Taft

Taft is a ghost town in Mineral County, Montana, tucked into the Bitterroot Range close to the Idaho border. Its existence was tied directly to the railroad era — at its peak around 1908 it was a busy railroad town, and it carried the name of William H. Taft, the era's prominent political figure. Its position along the historic Mullan Road corridor made it a practical stop during the period of rapid rail expansion through the region.

Today Taft is a quiet relic, and visitors should arrive with modest expectations. Little infrastructure survives from its heyday, and the appeal lies more in the historic and scenic setting than in any dramatic standing ruins. The location near the Idaho border and within mountain terrain means access can be limited in winter months, with the best window for a visit running through the warmer half of the year.