The Road to Salt Lake City!

 July 3-8, 2025

Sadly, our time in Glacier National Park was over.  Brandon’s family packed up and headed out early as they had a long drive back to Salt Lake City.  Meanwhile, we took a slower start to the day. as our target was Anaconda, Montana – some 230 miles away.  Once our goodbyes were said, we finished packing up the camper and getting hitched up before walking to the Lazy Bear Café.  

A cup of joe and a muffin was the perfect breakfast before heading out.  Once we finally got on the road, we were treated to a beautiful drive through Montana -- some of the prettiest country you can imagine.

After arriving at Copper Court RV Park in Anaconda, MT, we settled in and picked up a few groceries before grilling steak for dinner and kicking up our feet for the evening.  For our one full day in Anaconda, the weather was anything but predictable!  It rotated between being sunny one minute and then rainy the next.  While it was sunny, we explored the downtown area a bit, walking past First National Bank, the first bank built in the city.  Shortly after its grand opening in 1889, there was a failed attempt to rob the bank.  The pair of robbers' attempt to blow up the safe failed; however, they did succeed in waking up the townspeople and being apprehended!  

                 

Slag piles, in the process of being covered and seeded.

Anaconda is well known as the location for one of the largest copper smelting plants in the world.  The plant operated from 1883 – 1980, receiving 500 train cars of ore per day from the copper mine in Butte, MT.  Today, the only evidence it was here is the huge chimney, a couple of kettles used for melting ore and a mountain of black slag. The city’s icon is the chimney from this plant.  It is 60 feet in diameter at its top and slightly taller than the Washington Monument at nearly 583 feet!

When we were in Montana a couple of years ago, I had picked up a bottle of Gallivanting Goat’s Huckleberry Vinaigrette.  I just loved it and have become obsessed with finding it again.  Throughout our time in Montana, I’ve been searching the grocery stores' shelves.  It took a trip into Butte, but I finally found it!  Dick is patient with me and I barely noticed his eye roll with my obsession.  I have to say, he is equally patient with my perpetual search for quilt shops.

Not a great shot, but a Bullock's Oriole came to visit us!

During our visit to Butte, we couldn’t help but notice evidence of the copper mining that operated there.  The scarred mountains from this industry can’t escape being noticed. 

The day ended with a bang!  Actually, it ended with lots of bangs, as it was the 4th of July.  Between Anaconda’s amazing fireworks show and the impressive number of neighborhood shows going on, the entire horizon was filled with bursts of color!

Our last stop before arriving in SLC was Idaho Falls, ID.  Every Saturday, the city has a farmers market, something I never can resist! Although it had been a travel day, we still managed to get unhitched and hike the two miles to the downtown area in time to purchase some fresh apricots and do a little window shopping.

Originally a big fur trading area

The farmers market is right in the same area as the falls.  These are the most unusual falls I’ve ever seen.  In searching for a way to harness energy, they embellished the natural falls in such a way that the falls actually run parallel to the river.  

Idaho Falls’ Greenbelt Trail is such a nice feature of the city.  It is a little more than ten miles long, following the Snake River through town.  Believe it or not, I found a quilt shop along the trail where I purchased the perfect fat quarters for a new ditty bag I want to make.  

Coffee shops are another weak spot of mine.  While strolling the downtown area, we stopped for a cold brew at Villa Coffeehouse – good coffee – TERRIBLE music.  It wasn’t long before we were back on the trail again!  

We took full advantage of the campground having direct access to the Greenbelt Trail.  The next day, we decided to take the trail back into town, this time checking out Timeless Taproom. It was a beautiful day for enjoying a different type of cold brew!  We found sitting at one of their shaded, outdoor patio tables while watching the world stroll by was just what this hot, late afternoon called for.  Another two miles back to the camper, we finished off the evening in the Adirondack chairs and taking in the fresh air. The RV park where we stayed offers sites with casitas which, when combined with the Adirondack chairs, more than make up for their lack of trees.  Before leaving, we did take one last, short stroll down the Greenbelt Trail.  A short distance from the RV park, there is a public park where we sat by the Snake River and took in the scene.

Fully rested up and more than ready for more time with Josh, Eva, and Zoe, we headed a little farther south to Salt Lake City!

Next up:  SLC!