Cabin rental · U.S. Forest Service · Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest · Lincoln, MT

Indian Meadows Guard Station

Indian Meadows Guard Station is located near the Copper Bowls snowmobile area and the Scapegoat Wilderness, offering exceptional opportunities for both motorized and non-motorized winter enthusiasts. The cabin is available for rent from December 1st to March 31st each year. Miles of Groomed snowmobile trails and renowned off trail riding in the nearby Copper Bowls are right out the door from this cabin. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers can explore the quiet of the Scapegoat Wilderness to the north with several trails and endless acres of cross-country terrain.

Cabin rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 siteNo hookupsPets okFires ok
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Indian MeadowsThe KitchenThe sleeping loftThe Guard Station
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov
4fires
active
Hogum Creek Road Piles Rx (prescribed burn) · 9 mi away · 5 acres
3 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Cabins1
This cabin is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
1PartialSprings8 / 8YesPrime

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The Guard Station is a 2 story log cabin that was built in the 1990s. It is still used by Forest Service Crews in the summer months and is well equipped with many of the basic necessities. There are 2 sets of bunkbeds and 2 single beds located in the upstairs loft, but guests should plan to bring in bedding or a sleeping bag. Pillows are provided, but no pillowcases. A propane stove and lights are available for use. Propane is provided for guests at this facility, but please use the available gas responsibly as resupply is logistically challenging in the winter months. Dishes, Pots, Pans, Cutlery, and basic kitchen tools are supplied at the cabin. There are cleaning supplies at the cabin and guests are encouraged to use them in order to keep the facility clean for the next visitors. Water is usually available from the hand pump outside the cabin, but in rare circumstances it may freeze. However, in these cases there is always plenty of snow to melt!

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Indian Meadows Guard Station20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.49 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.30 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.25 inches of precipitationApril: 1.46 inches of precipitationMay: 1.99 inches of precipitationJune: 2.62 inches of precipitationJuly: 0.82 inches of precipitationAugust: 1.04 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.33 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.63 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.35 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.49 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 22.0°F averageFebruary: 25.1°F averageMarch: 32.8°F averageApril: 39.7°F averageMay: 47.9°F averageJune: 55.6°F averageJuly: 62.6°F averageAugust: 61.4°F averageSeptember: 52.8°F averageOctober: 41.5°F averageNovember: 29.5°F averageDecember: 21.6°F average0 in1 in2 in3 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Lincoln RS, 9 miles from the campground at 4,575 feet, station USC00245040 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 19 inches a year.

Getting there

From Lincoln Mt. visitors will travel approximately 5 miles East on Hwy 200 to the Copper Creek Road #330. The snowmobile Trailhead is located approximately 2 miles North on Copper Creek Road #330 and is located on the west (left) side of the road. There is ample parking here for trailers and vehicles.

Nearest townLincoln, Montana
Coordinates47.0869° N, 112.6000° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Visitors will enjoy a very remote experience as this cabin’s location is not well travelled in the winter months.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Hogum Creek Road Piles Rx

    9 mi from the campground · 5 acres

  • Prescribed
    Glade Creek Piles Rx

    31 mi from the campground · 1 acres

  • Prescribed
    Rx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 23

    36 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Rx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 20

    37 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗36.6 mi
Outdoor gearPrewett Creek Inn and Fly Shop ↗36.9 mi
RV sales & serviceD & D RV Center ↗44.4 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

The town of Lincoln is about 20 miles of groomed snowmobile trail away and offers several options for eateries and local shops. Visitors can also ski or walk through the Blackfoot Pathways Sculpture Park on groomed trails, or visit the High Country Jerky store for delicious snacks and interesting items. Lincoln hosts the Race to the Sky dogsledding race in February and a Ski-joring event that usually takes place in January of each year.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Lolo National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

This cabin is located with sight of both the impressive bulk of Red Mountain to the west and the jagged spine of the Continental Divide to the east. Over a million acres of undeveloped Designated Wilderness lies to the North where the lake filled Scapegoat Wilderness ties in to the larger Bob Marshall Wilderness complex. There are many miles of ridges, creeks, lakes, and trails to explore. The steep slopes and abundant snowfall make for a scenic backdrop, but visitors should be aware that they also present a considerable danger of avalanche conditions.

Recreation

Recreation activities are primarily winter based at this location. Snowmobiling, Cross-country Skiing, Back Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing are the primary activities for visitors. Snowmobiling is prohibited in most of the area to the North and East of the Cabin. The Copper Creek Road is regularly groomed by the local snowmobile club and it provides access to the popular Copper Bowls at the base of Red Mountain. The groomed network of trails also extends to the South and access the town of Lincoln via the Sucker Cr. Road #1800. In early season visitors may find that they can hike on the nearby Mainline Trail #480 and the Landers Fork Trail #438 with relatively little snow cover. Heart Lake is located approximately 5 miles from the cabin on the Mainline Trail. The lake has strong populations of West slope Cutthroat trout and Arctic Grayling. The Landers fork and Copper Creek are also nearby streams with strong trout populations.

Guidebooks for Montana

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Montana
    Vicky Soderberg and Ken Soderberg, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Montana, Wyoming and Idaho Camping
    Becky Lomax, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Montana
    Kenneth L. Graham, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Indian Meadows Guard Station?

Sites at Indian Meadows Guard Station are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Indian Meadows Guard Station?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Indian Meadows Guard Station have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Indian Meadows Guard Station?

Indian Meadows Guard Station is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Indian Meadows Guard Station?

Yes, pets are allowed at Indian Meadows Guard Station. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Indian Meadows Guard Station?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Indian Meadows Guard Station?

Recreation activities are primarily winter based at this location. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Indian Meadows Guard Station?

Lincoln, Montana. The town of Lincoln is about 20 miles of groomed snowmobile trail away and offers several options for eateries and local shops.

Source: Getting there

What if Indian Meadows Guard Station is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Copper Creek Campground (1.1 mi, first-come), Aspen Grove Group Use Area (8.1 mi), and Big Nelson Campground (15.2 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby