Winter brings numerous recreational activities in the Philipsburg area. Enthusiasts stay at Southwest Montana Motel, The Inn at Philipsburg, and enjoy skiing, snowmobiling and fishing.
Discovery Ski Area is only 20 minutes away and has double diamond black slopes as well as gentler, groomed trails for the saner, more faint of heart skiers. Several groomed and un-groomed cross country ski trails are located around the ski area.
The Mount Hagen Nordic Ski Area near Anaconda is 45 minutes away and has 20 km of groomed ski trails. Cross country skiing, back country skiing, telemarking and snowshoeing can be enjoyed on the national forest lands surrounding the Philipsburg valley.
Snowmobilers enjoy hundreds of miles of trails on public lands. The local Anaconda Snowmobile Club is responsible for grooming many of the trails in the Anaconda and Georgetown Lake area. The club can be contacted at gjdonahue@juno.com or (406) 563-2918. The snowmobile trails in the Skalkaho area are accessible from just south of Philipsburg.
Ice fisherman can indulge their favorite sport at Georgetown Lake and other remote spots. Some local streams are open for taking whitefish and catch-and-release trout fishing. Complete fishing regulations are available through the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Summer recreation is even more varied! Georgetown Lake is popular for fishing, sailing and water skiing. The Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness has miles of back country trails for horseback riding and hiking.
Summer fishing ranges from remote mountain lakes to the streams that criss-cross the valley and on to the world famous blue ribbon trout stream of Rock Creek.
Mountain bikers, ATV riders and other trail users have access to many old mining roads in the national forest.
Three golf courses are located nearby the community of Anaconda, including the Jack Nicklaus designed Old Works Golf Course and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.
Fall brings the opening of the big game hunting season. The area is known for producing trophy elk and bighorn sheep, as well as some nice bucks, moose, mountain goats, and black bears.
Obtaining nonresident combination hunting licenses and special big game permits is available through Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Fishing is at its prime in the fall for catching some nice fat trout.
The Philipsburg Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is a great place to learn more about recreational opportunities on the nearby public lands.
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