Elk Creek Cabins
Elk Creek Cabins are open from November through April, offering a rustic retreat for winter sports enthusiasts. Guests must be prepared to snowmobile, snowshoe or ski at least 15 miles from the parking area to the cabin, and they are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. These cabins offer a few amenities, but guests will need to bring some of their own equipment and supplies to make their stay comfortable.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Cabin | Gravel | 10 / 3 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
Cabin 1 can accommodate up to 10 people on three double beds and four cots with mattresses. The kitchen is equipped with a dry sink, propane stove and refrigerator. A fireplace, couch, chairs and dining table with chairs are in the front room. A wood stove is located off the kitchen for heating. Cabin 2 has two bedrooms that can accommodate a total of eight people. One single bed with mattress, three cots and two additional mattresses are provided. The kitchen is equipped with a dry sink, propane stove, table and chairs, a couch and wood stove. A picnic area and an outhouse with a vault toilet are located outside. Both cabins come equipped with some cookware and utensils for cooking and eating. Firewood for both cabins is provided in a woodshed, but may need to be split. An axe and splitting maul are provided. Neither cabin has electricity or water. Guests must bring their own water as well as garbage bags for packing out trash. Bedding, lighting and emergency supplies are not provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Lowman, ttake State Highway 21 east approximately 40 miles to Cape Horn. Park in the plowed parking lot and snowmobile/ski/snowshoe on the Stanley-Landmark Road (FS579) for approximately 15 miles to Elk Creek.
| Nearest town | Lowman, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 44.4197° N, 115.4028° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Lowman Wui
22 mi from the campground
- PrescribedMeadow Marsh Rx
49 mi from the campground · 70 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 1.3 miNorth Fork Elk Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 5.4 miBluebunch / Bear Valley Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1.3 miNorth Fork Elk Creek ↗7.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.7 miClear Creek / Bear Valley Snow ↗31.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 3 miWyoming-Fir Cr ↗8.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3.1 miMountain Meadows3.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.8 miPorter Creek ↗10.4 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.9 miStanley/ Landmark Trail, Rd #1 ↗9.5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.3 miNorth Fork Elk Creek Trailhead ↗Boise National Forest
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
This campground sits inside Boise National Forest.
- inBoise National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,526,862 acres
- 13.5 miSalmon-Challis National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 4,396,382 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
Elk Creek Cabins are located in beautiful but remote Bear Valley at an elevation of 6,400 feet. They are adjacent to the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness and scenic Elk Creek. The cabins are situated in a high mountain meadow dotted with Douglas fir and lodgepole pine amid the peaks of the Sawtooth Range. Winter highs are typically in the 20-30 degree range, with lows averaging -15 to +5 degrees. Deep snow blankets the landscape during the winter months. Wildlife enthusiasts can watch carefully for snowshoe hares or ermine with their white winter coats. Deer, elk, moose, red squirrels, coyote and lynx are all active in the winter.
Recreation
Thirty miles of groomed trails surround the cabins, offering excellent snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Skiers and snowshoers can enjoy a backcountry adventure in the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness, but snowmobiles are not allowed.
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 Elk Creek Cabins?
Sites at Elk Creek Cabins are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Elk Creek Cabins?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Elk Creek Cabins have?
2 sites, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Elk Creek Cabins?
Thirty miles of groomed trails surround the cabins, offering excellent snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Elk Creek Cabins?
Lowman, Idaho.
Source: Getting there
What if Elk Creek Cabins is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bear Valley Campground (1.7 mi, first-come), Fir Creek Campground (5.5 mi, first-come), and Deer Flat Campground (7.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby