Moose Lake Cabin
Moose Lake Cabin is located in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in southwestern Montana. The historic cabin, which was built in 1917 for use as a Forest Service work station, offers visitors close access to the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area, which covers almost 250 square miles of mountain ranges. The cabin is a short drive to Georgetown Lake, Discovery Ski Area, Gem Mountain, and the town of Philipsburg with its well known Sweet Palace and microbrewery. Many lakes and streams provide ample access to world famous trout fishing and the area also boasts miles of roads and trails.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 900 | Gravel | Partial | 4 / 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 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Fees | Any changes to scheduled dates may be assessed an additional fee by the National Recreation Reservation Service. The cabin is available year-round for $20.00 per night. |
This is a small, primitive, one-room cabin and is equipped with two sets of bunk beds with mattress pads that can sleep up to four people. It has a small table and chairs, plates, bowls, cups, silverware for 4 people, a 2 burner coleman stove, pots, pans, french press, kitchen utensils (spatula, large spoon, knives, cutting board, can opener, cheese grater), sponges/scour pads, Battery Powered LED Lantern (D batteries), mop, broom, wasbasins, dish rack, splitting maul, hatchet, cleaning products, rags. Paper towels, matches, toilet paper, garbage bags, newspaper, and hand sanitizer are stocked monthly. The entrance is gated and locked with a combination code to provide guests privacy. There is a wood stove for heat and cooking. Firewood is almost always available but cannot be guaranteed. A vault toilet is nearby and a small dispersed camping area are a few hundred yards from the cabin. A hand pump for drinking water, a picnic table, and fire pit are also outside. Guests will need to bring their own bedding, food, personal items, propane (1lb coleman propane bottles for stove), and specialty kitchen items. There is limited cell phone service available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Philipsburg, travel south on Highway 1 for about 7 miles to the junction with Skalkaho Highway/Highway 38. Turn right onto Highway 38 and continue west for about 9 miles and turn left onto Moose Lake Road/Forest Road 5106. Travel another 9 miles to the cabin.
| Nearest town | Philipsburg, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.0750° N, 113.5264° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Moose Lake Road is plowed during winter, but the access spur to the cabin is not regularly plowed and guests should plan on walking this final 100 yards in the winter months.
Charges and cancellations
Reservations are nonrefundable unless extenuating circumstances warrant otherwise. Determination will be made on a case by case basis.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx D3 Cameron Gaps
21 mi from the campground · 1,100 acres
- PrescribedScf Nz Pile Burn Rx
36 mi from the campground · 34 acres
- PrescribedRx D4 Piquett Creek
36 mi from the campground · 2,210 acres
- WildfireSand Creek
37 mi from the campground · 35,520 acres · 83% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Hamilton RV Sales Of Montana ↗ | 33.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The Skalkaho Highway (Highway 38) leads into the Sapphire Mountains along a primitive and once widely used Native American trail. The scenic drive, which is closed during winter, was built to provide access between mining areas and agricultural communities in the Bitterroot Valley. About 30 miles from the cabin, the road leads to Skalkaho Falls in the neighboring Bitterroot National Forest. Moose Lake day use area is available for swimming and picnics in the summer, and ice fishing in winter. There is a groomed snowmobile route from Copper Creek campground to Frog Pond Basin. There are many trailheads in the vicinity, both wilderness access and non. There is an ATV loop from Copper creek over O'brien ridge to Frog Pond Basin and back down to Copper Creek. Georgetown Lake can be accessed by highways or dirt roads. Discovery Ski Area is a short drive away. The town of Philipsburg has restaraunts, gift shops, gem shops, a micro brewery, candy shop, gas station, grocery store, skating rink, historic theater, and has events throughout the year.
- 14.9 miPebble Beach Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miFrog Pond Basin Snowmobile ↗7.7 mi trail
- 1.3 miHappy Creek Snowmobile ↗10 mi trail
- 1.8 miGreen Canyon Trail ↗5 mi trail
- 2.9 miCarpp Creek Trail ↗10.1 mi trail
- 3.4 miMcDougal Snowmobile4.3 mi trail
- 3.7 miEast Fork Snowmobile ↗13.2 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
Anaconda Pintler Wilderness begins about 0.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.2 miAnaconda Pintler Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 158,712 acres
- 1.8 miBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,614,456 acres
- 9.5 miBitterroot National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,664,512 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
- Moose Lake Camp Historic DistrictHistoric district · Philipsburg · 1.5 mi
Natural features
The cabin is located on the Middle Fork of Rock Creek (Moose Lake Road, FR 5106) near the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. It sits at the edge of an open meadow, surrounded by evergreens and nearby peaks. The Middle Fork of Rock Creek flows about 100 yards behind the cabin. There is easy access to the creek, and good fishing. The cabin has dodged several large wildfires, and you will see old fire scars from lightning caused fires on the ridges. The area is known for its high, rugged and beautiful mountain scenery, as well as the variety of wildlife that makes its home there, including elk, moose, deer, mountain lions and bears(grizzly and black bears) ( learn more about bear safety ).
Recreation
Moose Lake Cabin provides access to hunting, fishing, hiking or just relaxing. Fishing for brook and cutthroat trout is excellent in the area. The Middle Fork of Rock Creek as well as Copper Creek and other smaller creeks are close by. It is illegal to target Bull Trout, if caught they must be released immediately with minimal handling. Participants must have Montana licenses to hunt or fish. Visitors also enjoy snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing in the area during the winter. Various weather conditions can increase avalanche danger in the area; visitors are encouraged to carry proper backcountry equipment, including a beacon, shovel and probe while recreating. Hiking and horseback riding trails lead into the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. There are three trailheads in the area, none more than a six mile drive from the cabin. As a reminder, pelletized or certified weed seed free feed and straw is required in all National Forests in Montana.
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 Moose Lake Cabin?
Sites at Moose Lake 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 Moose Lake Cabin?
Any changes to scheduled dates may be assessed an additional fee by the National Recreation Reservation Service. The cabin is available year-round for $20.00 per night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Moose Lake Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Moose Lake Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Moose Lake Cabin?
Moose Lake Cabin provides access to hunting, fishing, hiking or just relaxing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Moose Lake Cabin?
Philipsburg, Montana. The Skalkaho Highway (Highway 38) leads into the Sapphire Mountains along a primitive and once widely used Native American trail.
Source: Getting there
What if Moose Lake Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Copper Creek Campground (1 mi, first-come), Spillway Campground (7.7 mi, first-come), and Piney Campground And Boat Launch (13.6 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby