Eagle Guard Station
Eagle Guard Station is located in high grasslands and surrounded by a scattered forest in the Elkhorn Mountains in west-central Montana. The former Eagle Creek Ranger Station was built by miner Richard Owen in 1895. While his family lived there, the area was in a booming gold rush. In 1908, the cabin was taken over by the Forest Service for administrative use. It is the oldest administrative log structure on the Helena National Forest, predating the establishment of the Forest. Today the cabin is a rustic retreat for guests seeking relaxation and recreation.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | People / vehicles |
|---|---|
| 01 | 6 / 1 |
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 entire site consists of the cabin, a woodshed, vault toilet, barn, horse corrals and a fire ring. The cabin can accommodate up to six people on three sets of bunk beds with mattresses. A wood stove provides heat and a propane camp stove can be used for cooking. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, dishes, propane lantern, utensils and cookware. An axe and snow shovel are provided. There is no available potable water or electricity at this facility. Guests must bring a sufficient amount of water for drinking, cooking and washing, as well as one or two small propane canisters to use with the propane stove and lantern. Guests need to provide their own sleeping bags, flashlights, linens, towels, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. All trash and food should be packed out, and guests should clean the cabin before leaving.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
All mileage is approximate from the highway. Road is native surface dirt, with ruts and rocky sections, higher clearance vehicles are a must, 4x4/AWD recommended, road is NOT for passenger cars.
| Nearest town | Townsend, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.3239° N, 111.7445° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Firewood may be available, but it is not guaranteed.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
22 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
24 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedSure Thing Swamp Rx
29 mi from the campground · 180 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 ↗ | 17.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | D & D RV Center ↗ | 22.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | The Base Camp ↗ | 23 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miEagle Interpretive3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miEagle Interpretive Short Loop0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miCrow Cr Jump Off0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miHall Creek2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miLongfellow Clear Cr ↗9.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miLong Park ↗4.8 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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- McCormick's Livery and Feed Stable SignSite · Townsend · 5.5 mi
- State Bank of TownsendBuilding · Townsend · 10.2 mi
- Fraternity HallBuilding · Elkhorn · 10.2 mi
Natural features
Eagle Guard Station is situated on the southeast flanks of the Elkhorn Mountains in a beautiful open grassland setting, an outstanding location for viewing elk. Crow Creek Falls, the largest waterfall in Helena National Forest, is located within hiking distance of the cabin and is a sanctuary for many wildlife species, including the threatened Canada lynx, the sensitive goshawk and westslope cutthroat trout. The area offers unique opportunities for viewing wildlife in their natural habitat. Bighorn sheep, mule and white-tailed deer, black bear, moose and a variety of birds are commonly seen. The more elusive badger, wolverine and mountain lion find habitat here as well.
Recreation
Eagle Guard Station provides guests with outstanding opportunities for photography, fishing, hunting, and hiking. The area offers centralized access to the Elkhorn Mountains with numerous hiking trails and roads leading to the Elkhorn's historical resources. Popular hikes include those to Crow Creek Falls and Poe Park. An interpretive trail is accessible just beyond the cabin. When snow allows, skiing gives visitors an up-close look at concentrations of wintering elk.
Nearby
Historic town sites and mining areas such as Elkhorn, Hassel, Ruddville and Diamond Hill mines are nearby for guests interested in the mining history of the Elkhorns.
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 Eagle Guard Station?
Sites at Eagle 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 Eagle Guard Station?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Eagle Guard Station have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Eagle Guard Station?
Eagle Guard Station provides guests with outstanding opportunities for photography, fishing, hunting, and hiking. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Eagle Guard Station?
Townsend, Montana. Historic town sites and mining areas such as Elkhorn, Hassel, Ruddville and Diamond Hill mines are nearby for guests interested in the mining history of the Elkhorns.
Source: Getting there
What if Eagle Guard Station is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are White Earth Campground (15.5 mi), Coulter Campground (16.2 mi, first-come), and Hellgate Campground (20.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby