Ninko Cabin
Ninko Cabin is located 45 miles north of Columbia Falls, in northwestern Montana. It is an ideal rental for winter sports enthusiasts. Open only during cold months, the cabin provides a rustic, cozy setting with a good chance for pristine snow-capped scenery. It also provides access to a variety of recreational activities. The cabin can be accessed via a 12-mile hike, snowshoe, ski or snowmobile trek from North Fork Road. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗



Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Pull-through | Partial | Springs | 7 / 2 | Preferred |
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 0:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Fees | The rental fee is $50 per night and there is a maximum stay of three consecutive nights with a total of seven days per calendar year. Federal Pass discounts do not apply. |
The rustic cabin sleeps six with two bunk beds and two single beds. Amenities include a propane cook stove, lights, wood stove for heating, and a vault toilet. Pets are allowed, but cleaning up after them is required. No water is available. Renters should pack their own bedding, drinking water, food, matches and all basic camp gear.Guests will need to clean the cabin, carry out all trash and replenish cut firewood supply prior to departure.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Columbia Falls, travel north on Nucleus Avenue and turn east on Railroad Street at the stop sign. The road becomes the North Fork Road as it travels about 45 miles and over the railroad overpass. Turn left on Whale Creek Road 318 and park in the plowed pullout.
| Nearest town | Hungry Horse, Montana |
| Coordinates | 48.8581° N, 114.5975° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 25.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | RunnerUp Sports ↗ | 33.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bish's RV ↗ | 50.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miNinko-Thompson Seton ↗8.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miAntley Tepee Creek ↗5.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.4 miWhale Creek ↗6.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.4 miSeemo Pass4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.4 miCleft Rock ↗10.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.5 miInuya Creek2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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
Kootenai National Forest begins about 13.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 13.6 miKootenai National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,622,202 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
- Hornet LookoutBuilding · Flathead National Forest · 4.1 mi
- J. K. Miller HomesteadBuilding · Big Prairie · 12.3 mi
- North Fork RoadStructure · West Glacier · 12.6 mi
Natural features
The cabin sits in a mountain valley, near Whale Creek, at an approximate elevation of 4,600 feet. Surrounding peaks include Hornet Mountain and Mount Thompson-Seton. The Glacier View Ranger District is bordered on the east by the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and Glacier National Park. To the north is Canada and west is the Kootenai National Forest. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area.
Recreation
Cross country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. Reaching the cabin on the 12-mile journey is part of the snow-sport fun to be had when visiting the cabin.
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 Ninko Cabin?
Sites at Ninko 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 Ninko Cabin?
The rental fee is $50 per night and there is a maximum stay of three consecutive nights with a total of seven days per calendar year. Federal Pass discounts do not apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Ninko Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 0:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Ninko Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Ninko Cabin?
Cross country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Ninko Cabin?
Hungry Horse, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Ninko Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Tuchuck Campground (4.5 mi, first-come), Grave Creek Campground (13.4 mi, first-come), and Big Therriault Lake Campground (13.8 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby


