Bull River Guard Station
The Bull River Guard Station was built in 1908 as the Ranger's house and office. This structure was a primary ranger station from 1908 to 1920, surviving the legendary 1910 fires that swept through the area. The cabin was home to Granville "Granny" Gordon (District Ranger), his wife and three daughters. Full vehicle access to the cabin depends on weather conditions. The road is normally plowed within 1 mile of the cabin during winter months.
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 | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Pull-through | 100 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 5 | Yes | Standard |
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
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The two-story cabin spans 700 square feet and is equipped with period furniture, including three full beds and two single beds with mattresses. The cabin can accommodate a maximum of 8 people and does require guests to bring a few of their own supplies to ensure a comfortable stay. In addition to the beds, the cabin features a sitting room with chairs and a kitchen/dining room with a hutch, table and chairs and electric range. The space is heated with a forced air electric furnace, and comes with some cleaning supplies. There is no indoor plumbing at the cabin; an outhouse with vault toilet is located nearby. A horse corral is located behind the cabin. Drinking water is also not available; guests must bring plenty of their own.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From US Highway 2 (to the north) or State Highway 200 (to the south), travel on State Highway 56 to the East Fork Bull River Road #407 at approximately the 8 mile marker. Take Road #407 for about 1.5 miles and turn right on Road #2701. The cabin is approximately.5 miles past the junction of #407 and #2701. Directional signs are present.
| Nearest town | Trout Creek, Montana |
| Coordinates | 48.1097° N, 115.7814° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Everything RV ↗ | 22.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | North 40 ↗ | 37.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 38.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miMoran Basin ↗11.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile
- 0.8 miBerray Mountain ↗5.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miPillick Ridge ↗10.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.7 miBerray Mountain West1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3 miDad Peak ↗6.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miNapoleon Gulch3 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.4 mi#993 Moran Basin Trailhead ↗Kootenai National Forest
- 0.8 mi#1036 Pilick Ridge Trailhead ↗Kootenai National Forest
- 0.8 mi#967 Berray Mountain Trailhead ↗Kootenai National Forest
- 3 mi#987 Dad Peak Trailhead ↗Kootenai National Forest
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, which overlaps Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
- inKootenai National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,622,202 acres
- inIdaho Panhandle National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,943,333 acres
- 0.8 miCabinet Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 93,272 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 Bull River Guard Station is located in the Cabinet Mountain Range near the East Fork of the Bull River in the Kootenai National Forest. The Cabinet Mountains were named by early French settlers who thought the mountains had a cabinet-like appearance when viewed from the valley floor. The cabin is located minutes from the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness area which is home to a large range of wildlife from the high rocks of the mountain goat, mountain sheep, pika and golden eagle, to the lower slopes and brushy canyon bottoms of the beaver, woodrat, and beautiful Western Tanager. Fall foliage in this area is truly stunning with a wonderful assortment of Mountain Maple scarlets, Mountain Ash reds, Alder browns, and the Larch golden yellows.
Recreation
The Bull River is 24.7 miles long from its headwaters to where it meets the Cabinet Gorge Reservoir. Fish species include westslope cutthroat trout, large scale sucker and mountain whitefish. Hikers might be interested in two excellent day hiking options located near the guard station: the Pilick Ridge Trail #1036 and the Berray Mountain Trail #967. Both lead to lookouts with impressive views of the Cabinet Mountains. The Berray Mountain Lookout tower, built in the 1930's, is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. For those interested in horseback riding, there is plenty of opportunity to explore the surrounding land. Stock animals are not allowed in the cabin area, but visitors may tie up across the road or 50 yards behind the station. As always, certified weed free hay is required on all Forest Service lands.
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 Bull River Guard Station?
Sites at Bull River Guard Station are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Bull River Guard Station?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Bull River Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Bull River Guard Station?
Bull River Guard Station is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Bull River Guard Station?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bull River Guard Station. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bull River Guard Station?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Bull River Guard Station?
The Bull River is 24.7 miles long from its headwaters to where it meets the Cabinet Gorge Reservoir. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Bull River Guard Station?
Trout Creek, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Bull River Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bad Medicine Campground (5.1 mi, first-come), Bull River Campground and Group Site (6.2 mi, partly first-come), and Triangle Pond (6.8 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby