Rillway Cabin
Rillway Cabin is located 14 miles east of Townsend, Montana along scenic Deep Creek in Helena National Forest. Its history can be traced to Dr. A.C. Kelly, a physician who arrived in Townsend in 1915 and served as mayor from 1920-1924. In 1918, Dr. Kelly obtained a term permit from the Forest Service for the cabin site. The cabin was built between 1918 and 1922, then sold to Nellie Hale Averill and her son-in-law, Floyd L. Hollaway. By 1924, the cabin was known as "Rillway," a combination of the Averill and Hollaway family names. Today the cabin is a comfortable, rustic getaway for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in west-central Montana.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Full | 6 / – |
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 cabin can accommodate up to 6 people and comes furnished with 3 sets of bunkbeds with mattresses. Amenities include a fireplace insert, propane lanterns, a table and chairs, propane cook stove, cleaning supplies, utensils and cookware. An outhouse with vault toilet is near the cabin. An axe and snow shovel are provided. The cabin does not have electricity, running water or indoor plumbing. Guests must bring a sufficient amount of water for drinking, cooking and washing during their stay. Guests need to provide their own sleeping bags, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. All trash and food should 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
The cabin is accessible year-round by vehicle. From the 4-way stop light in Townsend, turn east on Hwy 12. Follow the road for 14 miles and watch for the Rillway Cabin sign along the right side of the highway at the 14-mile marker. There is also a sign that welcomes you to the National Forest.
| Nearest town | Townsend, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.3335° N, 111.2407° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Firewood may be available, but it is not guaranteed.
- Fuel is not provided for the lanterns or propane stove, so guests should bring 1 or 2 small propane cylinders, along with backup lighting.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedNorth Bridger Brackett Creek Pile Burning Rx
37 mi from the campground
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
43 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
43 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedKings Hill Cabin Piles Rx
43 mi from the campground · 1 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 ↗ | 21.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Big Sky Rod Box ↗ | 38.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV Center Montana ↗ | 39.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 11.8 miGipsy Lake Day Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 1.6 miMiddle Fork Cabin Gulch ↗4.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miWest Fork Cabin Gulch2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.2 miCedar Bar Falkner4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.4 miHolloway3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest begins about 5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 5 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
On the National Register nearby
- St. Joseph's Catholic Mission ChurchBuilding · Townsend · 11.2 mi
- Valley Masonic Lodge No. 21Building · Townsend · 13.3 mi
- State Bank of TownsendBuilding · Townsend · 13.9 mi
Natural features
The cabin is tucked back near a moss-covered canyon wall with Deep Creek splashing through the backyard. 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, including the more common elk, mule and white- tailed deer, squirrel, black bear, moose and a variety of birds. The more elusive badger, wolverine, mountain lion and lynx find habitat here as well.
Recreation
The cabin offers nearby access to a number of trails and roads. A cross-country ski trail is just up the highway and snowmobiling areas are close by as well. Deep Creek flows adjacent to the cabin, providing anglers with a scenic backdrop for fishing. The creek provides habitat for a variety of trout.
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 Rillway Cabin?
Sites at Rillway 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 Rillway Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Rillway Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Rillway Cabin?
The cabin offers nearby access to a number of trails and roads. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Rillway Cabin?
Townsend, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Rillway Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Coulter Campground (19 mi, first-come), White Earth Campground (21 mi), and Hellgate Campground (27.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby