Cabin rental · BLM · Salmon Field Office (BLM) · Salmon, ID

Tarpons Roost Cabin

Tarpons Roost Cabin provides a fantastic modern place to stay while recreating in the scenic Beaverhead Mountains of central Idaho. The cabin is situated along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail near Lemhi Pass. During the summer months the cabin can be accessed by passenger vehicle from the access road south of Lemhi Pass. The Continental Divide Trail is directly across the meadow in-front of the cabin, making it easy to go for a hike and explore the area.

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Tarpons Roost Cabin 2Snowmobile to Tarpons RoostSnowmobile to Tarpons RoostWinter at Tarpons Roost
Photos courtesy of BLM · Recreation.gov

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

Amenities & rules

CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The cabin built in 2024 has two twin over queen bunk beds and can sleep up to six people. A wood stove is available for heat, and firewood and an axe are provided from October 1-June 15. You will need to provide your own firewood from June 16-September 30. An outdoor vault toilet is provided near the cabin. A cabin contains a basic-equipped kitchen, a large table with benches and stools, and a variety of cooking and eating utensils. The kitchen has a propane cooking stove and a small sink for wastewater. Guests will need to bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning, as well as bedding, towels, toilet paper, soap, matches, food and other necessities. Guests should bring their own bedding, food, toilet paper, towels, flashlights, garbage bags and 16-ounce propane canisters for the stove and lantern. All garbage and food must be packed out and guests should clean the cabin prior to leaving. The cabin has no electricity or running water. It is recommended that guests bring their own water supply for drinking, cooking and washing.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Tarpons Roost Cabin10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.58 inches of precipitation, 6.7 inches of snowFebruary: 0.37 inches of precipitation, 3.8 inches of snowMarch: 0.47 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowApril: 0.77 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowMay: 1.29 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJune: 1.63 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.77 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.60 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.79 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 0.81 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowNovember: 0.67 inches of precipitation, 3.3 inches of snowDecember: 0.73 inches of precipitation, 6.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 19.6°F averageFebruary: 26.0°F averageMarch: 37.5°F averageApril: 45.2°F averageMay: 54.0°F averageJune: 61.0°F averageJuly: 69.0°F averageAugust: 66.7°F averageSeptember: 57.4°F averageOctober: 44.6°F averageNovember: 31.2°F averageDecember: 20.9°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Salmon-Ksra, 17 miles from the recreation area point at 3,953 feet, station USC00108080 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 9 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 22 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Salmon travel south-east on Highway 28 for about 20 miles before turning east at Tendoy. Follow the Agency Creek Road east for about 12 miles to Lemhi Pass. Take the first right and follow road south for about two miles before reaching the cabin.

Nearest townSalmon, Idaho
AreaRecreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 45.01° N, 113.61° W. Call the office before you drive.

Good to know

  • Water is not available at the cabin.
  • A propane lantern should also be available, but fuel is not supplied for the lantern or cook stove.

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Sand Creek

    40 mi from the campground · 35,520 acres · 83% contained

  • Prescribed
    Scf Nz Pile Burn Rx

    45 mi from the campground · 34 acres

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

Explore

Natural features

The cabin is located along the Continental Divide separating the East-West draining watersheds of the United States. It is found in the Beaverhead Mountains of central Idaho at the edge of a grassy meadow in a forest dominated by lodgepole pine trees at an elevation of 7,500 feet. The area surrounding the cabin is abundant with wildlife, history, and recreation opportunities.

Recreation

The area hosts a vast array of seasonal recreation opportunities including hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, Off-Highway-Vehicle riding, big game hunting, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing to name a few. The Continental Divide Trail passes close to the cabin and long-distance thru hikers can be seen daily from July to September. The Lemhi Pass National Historic Landmark provides numerous historic and cultural interpretive opportunities. The surrounding area in Idaho and Montana is well known for its abradant wildlife and big game hunting opportunities.

Nearby

Lemhi Pass National Historic Landmark along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. This is the point where the party first crossed the continental divide on August 12, 1805. Continental Divide National Scenic Trail that spans over 3,100 miles from Mecio to Canada. This long-distance trail sees thousands of visitors yearly from all over the world to attempt a complete thru hike or enjoy smaller sections.

Guidebooks for Idaho

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Tarpons Roost Cabin?

Sites at Tarpons Roost Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Tarpons Roost Cabin?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Tarpons Roost Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Tarpons Roost Cabin?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Tarpons Roost Cabin?

The area hosts a vast array of seasonal recreation opportunities including hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, Off-Highway-Vehicle riding, big game hunting, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing to name a few. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Tarpons Roost Cabin?

Salmon, Idaho. Lemhi Pass National Historic Landmark along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Source: Getting there