Twin Lakes Cabin
Twin Lakes Cabin is located in a scenic evergreen forest in the Beaverhead Mountains of western Montana. It was built in the 1920s to provide housing for trail crews, smoke chasers, timber cruisers and grazing inspectors who worked in the area. Guests have access to a number of recreational opportunities, including hiking and mountain biking in the summer and fall, and snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter. The cabin is accessible by vehicle during the summer months, and until the snow closes the road. Guests may need to hike, snowmobile, ski or snowshoe up to 12 miles when the access road is closed.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | 4 / – |
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 | Guests must be 18 years old or older to make a reservation. Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance and are limited to a three-day stay. |
The wood-frame, one-room cabin sleeps up to four people and comes equipped with one bunk bed with mattresses and two folding cots. Other amenities include a wood-burning stove, propane cook stove, table and chairs, cupboard space, a food storage box, basic cooking and eating utensils, cookware, a propane lantern, axe, shovel, bucket and cleaning equipment. A wood stove is available for heat, and firewood and an axe are provided from September 16-June 15. You will need to provide your own firewood from June 16-September 15. An outhouse with vault toilet is located nearby. The cabin has no electricity or running water. Guests will need to bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning during the fall, winter and spring. Water is available from June to Sepember from a hand pump located near the cabin. Water can be taken from the mountain lake or streams, but it must be treated prior to use. Other items to bring include bedding, food, toilet paper, towels, matches, flashlights, garbage bags and maps, among other necessities.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | Mid June through September |
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Fees | There is a $15 per night, with an additional $5 for added vehicles. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Wisdom, MT, travel south on Highway 278 approximately 6 miles. If coming from Jackson, MT travel north on Highway 278 for approximately 12 miles. Turn west onto the Twin Lakes Road, follow for 8 miles, turn left Forest Road 945 continuing approximately 5 miles to Forest Road 183.
| Nearest town | Wisdom, Montana |
| Coordinates | 45.4098° N, 113.6860° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Fuel is not provided for the cook stove or lantern, so guests need to bring 16-ounce propane canisters.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedScf Nz Pile Burn Rx
18 mi from the campground · 34 acres
- WildfireSand Creek
20 mi from the campground · 35,520 acres · 83% contained
- PrescribedRx D3 Cameron Gaps
36 mi from the campground · 1,100 acres
- PrescribedRx D4 Piquett Creek
39 mi from the campground · 2,210 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 10.5 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miTwin Lakes Snowmobile ↗8 mi trail
- 0.7 miSouth Fork Big Lake Creek3 mi trail
- 1.1 miOverland 61.2 mi trail
- 1.8 miOverland 53.1 mi trail
- 2.2 miDry Creek ↗5.3 mi trail
- 2.7 miCarmen Creek3.3 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
This campground sits inside Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
- inBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,614,456 acres
- 1.3 miSalmon-Challis National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 4,396,382 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
Natural features
The cabin is located in a heavily wooded area at the base of Squaw and Jumbo peaks on the shore of the 75-acre Twin Lakes. It is situated at an elevation of about 7,200 feet in the Beaverhead Mountains, a subrange of the Bitterroot Range that divides Montana and the neighboring state of Idaho. Extensive conifer forests provide habitat for a large elk herd that winters in Idaho and summers in Montana. Marshy glacial valleys in the area constitute some of the best moose habitat in the state. Other wildlife in the area includes mountain goats, bighorn sheep, lynx, marten, deer and black bears ( learn more about bear safety ).
Recreation
A variety of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails exist in the area, including the Big Lake Creek Trail, which traverses four miles of terrain surrounding the lake. The nearby trails also provide access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. During winter months, the trails are popular for snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Visitors should be prepared for unexpected avalanches. Fishing and non-motorized boating are enjoyed by visitors to Twin Lakes. Anglers might see a variety of trout, as well as arctic grayling and mountain whitefish. Power boats are limited to electric motors only on the lake.
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 Twin Lakes Cabin?
Sites at Twin Lakes 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 Twin Lakes Cabin?
Guests must be 18 years old or older to make a reservation. Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance and are limited to a three-day stay.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Twin Lakes Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Twin Lakes Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Twin Lakes Cabin?
A variety of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails exist in the area, including the Big Lake Creek Trail, which traverses four miles of terrain surrounding the lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Twin Lakes Cabin?
Wisdom, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Twin Lakes Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Miner Lake Campground (7.7 mi, first-come), Tower Rock Campground (12.6 mi), and North Van Houten Campground (15.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby