Southern Cross

Montana's ghost towns span gold-rush gulches and the great homestead bust that emptied the Hi-Line.

Southern Cross is a ghost town in Deer Lodge County, Montana, United States, at an elevation of 7,000 feet, overlooking Georgetown Lake. Its population was 4 or 5 people as of 2008.

The on-the-ground condition of Southern Cross is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Southern Cross is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Southern Cross is roughly 46.2103, -113.2364 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.