Work to improve Mill Creek Highway near Anaconda could begin spring 2027

History suggests Native American tribes relied on the pass at Mill Creek to travel the trail between what became known as the Big Hole Valley and Warm Springs, the latter featuring a significant geothermal landmark for many Indigenous peoples.

Anaconda resident Chris Marchion, right, talks to Therese Iwaniak of the Montana Department of Transportation during an open house in November 2025 in Anaconda about slated improvements to the Mill Creek Highway.

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is the state’s largest national forest by acreage. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness provides access to trails, vistas and mountain lakes. The Mill Creek Highway provides access to views like this one.

The long legs of this moose trio allow them to travel effectively through snow off the Mill Creek Highway near Anaconda. The Mill Creek area typically receives abundant snowfall, creating a maintenance headache for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.

Duncan Adams covers the environment, natural resources, Montana Tech and other beats for The Montana Standard. Reach him at (406) 496-5572 or duncan.adams@mtstandard.com

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Most of the ongoing reshuffling of the department was paused Tuesday after a federal judge in Northern California found the reorganization “al…

The bell-to-bell cellphone ban at Butte Central High has not been too difficult to manage and is showing benefits, according to staff and students.

Since buying the building in 2007, the nonprofit Ole Beck VFW Post 209 hosted live music, comedy and poker in the bar until they closed in February.

The Mill Creek Highway winds up and over a pass between Anaconda and the Big Hole Valley. Anaconda-Deer Lodge County was awarded a federal grant of $19.3 million to improve the stretch of road that includes this curve. Work could begin in spring 2027.

The long legs of this moose trio allow them to travel effectively through snow off the Mill Creek Highway near Anaconda. The Mill Creek area typically receives abundant snowfall, creating a maintenance headache for Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is the state’s largest national forest by acreage. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness provides access to trails, vistas and mountain lakes. The Mill Creek Highway provides access to views like this one.

Anaconda resident Chris Marchion, right, talks to Therese Iwaniak of the Montana Department of Transportation during an open house in November 2025 in Anaconda about slated improvements to the Mill Creek Highway.

A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Powered by BLOX Content Management System from bloxdigital.com.

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Account processing issue – the email address may already exist

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Invalid password or account does not exist

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.

Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.