Canyon Creek Cabin
Canyon Creek Cabin is located in the middle of an old mining district. Historic sites that can be explored on foot or on a bike are nearby. A variety of trails exist in the area, as does abundant wildlife. The cabin is a quaint location for guests to enjoy the scenic Pioneer Mountains in southwestern Montana. The cabin is accessible by a four-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle, depending on conditions. Snowmobiles, skis or snowshoes may be necessary during the months between December and April each year. 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 | 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
The small wood cabin can accommodate four people and is equipped with bunkbeds. A fold-down table and folding chairs are also provided, as well as a wood stove for heat. A variety of equipment is available inside the cabin, including a saw, an axe and some dishes and pans. A broom, dust pan, shovel, bucket and a propane stove may also be available. The cabin has no electricity or running water. An outside vault toilet is provided. Guests will need to bring water for drinking, cooking and cleaning, as well as bedding, matches, food, propane fuel canisters and necessary cooking equipment, among other amenities. Water from the creek must be treated before drinking or cooking use. Guests are asked to replenish the split firewood supply and clean the cabin prior to leaving.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Melrose, travel west on Forest Road 187 for about 13 miles, then continue southwest for 6 miles on Forest Road 7401. Four-wheel drive or high clearance vehicles are required to access the cabin. Depending on conditions, skis and snowmobiles may be necessary to complete the route. Maps may be purchased by calling the Dillon Ranger District.
| Nearest town | Wise River, Montana |
| Coordinates | 45.6750° N, 112.8879° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Firewood is also available but is not guaranteed.
Fire nearby
- WildfireSand Creek
23 mi from the campground · 35,520 acres · 83% contained
- PrescribedScf Nz Pile Burn Rx
50 mi from the campground · 34 acres
- PrescribedRx Hell'S Canyon
50 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Bretz RV & Marine - Butte, MT ↗ | 26 mi |
| Dump station | RV Dump ↗ | 27.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 2.5 miVipond Snowmobile ↗10 mi trail
- 2.9 miSheep Creek ↗6 mi trail
- 3.1 miAdson Creek2.7 mi trail
- 4.3 miCrescent Lake ↗6.3 mi trail
- 4.4 miUpper Sheep Creek1 mi trail
- 4.8 miCattle Gulch Ridge1.6 mi trail
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
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
- Hecla HouseBuilding · Melrose · 5.3 mi
- Browne's BridgeStructure · Glen · 12.9 mi
Natural features
The cabin was built in 1930 to be used as a guard station. It is situated at the base of a sheer cliff in the eastern Pioneer Mountain Range at an elevation of about 7,300 feet. The Wise River runs nearby and a mountain creek is adjacent to the cabin. The cliff and surrounding area is home to many mountain goats. Moose can usually be found in nearby willow bottoms. During the winter, deer and elk can be seen on their winter range located up and down-canyon from the cabin. Black bears also frequent the area.
Recreation
A variety of old roads exist in the area, providing plentiful hiking and biking opportunities. A trail climbs 5 miles up to a group of glacial lakes in the Pioneer Mountains, and can be accessed near the ranch on Forest Road 7401. Charcoal kilns, which date back to mining days, are situated in the area near the cabin, as another point of exploration. Hunting is a popular activity. Canyon Creek is available for fishing. Anglers might see brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout, among other species, in the cold creek. Fishing is also available in the lakes in the area. The trails and roadways provide excellent snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Guests must realize the potential for avalanche danger, and carry and know how to use proper backcountry equipment, including a beacon, shovel and probe while recreating (learn about avalanche danger ).
Nearby
A short drive takes visitors to Vipond Park where there are spectacular wildflowers in early summer. Glendale, an old smelter town, is nearby. There isn't much left of Glendale, just a few old buildings, the red brick smelter stack and the foundations of many buildings. Two cemeteries are located nearby. Most of the area around Glendale is privately owned.
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 Canyon Creek Cabin?
Sites at Canyon Creek 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 Canyon Creek Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Canyon Creek Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Canyon Creek Cabin?
A variety of old roads exist in the area, providing plentiful hiking and biking opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Canyon Creek Cabin?
Wise River, Montana. A short drive takes visitors to Vipond Park where there are spectacular wildflowers in early summer.
Source: Getting there
What if Canyon Creek Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Canyon Creek Campground (4.4 mi, first-come), Divide Bridge Campground (7.7 mi, first-come), and Pettengill Campground (8.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby


