Indian Flats Cabin
Indian Flats Cabin is nestled in a hollow of old-growth trees in the shadow of Hogback Mountain, offering a remote lodging experience in the Big Belt Mountains in west-central Montana. The present Indian Flats Guard Station started its days as the Conway Station on Rock Creek in the Jim Ball Basin. The cabin was constructed in 1944 and replaced the original Conway Station. Rangers used this cabin when fulfilling duties in the area. In 1969, the cabin was relocated to its present location below Indian Flats. During the summer and fall months, the cabin is typically accessible by car. During the winter months, poor road conditions and heavy amounts of snow can be present.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 4 / 2 |
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
The single-room cabin is furnished with 2 sets of bunk beds with mattresses and accommodates up to 4 people. A wood stove provides heat for the cabin and a propane stove is available for cooking. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, propane lantern, cleaning supplies, dishes, utensils and cookware. An axe and snow shovel are provided. An outhouse with vault toilet is located nearby. There is no electricity or water at this facility. Guests must bring a sufficient amount of water for drinking, cooking and washing, as well as 1 or 2 small propane cylinders to use for the lantern or stove. Guests need to bring their own sleeping bags, flashlights, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. All trash and food must be packed out, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Indian Flats Cabin is located 40 miles northeast of Helena. Take Highway 280 east from Helena. Several miles after crossing the Missouri River, you will come to the small community of York. Turn left at the York Bar and proceed 5 miles to the smaller community of Nelson, where you should turn right.
| Nearest town | Helena, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.8222° N, 111.6794° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Firewood may be available, but it is not guaranteed.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
26 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
26 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedSure Thing Swamp Rx
40 mi from the campground · 180 acres
- PrescribedHogum Creek Road Piles Rx
41 mi from the campground · 5 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 11.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 21.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | D & D RV Center ↗ | 21.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness and the Missouri River are a short drive from the cabin, offering chances to explore.
- 8.6 miNever Sweat Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10.8 miMissouri River Fishing Access Site ↗Fishing site
- 11 miMeriwether Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 11.2 miClark's Bay Day Use Site ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miGrouse Ridge Divide1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 2.1 miBeartrap4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.9 miTrout Creek Canyon ↗3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.3 miRefrigerator Canyon ↗9.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miHanging Valley ↗5.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
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
Gates of the Mountains Wilderness begins about 3.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 3.4 miGates of the Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 28,460 acres
- 8.1 miHelena-Lewis and Clark National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,177,729 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
Indian Flats Cabin is backed by mixed conifer forest, and a small stream flows in front of it. Hogback Mountain is located within a mile of the cabin at an elevation of 7,813 feet. The area around the cabin offers a variety of landscapes, from river banks to subalpine terrain. Valley bottoms, dense forests, meadows and barren ridges are mixed with streams, rivers and lakes. Wildlife in the area abounds. Elk, deer, squirrels and a variety of birds are commonly seen. The more elusive badger, wolverine, mountain lion and lynx find habitat in nearby areas as well.
Recreation
Plenty of opportunities are available for hiking, mountain biking and wildlife viewing near Indian Flats Cabin. A hike through nearby Refrigerator Canyon passes through a 10-foot wide, 200-foot high canyon that was carved through limestone rock by a small mountain stream. The canyon is appropriately named, as breezes blowing over the stream and through the canyon's rock walls cause evaporative cooling, creating temperatures 20 degrees cooler than surrounding areas. An active fire lookout sits at the top of Hogback Mountain near the cabin. The Lookout is accessible by passenger vehicle and is manned by Forest Service personnel from mid-June through September. A short walk from the lookout offers spectacular panoramic views into Beaver Creek Canyon and surrounding landscapes.
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 Indian Flats Cabin?
Sites at Indian Flats 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 Indian Flats Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Indian Flats Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Indian Flats Cabin?
Plenty of opportunities are available for hiking, mountain biking and wildlife viewing near Indian Flats Cabin. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Indian Flats Cabin?
Helena, Montana. The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness and the Missouri River are a short drive from the cabin, offering chances to explore.
Source: Getting there
What if Indian Flats Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Vigilante Campground (4.1 mi, first-come), Devil's Elbow Campground (10.4 mi), and White Sandy Campground (11.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby