Thompson Park

Thompson Park. Beaver Ponds Trailhead. Welcome to Thompson Park, a 3,500-acre municipal recreation area with a story to tell. The Park offers unique opportunities to view past mining activity, rock formations, scenic vistas, and wildlife. The Park is jointly managed by the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow County and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. , Trails Galore , Over 25 miles of non-motorized trails are available for hiking, horseback riding or mountain biking. The historic Milwaukee Railroad (Milwaukee Road) , the backbone of the park trails , is a gently sloping, 4.5-mile trail that can be accessed from several trailheads or any of the picnic areas. Along the route are two tunnels, a 600-foot steel trestle and great views of the Continental Divide. , A Philanthropist’s Gift , Thompson Park began as one of William Boyce Thompson’s many philanthropic endeavors. Born in 1869 in Virginia City and raised in Butte, William worked in his father's mines and later went to college in New York to become a mining engineer. He became a self-made millionaire and financier and founded Newmont Mining Corporation. Thompson's original gift of land was combined with federal lands in 1922 by act of Congress to form the expansive park of today. , The Work of Many , The Works Progress Administration made major park improvements beginning in 1935. Over the years civic groups such as the Rotary, Lion's and Kiwanis clubs have assisted with park development. Volunteer efforts and recent funding from the Natural Resource Damage Program, Recreation Trails Program, Margaret T. Biddle Foundation, Newmont Mining and Northwestern Energy, continue to make Thompson Park a great place to visit.