Montana Mountain is a large massif of volcanic origin situated immediately south of the village of Carcross, Yukon. The massif encompasses an area of approximately 180 square kilometers. Its main peak, Montana, is the highest at 7243 feet, with several subpeaks – including Brute, Matheson, and Dail – also dominate the landscape.

 According to Carcross/Tagish First Nation (C/TFN) legend, Montana Mountain is one of four peaks from which Game Mother hung a hammock to host a celebration for her animal creations before they spread out across the land to live. A spiritual cornerstone, the mountain also provided food, medicines, and refuge for the Carcross/Tagish people.

 The discovery of silver in the steep cliff faces on the east side of Montana Mountain triggered a staking rush in 1904. A brash financier from Montana, John Conrad, consolidated the mining claims and built an extensive network of mule trails, tramways, and wagon roads to transport the valuable ore off the mountain. Conrad’s promise of untold riches drew thousands to the shores of Windy Arm.

The Windy Arm stampede was short-lived, but smaller scale mining activity persisted on the mountain for decades. Foot and wagon trails were abandoned as modern roads were built. After the last mine closed in the 1980’s, the mountain continued to lure small numbers of 4×4 adventurers, hikers, and skiers. The spiritual energy that First Nation people had long recognized in the mountain even compelled one man to build a rustic Buddhist temple in the alpine.

A century after their construction, traces of the Conrad-era trails could still be found. CTFN took back the mountain in its land claim settlement in 2006 and set out to restore the historic trails and build anew. Since 2006, Carcross/Tagish youth have gone to work each summer building trails and reconnecting with their ancestral lands through the Carcross Singletrack to Success Project.

We hope that you enjoy all of the beauty and adventure that our mountain and traditional territory have to offer.