Montreal: Mining History, Trails and Waterscapes

Montreal is shaped by its mining history, which can be explored in different ways: in the city’s layout, in historic buildings and on trails that pass remnants of ore mining. There are also river landscapes and opportunities to enjoy the water. Which aspect interests you most can help guide your choice of vacation rental and the focus of your vacation days.

A City with a Mining History

In 1921, the Olgebay-Norton Mining Company designed the City of Montreal as a place to live for 700 miners and their families, who were to work at the new shaft of the Montreal Mine. The city is characterized by white-trimmed houses, curving streets and well-kept green spaces. These features make the city’s design as a place to live a distinct part of its local history: Montreal is not only connected with mining, but was also designed for the people who were expected to work there.

Another historic building is the New City Hall, built in 1940. It is a contributing building in the Montreal Company Location Historic District and is designed in the Moderne Art Deco style. Anyone interested in architecture and local history can consider this building, alongside the city’s layout, as a separate point of reference for Montreal’s development. The City of Montreal is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Montreal Mine is also part of this historical picture. It closed in 1962 after approximately 100 years of operation. The Montreal Iron Mine is considered the deepest iron ore mine in the world. The large tailings piles opposite Gile Falls consist of waste rock from historic mining at shaft No. 5 of the Montreal Mine. The mine, its remains and the tailings piles point to different aspects of ore mining; cross-country skiers on the Montreal Ski Trails also pass the remains of the old Montreal iron ore mine.

The Hamilton Club adds to the history of community life. It was designed as a recreation and social center for the Montreal community. Historically, it housed a library, an auditorium, film projectors and four bowling lanes. Its former uses give a sense of the different community amenities that came together in the building. This is a distinct historical focus alongside the mine and the city’s design.

Ski Trails and Bike Trail: Different Ways to Experience Montreal

The Montreal Ski Trails are an 11 km trail system in Montreal and Pence. Access to the main trail is behind the Rose Wreath building on Highway 77 in Montreal. The trails run through the Montreal River Watergap; along the way, cross-country skiers pass the remains of the old Montreal iron ore mine. This route brings winter recreation and mining history together. If you want to include cross-country skiing in your trip, you can take this specific trail length and the stated access point into account when choosing the focus of your vacation.

Another option is the Pines & Mines Trail 13. It starts at Montreal City Hall, heads south and passes the Gile Flowage. The trail can be ridden along Hogsback Road. This gives you a different set of landmarks for planning your trip than the ski trails: the focus here is on the start at City Hall, the route south and the Gile Flowage. The two routes can be distinguished by your preferred activity—cross-country skiing or biking—without combining them into a single route.

River and Water as Further Features of the Area

The Gile Flowage covers 3,400 acres. Its size is a striking reference point in Montreal’s waterscape. The Pines & Mines Trail 13 passes by it, and there is also a boat launch at Gile Park. Fees are $5 per day or $25 per year. If you want to plan your vacation days around an activity on the water, you can take this option into account when choosing your vacation rental. The trail and the boat launch are different starting points for planning your trip.

The West Fork of the Montreal River is also part of the landscape: it flows alongside the picnic area at Albert C. Morzenti Sr. Memorial Park. In addition to places connected with mining history and the trails, the river and picnic area offer further themes to consider for your stay. Depending on whether you are most interested in Montreal’s history, cross-country skiing, biking or the waterscape, you can choose the right focus for your vacation days.

Discover More Places

If you’d like to expand your search to include other destinations, you can also find pages for Hurley and Iron Belt.

For the broader travel overview: Iron County.