.
In 1976, the moose population in the WMA was at its low of 7. Through improved interconnectivity provided by the recent acquisition, lower pressure, increased habitat, and interagency coordination, the population flourished to 56 in 2000. Browsing data in the following years indicated that increased moose harvest was required to maintain a healthy and sustainable moose browse habitat (Keigley R. B. and C. W. Fager. ALCES VOL. 42: 49-54 (2006). The decision to protect the habitat, and the decision to harvest some moose, are an example of how balanced management can help habitat and species thrive.
Other species known to use the management area permanently, seasonally, or occasionally are antelope, white-tailed deer, black bear, wolf, coyote, mountain lion, grizzly bear, bobcat, beaver, pine marten, wolverine, various bird species, a variety of amphibians, and a variety of small mammals. The Big Hole River side (east of the Continental Divide) provides calving and summer range to elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and antelope that migrate from as far away as historic Bannock, 50 miles to the south. Deep snows force wildlife to migrate to lower elevations during the winter.
In 2023 the state added another more than 800 acres to the WMA -- the Willow Creek Addition. Now, the WMA now boasts 60,289 acres of protected and effectively managed habitat.
While hiking through the area, evidence of past mining is noticeable--common to the region and an interesting relic of the past. But today, juvenile aspen groves and conifer forests flourish, minimizing that view. The area provides summer and winter habitat for many species and illustrates successful recovery and preservation.
Getting there
From Pintler’s Portal Hostel, the Mount Haggin WMA may be accessed by several routes.
German Gulch Road:
Travel east on MT-1 5.6 miles to the southern intersection with MT-441. Follow MT-441 SE past Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Around the bend at the Resort is German Gulch Road. Follow German Gulch road 1.25 miles to the boundary of the Mount Haggin WMA. One can spend days exploring this area.
Mill Creek Road:
Mill Creek Road provides a number of access points to the WMA. Travel east on MT-1 3.5 miles to MT Highway 569 (Mill Creek Road), toward Wisdom. Several access points lie along this route.
Just 4.2 miles up the Mill Creek Road on the left hand side of the road is the Cabbage Gultch entrance to the WMA. This is the WMA's eastern-most point, featuring predominantly grassy upland terrain. In the spring you may see large populations of elk, old and young alike, enjoying this grassy plain.
Another 14.3 miles along Mill Creek Road, a two track on the left side leads to a WMA access and information kiosk. The 5-segment kiosk details the ecological revitalization that has been done in and around California Creek. It describes how historic and smelter operations of the past took a toll on the surrounding landscape. From the original Fish Wildlife and Parks vision for the WMA in 1977 to the grazing practices now used to support sustainable habitat for the wildlife, it explains how modified grazing practices and restoring riparian and uplands areas have improved the habitat and natural landscape.
Another 1.2 miles up Mill Creek Road, the Mt. Haggin WMA lies on your left. Here, you'll find the Mt. Haggin Nordic Ski Trails and access to year-round non-motorized access. In the winter, the 25 km of Nordic trails are groomed daily. They are a wonderful way to experience the WMA in the winter.
Continuing south on Mill Creek Road, the WMA is on both sides of the road.
Although subtle, the Continental Divide crosses MT 569, which separates the Missouri River Basin on the east side of the Divide and the Columbia River Basin watershed on the west. Resident wildlife, the history of mining and logging in the area and the more recent livestock rotational grazing and habitat restoration are highlighted on the informational signs there, bringing increased understanding to the restoration efforts and resilience of mother nature.
Seymour Lake Road is the southern-most access to the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management area. It is 23 miles from Pintler’s Portal Hostel. The drive is an unforgettable trip through uplands, wetlands, conifer forests, aspen groves and high valley grasslands. The Anaconda range to the north and the pioneer range to the south boarder the high grasslands valley.
Hiking the Mountain
There are locals who make hiking Mt. Haggin a regular, albeit a challenging, routine.
The nearest hike to the top of Mount Haggin is from the Church of Christ parking lot (1 Stumptown Road), just a few blocks from Pintler's Portal Hostel. The hike and a photo tour is included in our blog Featured Trails: Hearst Lake and Mt. Haggin.
The hike is 14.4-miles round trip and considered by most hard. In total, it typically takes 8–10 hours round trip with an elevation gain of 5,150 ft. From the summit, the 360-degree view of the Anaconda Range, Pioneers Mountains, Flint Creek Range, Boulder Mountains, and the Sapphire Mountains makes the adventure a lifetime memory.
For a more information about facilities, access and permits, go to Mount Haggin WMA. Meanwhile, watch The Pintler Post for more information about local WMAs and an aggregate collection of that detail!
Acreage | Habitat | Species Focus | |
Mount Haggin | 60,289 | Mountains, meadows, sagebrush, grasslands, and conifer and aspen stands | Elk, mule and whitetail deer, moose, pronghorn antelope, small game, upland birds, waterfowl, and other species. |
Garrity Mountain |
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Blue-eyed Nellie |
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Stuck Ridge |
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Lost Creek |
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Warm Springs |
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Total Southwest Montana | 60,289 Acres |
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Richard B. Keigley and Craig W. Fager. ALCES (the genus of mammals (order Artioctyla) comprising the moose and European elk) VOL. 42: 49-54 (2006) Habitat-Based Adaptive Management at Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area, United States Geological Survey, 632 Coulee Drive, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA; and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 1820 Meadowlark Lane, Butte, MT 59701, USA
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