Trip Planner
The story of Bearcreek, a historic coal-mining town between Red Lodge and Belfry, is one of resilience. Once a bustling community of 2,000, Bearcreek boomed in the early 1900s as the center of a thriving coal-mining district, known for its high-quality coal.
On February 27, 1943, tragedy struck when Montana’s worst mining disaster claimed over 75 lives, leaving the town forever changed. Over the years, businesses closed, buildings were moved or demolished, and Bearcreek dwindled into a near ghost town.
Today, remnants of Bearcreek’s past endure, and just under 100 Montanans call this place home. The Smith Mine Disaster Memorial honors the miners who perished, while the Bearcreek Bank — now on the National Register of Historic Places — stands as a symbol of the town’s storied history.
The Bear Creek Saloon & Steakhouse is a must-stop, touting the finest charbroiled steaks in the area and the famous, and always entertaining, pig races mentioned above.
Each fall, Bearcreek becomes a hub for raptors and their handlers during the Montana Falconer Symposium — the state’s premier gathering of falconers and birds of prey devotees.
Go "hog wild" in Bearcreek at the Bear Creek Saloon & Steakhouse, home to the famous Bear Creek Downs Pig Races, held from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Thursday through Sunday at 7 p.m. With fewer than 100 residents, Bearcreek’s unique status makes betting on pig races a legal and lively tradition.
