Thompson Guard Station
Thompson Guard Station is located in the Big Belt Mountain Range in Helena National Forest. Historical records indicate that the guard station was built in 1954 for rangers in the district, but it may have been used as a cookhouse for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp prior to that date. In later years, engineering and road maintenance crews used the cabin as lodging. Today, the cabin is a rustic getaway for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in west-central Montana. It is accessible by car, but snow closes the road in winter and access is maintained to within about 4 miles of the cabin on the east side.
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 | Partial | 8 / – |
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.
The site record lists 8 people. The campground description says up to 6 people.
Amenities & rules
The guard station is furnished with 6 single beds with mattresses to accommodate up to 6 people. The cabin has a Monarch cook stove, propane lanterns, propane stove and a wood heat stove. Other amenities include a table and chairs, cleaning supplies, dishes, utensils and cookware. An outhouse with vault toilet, picnic table and a campfire ring are near the cabin. An axe and snow shovel are provided. There is a fenced corral just below the cabin. The cabin does not have electricity, running water or indoor plumbing. Guests must bring a sufficient amount of water for drinking, cooking and washing. 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
From White Sulphur Springs, travel west on Highway 360 for 1.6 miles. At this point, make a sharp curve to the right off the highway. There is a Forest Service sign at this junction that reads: Gipsy Lake 14, Townsend 44. Go straight onto the gravel road for 6.5 miles. At 6.5 miles, the gravel road forks at the entrance to a ranch.
| Nearest town | Townsend, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.5042° N, 111.2083° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Firewood may be available, but it is not guaranteed.
- Fuel is not provided for the propane lanterns or stove, so guests should bring 1 or 2 small propane cylinders, along with backup lighting.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedKings Hill Cabin Piles Rx
33 mi from the campground · 1 acres
- PrescribedCoyote Divide Piles Rx
38 mi from the campground
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
41 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
42 mi from the campground · 300 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 ↗ | 17.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | D & D RV Center ↗ | 38 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 38.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
Canyon Ferry Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, perch, ling and walleye. The wildlife viewing near the lake is quite impressive as well. It is one of the best in the country for viewing large concentrations of bald eagles. A wildlife management area at the end of the reservoir is home to a colony of terns and pelicans. White Sulphur Springs is about 17 miles away and, as the name implies, there is a hot spring open to the public, which is owned by a local motel.
- 0.3 miGipsy Lake Day Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miGipsy Lake Campground Loop0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miGipsy/Birch Creek ↗7.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miSnowbank Mine0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.4 miHidden Lake ↗6.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.5 miLittle Camas Creek ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.5 miBelt Mountain Divide ↗11.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 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 Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
- inHelena-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
- Fort Logan and BlockhouseSite · White Sulphur Springs · 12.3 mi
- St. Joseph's Catholic Mission ChurchBuilding · Townsend · 13.2 mi
- Parberry Block EastBuilding · White Sulphur Springs · 14.8 mi
Natural features
Thompson Guard Station sits in a grassy, open clearing backed by mixed conifer forest. 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, mule deer, white-tailed deer, squirrels and a variety of birds are commonly seen. The more elusive badger, wolverine, mountain lion and lynx find habitat here as well.
Recreation
Gipsy Lake is 1 mile south of the cabin and is accessible by vehicle. It offers rainbow trout fishing and a launch for non-motorized boats. Another 3 miles south of Gipsy Lake are Hidden Lake, Upper Baldy Lake and Edith Lake. A number of multi-use trails and roads are in the area, offering chances to hike, mountain bike or ride horses. The winter landscape is ideal for snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
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 Thompson Guard Station?
Sites at Thompson 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 Thompson Guard Station?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Thompson Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Thompson Guard Station?
Gipsy Lake is 1 mile south of the cabin and is accessible by vehicle. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Thompson Guard Station?
Townsend, Montana. Canyon Ferry Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, perch, ling and walleye.
Source: Getting there
What if Thompson Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Coulter Campground (15.9 mi, first-come), White Earth Campground (18.1 mi), and Hellgate Campground (22 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby