Crystal Lake Cabin
Crystal Lake Cabin provides sweeping views of Crystal Lake in the heart of the Big Snowy Mountains of Central Montana. Located about 20 miles south of Lewistown, the cabin adjoins Crystal Lake Campground, providing conveniences like a picnic area and boat ramp for non-motorized boats. Recreation opportunities abound, including floating, fishing, canoeing and hiking. Access from December 1 through June 15 is by snowshoe, snowmobile, cross country skiing or hiking for 6 miles.
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 | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Gravel | 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 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
The one-room rustic cabin, accommodates up to six guests. Beds with mattresses, a cooking stove and a wood stove for heat is included. The firewood supplied is limited and only for use in the wood stove and guests are asked to restock the wood box in the cabin prior to departure. Do not use the supplied firewood for outside fires. A vault toilet is located outside for year-round use. The cabin is furnished with pots, pans, dishes and utensils. Propane lights are provided but no electricity is available. Guests should plan to bring plenty of water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes. Other items to bring: cleaning supplies, bedding, food, cooler, toilet paper, matches, flashlight, garbage bags and other personal necessities. Guest must clean the cabin/toilet completely, pack out all food and trash upon departure. No pets allowed inside cabin.)
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Lewistown, drive west on Montana Highway 200/US 87 for about 8 miles. Turn left (south) on Crystal Lake Road. Continue south, following the well-signed directions to the lake for 20 miles. At the "T" junction, turn left and continue on to Crystal Lake. The last 6 miles is paved and mostly a single lane.
| Nearest town | Stanford, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.7919° N, 109.5117° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireBluff Fire
34 mi from the campground · 96 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Worth a stop
Crystal Lake, Ice Caves
- 12 miUhlhorn Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12 miUhlhorn Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miCrystal Lk Stock Bypass1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miJack Milborne Trail ↗0.07 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miUhlhorn ↗18.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miCrystal Accessible Spur ↗0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miCrystal Lake Loop ↗1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 0.4 miGrand View ↗5.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.7 miGrandview Trailhead ↗Helena-Lewis and Clark 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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Manley’s General StoreBuilding · Garneill · 11.6 mi
Natural features
The cabin sits near the shores of Crystal Lake. The beautiful lake spans 45 acres at an elevation of 5,700 feet. With a maximum depth of 15 feet, the lake seeps fresh water through a porous limestone bottom. The lake generally freezes in the winter. The Big Snowy Mountains, lush with mixed conifers, rise up from the lake, providing spectacular views. The highest peaks in the mountain range reach 8,600 feet.
Recreation
The Ice Caves Trail leads hikers to the ridgetop of the Big Snowy Mountains, where it intersects with the Crystal Cascades Trail Bypass. The Lake Loop Trail trailhead, located at the north end of the Crystal Lake Campground, takes hikers to Grand View Trail Junction and additional ridgetop views. Both the Ice Caves Trail and Grand View Trail may be impacted by winter snow as late as the first part of July. The lake freezes over and ice fishing is possible if the ice is thin enough for fish to survive. In summer months, the lake is stocked with rainbow trout. Kayaking and canoeing is popular.
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 Crystal Lake Cabin?
Sites at Crystal Lake 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 Crystal Lake Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Crystal Lake Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Crystal Lake Cabin?
The Ice Caves Trail leads hikers to the ridgetop of the Big Snowy Mountains, where it intersects with the Crystal Cascades Trail Bypass. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Crystal Lake Cabin?
Stanford, Montana. Crystal Lake, Ice Caves
Source: Getting there
What if Crystal Lake Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Crystal Lake Group Campsite (0.3 mi), Timber Creek Dispersed Campground (4.8 mi, first-come), and Jellison Place Campground (27.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby