Cabin rental · BLM · Garnet Winter Trails · Montana

Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals

Located in the center of a historic gold mining community, the Dahl and McDonald cabins offer a rustic getaway to those seeking relaxation and recreation in the Garnet Mountain Range. Located approximately 40 miles east of Missoula, Montana, Garnet Ghost Town is located in the center of the Garnet Winter Backcountry Byway, with more than 120 miles of groomed and ungroomed winter trails to explore. All roads to the cabins are not maintained or plowed for wheeled vehicle access between December and April. Visitors should be prepared to snowmobile or ski the 11 mile groomed trail to the cabins.

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Garnet in WinterMountain ViewsGarnet Main StreetSnowmobile Trail
Photos courtesy of MiFO BLM, BLM MiFO · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Cabins2
The 2 cabins here book on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
Fees$50 per night.

The Dahl and McDonald Cabins are both equipped with wood stoves for heat, as well as propane cook stoves, refrigerators and lighting. The cabins are not equipped with running water or electricity. Potable water is available year-round at a nearby hydrant. Each cabin has an outhouse available nearby. Each cabin is equipped with dishes, utensils and pots and pans. Firewood and a splitting axe are also provided. The beds have mattresses, but no bedding. Visitors should bring all food, bedding, garbage bags, dish soap and any other items needed for their stay.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.38 inches of precipitation, 15.5 inches of snowFebruary: 1.03 inches of precipitation, 7.2 inches of snowMarch: 0.76 inches of precipitation, 4.6 inches of snowApril: 1.13 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowMay: 1.86 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowJune: 2.16 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.83 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.62 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.91 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowOctober: 1.46 inches of precipitation, 1.9 inches of snowNovember: 1.55 inches of precipitation, 7.4 inches of snowDecember: 1.41 inches of precipitation, 13.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 19.1°F averageFebruary: 21.7°F averageMarch: 31.5°F averageApril: 38.8°F averageMay: 46.9°F averageJune: 54.8°F averageJuly: 61.3°F averageAugust: 60.2°F averageSeptember: 51.5°F averageOctober: 39.4°F averageNovember: 27.7°F averageDecember: 18.9°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Potomac, 11 miles from the recreation area point at 3,690 feet, station USC00246685 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 15 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 52 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Highway 200 (recommended). Turn South at the Garnet Range Road located between mile markers 22 and 23, approximately 30 miles east of Missoula. Parking is available for trailers and unloading snowmachines. Visitors must walk/ski/ride around the entrance gate, and follow the Range Road for approximately 11 miles to Garnet.

AreaRecreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 46.83° N, 113.34° W. Call the office before you drive.

Charges and cancellations

Any changes or cancellations to your reservation must be made no less than 2 business days prior to check-in. Administrative fees are non-refundable.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Rx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 23

    20 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Rx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 20

    21 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Rx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 37

    22 mi from the campground

  • Prescribed
    Hogum Creek Road Piles Rx

    40 mi from the campground · 5 acres

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

Explore

Natural features

Located in the heart of the Garnet Mountain Range, the Dahl and McDonald cabins offer easy access to sweeping views of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork River Valleys, with trails traveling through mixed larch and spruce forests.

Recreation

Explore the historic Garnet town site, with more than 30 preserved buildings to discover. Self-guided tour guides are available in each cabin for those looking to experience a step back into Montana history. The Dahl and McDonald cabins are situated in the center of the Garnet Winter Backcountry Byway system, which offers over 120 miles of groomed and ungroomed winter trails to explore. Snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing are all popular activities in the area.

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 Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals?

Sites at Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals?

$50 per night.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals have?

2 sites, including 2 cabins.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals?

Yes, pets are allowed at Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Garnet Ghost Town Winter Cabin Rentals?

Explore the historic Garnet town site, with more than 30 preserved buildings to discover. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation