Basin, Montana is a small mining town located in central Montana. In its heyday, late 1800’s and early 1900’s Basin had a population of over 12,000. Today the population is approximately 300 although there are at least that many folks in the hills and valleys surrounding Basin. Basin Creek and Cataract Creek both meet the Boulder river in Basin. There are folks still working mining claims in the mountains around Basin.
The Montana Artists Refuge began in Basin in 1999. It attracted artists from all over the world. Today, many artists, musicians, writers and poets live in Basin. The town has a lively, eclectic feel and one of our goals is to continue in the tradition of the earlier Montana Artists Refuge by creating places for artists to visit and work.
To learn more about Basin and the surrounding area, visit www.discoverjeffersonmt.org and https://southwestmt.com/communities/basin/
- Silver Saddle Local café is open every day but Monday
- Post office. If you will be here for a month and want mail, visit the post office and talk with postmistress about general delivery
- Boulder About 7 miles northeast of Basin—2 restaurants; gas station; grocery store; liquor store, laundromat
- Boulder Hot Springs, Spa, and Retreat Center is located just outside Boulder on Hwy 69. This hot springs has mineral-laden, pure geothermal waters that are used for the indoor plunges, the outdoor swimming pool, and the natural mineral steam rooms. To learn more visit: https://boulderhotsprings.com
- Butte Located 25 miles west of Basin has all the amenities of a mid-size city and is home to one of the nation’s largest National Historic Landmark districts. For more information, check out https://butteelevated.com
- Helena Montana state capitol, 40 miles north of Basin. Grocery stores, including a Costco; Myrna Loy theater for movies and live events; Archie Bray Ceramic Center- great grounds for walking around as well as a gallery; Holter Museum of Art; One Plus One art gallery; Montana Historical Society Museum; and more. Spring Meadow Lake/Ten Mile Creek Park is a nice walk/hike, and there are many hikes up Mount Helena. https://helenamt.com
- Local Hikes Bernice, Sunny Side, Sullivan’s Gulch, Basin Creek and Cataract Creek- see brochure in your unit. There are lots of dogs running the streets of Basin, so it doesn’t hurt to have a walking stick with you when you are walking. You can also hike the Elkhorn Mountains, with 10,000 ft. peaks, just out of Boulder. Don’t forget sun block and you should probably have bear spray if you are planning on going into the mountains
- Yellowstone National Park is about a three-hour drive; Glacier National Park about three and a half
- Radon Mines There are only four radon health mines in the United States, and all four of them are located within twenty minutes’ drive of each other in the Boulder-Basin area south of Helena. For information about the radon mines, go to https://helenamt.com/2020/08/radon-health-mines-of-boulder-basin-montana/
Montana Artist Refuge
