Yellow Mule Cabin
Yellow Mule Cabin was built in 1920 and was once used as a ranger station. This cabin is unique because it was constructed according to the builder's preference instead of being built with a standard Forest Service design. It is eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The cabin provides a rustic, backcountry retreat year-round. A few basic amenities are provided, so guests should be prepared to bring most of the supplies and gear they need for an enjoyable experience. Summer access is via off-road vehicle, motorcycle or hiking for 8 miles. Winter access is by snowmobile for 14 miles.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | People / vehicles |
|---|---|
| 001 | 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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
This 12 x 14 single-room cabin can sleep up to three people and comes with three cots. A wood stove is provided for heat. Basic cookware, utensils, a propane lantern and a dining table with chairs are available. An outhouse with a vault toilet is located just outside. Water, electricity, cooking facilities and firewood are not provided. Guests must bring their own water supply and trash bags to pack out trash, as well as bedding, matches, first aid supplies, extra toilet paper and battery-operated lanterns or flashlights.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Bozeman, MT: Drive west towards Four Corners, then south towards Big Sky/West Yellowstone on US Highway 191 for about 40 miles to the Big Sky turnoff. From here there are three different travel options depending on the season and mode of travel. 1.
| Nearest town | Bozeman, Montana |
| Coordinates | 45.1847° N, 111.4164° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- This remote cabin is not accessible by car.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedShenango Pile Rx
21 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx Hell'S Canyon
30 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 | Grizzly Outfitters ↗ | 7.4 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 39.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Valley Trailer Sales Inc ↗ | 40.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 8.9 miTwin Cabin Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 9.5 miEldridge Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.9 miStorey Ditch Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miYellowmule Cabin0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.4 miSecond Yellow Mule ↗8.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miEglise Rock Overlook1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.9 miBuck Ridge (snowmo) ↗15.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1 miInspiration Divide ↗9.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.1 miCinnamon Buck ↗11.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
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 Lee Metcalf Wilderness.
- inLee Metcalf Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 242,068 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
- Crail Ranch BuildingsBuilding · Gallatin Gateway · 7.4 mi
Natural features
The cabin sits between a meadow and a stand of mixed evergreens at an elevation of approximately 8,650 feet. Wildflowers bloom across the meadow in the summer and a thick layer of pristine snow blankets the area in winter. The jagged, glaciated peaks of the Madison Mountain Range stretch out into the distance. Wildlife in this area includes grizzly bear, gray wolf, mountain lion, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and the Canada lynx. Birders may see a wide variety of bird species.
Recreation
This cabin is popular with snowmobilers because of its proximity to the Buck Creek Ridge Trail, which offers a 1,000 foot elevation gain. Hikers, mountain bikers and off-road vehicle riders enjoy this trail in the summer. Snowmobilers and cross-country skiers can also access McAtee Basin. Hunting in designated areas is another popular pastime.
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 Yellow Mule Cabin?
Sites at Yellow Mule 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 Yellow Mule Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Yellow Mule Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Yellow Mule Cabin?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Yellow Mule Cabin?
This cabin is popular with snowmobilers because of its proximity to the Buck Creek Ridge Trail, which offers a 1,000 foot elevation gain. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Yellow Mule Cabin?
Bozeman, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Yellow Mule Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bear Creek Campground and Picnic Area (7 mi, first-come), Red Cliff Campground (8.5 mi), and Moose Creek Group Site (16.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby