Star Meadows Guard Station
The Star Meadows Guard Station has all the rustic feel of a remote Forest Service cabin while still being accessible by paved road from Whitefish. Furnished with a refrigerator/freezer, range and oven, microwave, coffeemaker, pots and pans, dishes and silverware, and electric heat, this cabin has everything you need to come and enjoy some time in the Forest. Nearby Tally Lake and Sylvia Lake offer opportunities for water play and fishing and a centralized location in the Tally Lake District to access miles of hiking, biking or horseback riding trails with a trailhead right behind the cabin.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins with electric | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 12 / 3 | 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 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Open year round. Rental fees are $75 per night |
The Star Meadow Guard Station is a two-room cabin. The bedroom has two bunk beds with queen on bottom and full on top and sleeps 6. The second room is the kitchen area with a couch, table with chairs and benches. A bunk house located 20 yards away from the main house has two bunkbeds and a futon couch. Sleeps 6 and is great for the kids! There are electric heaters throughout the cabin and in the bunkhouse. The kitchen comes complete with refrigerator, oven, microwave and coffeemaker; dishes, utensils and pots and pans are provided. Cleaning supplies are provided and the cabin must be cleaned upon departure. All garbage must be packed out. The restroom is a wood paneled vault toilet 20 yards from the cabin and has electric lights. A well with a hand pump is also located 30 yards from the cabin and water is available approximately April 1st through November 30th. There is no running water. A patio provides an outdoor area with tables, chairs and a charcoal grill. Please bring your own charcoal and empty it in the receptacle provided. An outdoor fire pit, picnic tables and horse shoe pit are in the large backyard. Dogs are allowed.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
STAR MEADOW GUARD STATION 5250 Star Meadows Road Whitefish, Montana 59937 Travel from Whitefish west on Highway 93 approximately 12 miles to mile marker 139, turn left onto Farm to Market Road. Continue 1.7 miles; turn right onto the Star Meadows Road. Continue to mile marker 15 located almost across from the cabin driveway.
| Nearest town | Whitefish, Montana |
| Coordinates | 48.3819° N, 114.7100° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Snowmobiling can be enjoyed on designated trails, but is not permitted on the cabin grounds.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | The Toggery ↗ | 17.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bish's RV ↗ | 24.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 35.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miStar Meadow1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miIngalls - Mt. Conner ↗10.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.8 miAshley Mtn ↗5.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.9 miJohnson Peak4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 4.2 miTally Gorge2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.2 miJohnson Peak Connector0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 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 Kootenai National Forest.
- inKootenai National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,622,202 acres
- 12 miFlathead National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,651,693 acres
- 14.2 miLost Trail National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 8,907 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
- Stillwater Ranger Station Historic DistrictHistoric district · Olney · 12.8 mi
Natural features
The cabin sits in a valley near the foot of Mt. Swaney, providing views of the surrounding forested mountains. It is in the northwestern corner of Flathead National Forest in the Tally Lake Ranger District.
Recreation
There is plenty of opportunity for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking in the area surrounding the cabin. Trail #171A starts in the back yard and goes all the way to Sylvia Lake approximately 10 miles away. In the winter, visitors enjoy cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Big game hunting in the national forest lands is a popular activity enjoyed by visitors, as well as fishing in Sheppard Creek behind the cabin, other nearby mountain streams and Tally Lake, which is about 11 miles east of the cabin. Guests at the cabin also enjoy ample open space for yard games and other outdoor group activities.
Nearby
The town of Whitefish is about 45 minutes away. Tally Lake, the second deepest lake in Montana is located 7 miles away.
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 Star Meadows Guard Station?
Sites at Star Meadows Guard Station 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 Star Meadows Guard Station?
Open year round. Rental fees are $75 per night
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Star Meadows Guard Station?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Star Meadows Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Star Meadows Guard Station?
The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Star Meadows Guard Station?
Yes, pets are allowed at Star Meadows Guard Station. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Star Meadows Guard Station?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Star Meadows Guard Station?
There is plenty of opportunity for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking in the area surrounding the cabin. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Star Meadows Guard Station?
Whitefish, Montana. The town of Whitefish is about 45 minutes away.
Source: Getting there
What if Star Meadows Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Sylvia Lake Campground (5.6 mi, first-come), Tally Lake Campground (6.1 mi, partly first-come), and Ashley Lake South Campground (13.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby