Challenge Cabin
Challenge Cabin is available during the winter and is located about 60 miles southeast of Hungry Horse, in northwestern Montana. It provides a primitive escape for visitors who enjoy winter recreation. The cozy shelter awards visitors with beautiful mountain views, peaceful sounds of nature and virgin, white snow for great photography and snow play. Access to the cabin involves an 8-mile trek by hiking, skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling. 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 | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Partial | Springs | 5 / – | 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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | Reservations can be made one to 180 days in advance. Rental fee is $50 per night. 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 cabin can sleep up to five guests. It is equipped with a propane cook stove, lights, and a wood stove. Furnishings include a table and chairs, a bunk bed and a small loft where additional people can roll out sleeping bags. Basic cooking pots and utensils are supplied, but guests are encouraged to bring their own. Pets are allowed, but cleaning up after them is required. A vault toilet is provided outside the cabin. Firewood is included for heating in the wood stove. Guests should bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes, as well as food, bedding, flashlights, garbage bags and basic camp gear.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Hungry Horse, travel east on Highway 2 for 51 miles, then 8 miles south on Skyland Road 569. Park in the plowed area along Highway 2, then hike, snowmobile, ski or snowshoe approximately 8 miles along the groomed trail. The cabin is not accessible by car.
| Nearest town | Hungry Horse, Montana |
| Coordinates | 48.2292° N, 113.3303° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Glacier Outdoor Center ↗ | 35.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 37.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bish's RV ↗ | 44.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The nearest grocery stores are in East Glacier and Hungry Horse. Both towns are about an hour-and-a-half drive, in addition to the trek from the cabin.
- 7.5 miSummit Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miChallenge Sm3.8 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 0.1 miPuzzle Ridge ↗4.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile
- 0.5 miGranite Sm2.1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 1.5 miGranite Creek ↗6.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile
- 2.1 miSky Alternate1 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 2.1 miTwenty-Five Mile Creek ↗6.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile
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 Great Bear Wilderness, which overlaps Flathead National Forest.
- inGreat Bear Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 286,659 acres
- inFlathead National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,651,693 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
Historic landmarks nearby
.jpg/960px-Two_Medicine_Camp_Store_(5635326006).jpg)
Natural features
The cabin sits in a meadow surrounded by a stand of Douglas fir and pine trees, near Challenge Creek. The Hungry Horse Ranger District is bordered on the east by the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and Glacier National Park.
Recreation
Cross country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. Reaching the cabin on the 8-mile access trail is part of the snow sport fun. Visitors might also catch a glimpse of any number of wildlife that lives in the area.
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 Challenge Cabin?
Sites at Challenge 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 Challenge Cabin?
Reservations can be made one to 180 days in advance. Rental fee is $50 per night. There is a maximum stay of three consecutive nights with a total of seven days per calendar year.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Challenge Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Challenge Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Challenge Cabin?
Yes, pets are allowed at Challenge Cabin. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Challenge 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 Challenge Cabin?
Hungry Horse, Montana. The nearest grocery stores are in East Glacier and Hungry Horse.
Source: Getting there
What if Challenge Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Summit Campground (6.3 mi), Devil Creek Campground (6.3 mi), and Two Medicine Campground (18.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby