Deer Creek Cabin
The Todd Family began building Deer Creek Cabin in 1953 and finished it in 1960. They used it as a retreat while they grazed cattle on federal lands in the summer and hunted in the fall. The cabin has survived two forest fires. Gallatin National Forest assumed ownership of the cabin in 1993. The cabin is open year-round, but access is challenging. There are three routes to the cabin that can be used by equestrians, hikers and ATVs in the summer. During the winter, by snowshoes, skis and snowmobiles. Snowmobilers will need to park their trailers down low on the Iron Mountain Road, keeping the road passable for others. These trails will be marked as to uses.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗



Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | Partial | 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 | Request for refunds or cancellations must be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service, in accordance with their policy. Changes to online reservations can only be made via the NRRS Contact Center: 1-877-444-6777. |
The single-room cabin has a wood cook stove and a wood heating stove. It can sleep up to four people on a provided double bed and set of bunk beds. There are no mattresses. Please bring your own sleeping pads. Other amenities include basic cooking supplies, a table with chairs, some cleaning gear, propane-fueled lantern,propane-fueled cookstove, axe, maul, bucket and shovel. Bring propane canisters for the lantern and stove. A campfire ring and outhouse with pit toilet are located outside the cabin. Livestock may be kept at the available adjacent corral and in partially fenced pasture. No water or electricity is provided. Guests must bring their own drinking water or treat water taken from the creek. Items such as battery-powered flashlights or lanterns, bedding, matches, extra toilet paper and dish soap are not provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Deer Creek Cabin is located approximately 30 miles south of Big Timber, Montana. It can be accessed by 3 different routes. It is recommended that renters carry topographic maps, GPS and compasses for navigation since the route may be difficult to find.
| Nearest town | Livingston, Montana |
| Coordinates | 45.6014° N, 109.8981° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Bob’s Outdoors ↗ | 32.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | Laurel Trading Post ↗ | 55.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 13.9 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miTie Cutter Gulch3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.3 miPlacer Gulch ↗5.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.6 miJims Gulch2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miUpper Derby Ridge0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.9 miDerby Gulch2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.6 miLower Deer Creek ↗11.3 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 Custer Gallatin National Forest.
- inCuster Gallatin National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,412,203 acres
- 6.8 miAbsaroka-Beartooth Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 937,102 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
- Waborn (Wabe) and Sarah E. Harrison Ranch HouseBuilding · Greycliff · 14 mi
Natural features
This remote location provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, including bear, moose, antelope, elk and deer. Many species of birds also inhabit the area. Blackened trees from a 2006 forest fire still line the nearby hillsides.
Recreation
There are numerous trails around the cabin that provide opportunities for exploration. Experienced cross-country skiers and snowshoers will find a challenging winter landscape. Anglers can fish for trout in the nearby creek. The area offers good big game and bird hunting opportunities in the fall.
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 Deer Creek Cabin?
Sites at Deer Creek 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 Deer Creek Cabin?
Request for refunds or cancellations must be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service, in accordance with their policy. Changes to online reservations can only be made via the NRRS Contact Center: 1-877-444-6777.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Deer Creek Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Deer Creek Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Deer Creek Cabin?
There are numerous trails around the cabin that provide opportunities for exploration. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Deer Creek Cabin?
Livingston, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Deer Creek Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Initial Creek Campground (13.9 mi, first-come), Woodbine Campground (17.2 mi), and Pine Grove Campground (25.6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby


