Trail Creek Cabin
Trail Creek Cabin, built in 1924, was the original ranger station for the Bozeman Ranger District. It is available year round, offering guests the chance to enjoy summer or winter recreation. Guests must travel on foot, horseback, motorized vehicle (under 50”) or mountain bike. In winter, skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles may be used to reach the cabin. The best route for arriving on foot or horseback is about 2 miles, while motorized vehicles (under 50”), and snowmobiles have a 5-mile route. To get to the cabin on motorcycle or ATV via Goose Cr Trail No. 439, the dates allowed are from 6/16 to 12/1 annually.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Partial | 4 / – | Yes |
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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Fees | Request for refunds or cancellations must be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service in accordance with their policy. Changes to online reservations can only be made via the NRRS Contact Center: 1-877-444-6777. |
The cabin has bunk beds with mattresses to accommodate up to four people. A wood stove is available to heat the cabin. Other amenities include a table with chairs, propane lantern, propane two-burner cookstove, (bring propane canisters), shovel, bucket, mop and broom. The cabin is stocked with firewood from october through may for indoor fires only. An axe and splitting maul are provided. Please be conservative of the firewood as it is extremely difficult to replace. Gather firewood for outdoor fires from the forest nearby. Do not use the provided firewood for outdoor fires. A campfire ring and an outhouse with vault toilet are located outside. A horse corral is provided for four animals, and guests who use it must clean it before leaving. Feed must be weed seed free, and out of state horses must have a current Coggins test. Water sources are unreliable due to stream flows. There may be no nearby water source. The cabin does not offer electricity or water.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Newman Creek, foot, ski and horse travel are accommodated. To reach the trailhead, travel south off Interstate 90 (exit 316) on Trail Creek Road for approximately 7 miles, then west on Newman Creek Road to the trailhead (1 mile).
| Nearest town | Livingston, Montana |
| Coordinates | 45.5694° N, 110.8356° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- The cabin is located in a remote area that is not accessible by car or truck.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedNorth Bridger Brackett Creek Pile Burning Rx
19 mi from the campground
- PrescribedShenango Pile Rx
21 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Rite Bobbin ↗ | 10.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Valley Trailer Sales Inc ↗ | 20.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 8.6 miPalisade Falls Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 9.1 mi
- 9.1 miBlackmore Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miTrail Creek4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miGoose Creek1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.6 miBear Lakes0.8 mi trail · hiking, motorcycle, ATV, e-bike
- 1.7 miChestnut Mountain ↗7.2 mi trail · hiking
- 1.9 miNorth Trail Creek Divide1.5 mi trail · hiking
- 2.4 miMystical Bear3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.7 miGoose Creek Trailhead ↗Custer Gallatin 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
Custer Gallatin National Forest begins about 7.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.1 miCuster Gallatin National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,412,203 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
On the National Register nearby
- Malmborg SchoolBuilding · Bozeman · 7.1 mi
- Rolfson HouseBuilding · Livingston · 10.1 mi
- Lower Bridger SchoolBuilding · Bozeman · 10.3 mi
Natural features
The cabin is located in the foothills of the Gallatin Mountains at an elevation of 6,200 feet. It is situated on the edge of a meadow in front of a stand of lodgepole pine. The front porch of the cabin offers views of the meadow with the mountain peaks beyond. A small intermittent creek flows behind the cabin. Guests may catch a glimpse of a bear, moose, elk or deer. Several bird species can also be spotted.
Recreation
The cabin is located along a trail system that connects the Yellowstone and Bozeman Districts. A hiking and equestrian trail at the end of Goose Creek Road leads to several alpine lakes. Snowy conditions in winter provide ample opportunities to snowshoers, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. As an addition to non-mortorized use, the Trail Creek Cabin provides wonderful opportunites for the motorized use community. In additon to accessing the cabin by atv, motorcyle or utvs under 50", the area has several opportunities for looped riding trials as well as scenic overlooks. This cabin can also be accessed via the Bear Canyon Trail by motorized (under 50") use. Please see Travel Plan for the latest seasonal trail restrictions.
Guidebooks for Montana
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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 Trail Creek Cabin?
Sites at Trail Creek Cabin 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 Trail Creek Cabin?
Request for refunds or cancellations must be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service in accordance with their policy. Changes to online reservations can only be made via the NRRS Contact Center: 1-877-444-6777.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Trail Creek Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Trail Creek Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Trail Creek Cabin?
The cabin is located along a trail system that connects the Yellowstone and Bozeman Districts. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Trail Creek Cabin?
Livingston, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Trail Creek Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Hood Creek Campground (8.7 mi), Chisholm Campground (8.8 mi), and Langohr Campground (9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby