Skip to Main Content

Butte, Montana: Lake of Death: Berkeley Pit Overlook

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Berkeley Pit Viewing Stand

Address:
200 Shields Ave., Butte, MT
Directions:
Berkeley Pit Viewing Stand. Northeast edge of the city. I-90/15 exit 126. Drive north through town on Montana St., turn right onto Park St., and drive a mile east. On the left.
Hours:
Daily Mar-Nov 10-5, or by appt. info@pitwatch.org (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
406-723-3177
Admission:
Adults $5.
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

The Pit.

Lake of Death: Berkeley Pit Overlook

Pay at the entrance, walk through a tunnel, and emerge on the other side to a viewing platform over a vast hole in the ground filled with toxic water. It's like Crater Lake, except it's a lake of poison.

Roadsideamerica.com Report...

Visitor Tips and News About Lake of Death: Berkeley Pit Overlook

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Berkeley Pit observation tunnel.

Lake of Death: Berkeley Pit Overlook

Radon gas mines in Boulder, a rancid smelting smokestack in Anaconda, and here, a giant pit of poison in an old blast mine. Southwest Montana should start advertising itself as the land of pollution tourism at this rate! The plaques on the viewing panel are showing their age, and some of the information is outdated, but employees are more than happy to answer questions.

[Harmon, 07/24/2023]

We're shedding slightly acidic tears at the memory of our own Mon-toxic-tana tour in the 1990s.

The Pit.

Berkeley Pit Overlook

A very interesting look at Butte's mining history. The landscape of the mine can only be described as horrifically beautiful. Worth visiting.

[Lisa W., 07/12/2013]
Pay to See Toxic Waste

For years we've been praising the tourism virtues of the Berkeley Pit in Butte, Montana, which at one time was America's Largest Truck-Operated Open Pit Copper Mine, and now is a 500-acre lake of deadly drainage. In June 2006, an "Interpretive Pavilion" opened on the site of the old Berkeley Pit Viewing Stand, with picnic tables, a snack bar, and restrooms (replacing the old porta-potties.) Luxury comes at a price, however, as the city charges two dollars to come in and take a peek.

...

[05/14/2006] Complete News Story


Nearby Offbeat Places

Piccadilly Museum - Relics of TransportationPiccadilly Museum - Relics of Transportation, Butte, MT - < 1 mi.
Statue of Auditor, the Strip Mine DogStatue of Auditor, the Strip Mine Dog, Butte, MT - 1 mi.
Our Lady of the RockiesOur Lady of the Rockies, Butte, MT - 2 mi.
In the region:
Old Pitt, Elephant Killed by Lightning, Dillon, MT - 55 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Montana Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

Easter Island Moai in America (Mar 25-31, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings