Sluice Boxes State Park stretches along Belt Creek in Cascade County, Montana, where water has carved a dramatic limestone canyon through the Little Belt Mountains over millennia. Spanning 1,451 acres, the park follows an abandoned Milwaukee Railroad grade through a narrow gorge — giving hikers a mostly flat, accessible trail that winds past towering rock walls, natural tunnels, and the rushing creek below.

The park’s name comes from the canyon’s resemblance to the wooden sluice boxes once used by gold miners who worked these hills in the 1800s. That mining and railroad history is still visible along the trail, with old rail ties, tunnel remnants, and evidence of past mining operations dotting the route.

Belt Creek is the main attraction for anglers, offering solid trout fishing for brown and rainbow trout in clear mountain water. The roughly five-mile trail along the old railroad grade is ideal for day hiking, with multiple creek crossings that can range from ankle-deep to waist-high depending on spring runoff. Waterproof footwear is not optional here — it is essential.

Wildlife watchers may spot mule deer, eagles, and the occasional mountain goat on the canyon walls above. Late June through September offers the best conditions, after snowmelt subsides and creek crossings become manageable.

There are no developed campgrounds within the park, but primitive camping is permitted along the trail. Visitors should bring everything they need, including water, as there are no facilities once you enter the canyon. The nearest services are in the town of Belt, about four miles west.

Explore Nearby

• Helena–Lewis and Clark National Forest — National Forest in Montana
• Limekiln Trail — Public Land in Montana
• Collar Peak — Public Land in Montana