Berkeley Pit
Berkeley Pit
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
353 reviews
Excellent
110
Very good
151
Average
71
Poor
11
Terrible
10
Jesena
Seattle, WA349 contributions
Sep 2020
We would have loved to see it, besides climing up the steep area to peek through the fence. There is a visitor center where you can pay a fee to see more of the pit and learn about it's history, but whoever is supposed to work there, probably decided to go fishing. We were there at the time it was supposed to be open and during early afternoon, but like others, we were pretty disappointed that it was closed without a reason. One of the guys also visiting said he even called earlier in the day to see how long they would be open and we all arrived 3h before closing time. Oh well...
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael H
4 contributions
Sep 2022
While the $3 admission fee won't send me to the poorhouse, it still seemed a little steep simply for the privilege of looking at what is essentially a giant hole in the ground filled with water. Would have preferred a few more exhibits/displays to provide more context and information. Good photo op, however.
Written September 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
froglag
Spokane, WA1,612 contributions
Aug 2021
Interesting part of Butte, Anaconda mining history. Berkeley pit shows the amount of work and effort it is taking to clean up the toxic waste of the mining of years ago. Interesting how they have noise makers to keep birds, and wild animals from wandering onto the water of the pit.
Written September 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise
10 contributions
Jun 2023
Interesting view and piece of history of mining in the US, but you'll have to do the research yourself. The display boards are limited in the information they provide. Really just a viewpoint, not a "tour." The entry fee seems a bit steep ($5) for what it is.
Written June 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark H
Fond du Lac, WI4,428 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
Butte is a tough hardscrabble city. It’s the Appalachia of Montana.
I’ve been there before, but I’ve never spent time exploring and learning more about its story.
It’s home to one of the largest EPA Superfund sites, Berkley Lake. The former open pit mine is now filled toxic water and is 1700 feet deep. I spent $5 to go to the lookout of the mine. It’s one of the city’s top attractions.
It's worth the $5 and 30 minutes of your time.
I’ve been there before, but I’ve never spent time exploring and learning more about its story.
It’s home to one of the largest EPA Superfund sites, Berkley Lake. The former open pit mine is now filled toxic water and is 1700 feet deep. I spent $5 to go to the lookout of the mine. It’s one of the city’s top attractions.
It's worth the $5 and 30 minutes of your time.
Written July 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
THINGS2LIVE4
Rocky River, OH2,681 contributions
Sep 2020 • Solo
Butte, Montana has the feel of mid western west belt city. There is a lot to see and do here. The mining museum is really neat. Driving through Butte feels like driving through Pittsburgh, and I say that in a good way.
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Becky P
Tacoma, WA67 contributions
Aug 2020 • Solo
This place is an awesome and unique sight! Must see in Butte. The thing is massive. Worth the $3 fee. Check it out. Trust me. It’s worth it! Pair it with the Mining museum for a full understanding of the importance of mining in Butte’s history.
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DayTrip26319
Bigfork, Montana100 contributions
The pit contains a poluted lake which you can't tell is poluted. There is a waterfall on the N/E side of the lake and the layers in the hills around it are neat. There is a bunch of history behind it that you can view at the observation area after going through a walking tunnel through a hill to get there.
Written May 13, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MongoSchwartz
Traverse City, MI667 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
Viewing the Berkeley Pit and reading the displays and listening to the recordings you would think the mining companies were environmental stewards and great corporate citizens. After all, they say, they razed whole communities to make way for their environmental scars and, we are told, the citizens *loved* being displaced. And then, one photograph actually shows a gorgeous classic building being buried in "waste" material.
There is little negative reference to the highly acidic water that has built up in the pit, only that that the levels shouldn't be a concern until 2023 (????!!!!).
You would think all is good here in the "pit." I thought, rather, I was seeing Dante's fourth circle of hell: the one related to avarice.
There is little negative reference to the highly acidic water that has built up in the pit, only that that the levels shouldn't be a concern until 2023 (????!!!!).
You would think all is good here in the "pit." I thought, rather, I was seeing Dante's fourth circle of hell: the one related to avarice.
Written September 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jimichongaJC
New Bern, NC673 contributions
Jul 2021
The sheer size and acknowledged toxicity of this massive mining pit is almost awe-inspiring. Nearly impossible to imagine the millions of tons of ore and scrim that were excavated to make this unnatural lake that's nearly a mile deep. Equally stunning is the astounding volume of water presently being treated (and released into river as clean water!). And just to prove how intrepid this copper mining mecca is, you can see the nearby mining works just east of the pit that surely will create another pit of deadly slurry as the years roll by!
Written July 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Please provide hours and admission fee information for a visit in late June.
Written May 19, 2018
Don’t mind Richard & gerleg12, they were never taught manners or how to even be helpful to a lady. Hours are from 8am to 8pm Mon-Sat. 8-6 on Sunday. Have s great summer! Though I’d call anyways like girlyman said just in case. Sign at the entrance said closes at 5
Written June 17, 2019
?? Diese Umweltsauerei ist genau der Grund, weshalb ich niemals nach Montana reisen werde (obwohl ich schon mehrfach von dort wohnenden Verwandten eingeladen wurde
Written August 14, 2017
Oh come on! There's a lot more to Montana than the Berkeley Pit!
Written August 16, 2017
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