Maxey Cabin
Maxey Cabin offers a quaint mountain retreat that is ideally located in one of Gallatin National Forest's most popular recreation areas. Guests can expect a few creature comforts at the cabin, but they will need to bring some of their own supplies and gear. The cabin is accessible by car in the summer. During the spring (from March 31st through May 16th) the road to the cabin is closed to motorized vehicle traffic every year. Guest should be prepared to hike or bike 12 miles to the cabin during this period. During winter months the access road is infrequently plowed, so guests should be prepared with a four wheel drive, high clearance vehicle or to ski up to 12 miles to the cabin.
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 | Fires |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | 15 / – | Yes |
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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The main cabin has bunk beds with mattresses to sleep up to four people. There is also a wood stove for heat, a table and chairs, a propane lantern, broom and dust pan. A smaller cabin is unheated and is only available in the summer. It provides bunk beds with mattresses to sleep up to two people. The two cabins together can accommodate up to 15 people. A vault toilet and campfire ring are located outside. The cabin does not have water or electricity. Guests need to supply their own drinking water, as well as cooking gear, lanterns or flashlights, bedding, matches, toilet paper, dish soap, towels and other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash removed prior to leaving.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
| Nearest town | Bozeman, Montana |
| Coordinates | 45.4783° N, 110.9517° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedShenango Pile Rx
14 mi from the campground
- PrescribedNorth Bridger Brackett Creek Pile Burning Rx
25 mi from the campground
- PrescribedRx Hell'S Canyon
47 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Rite Bobbin ↗ | 13.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Valley Trailer Sales Inc ↗ | 21.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 0.9 miPalisade Falls Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 1.4 miBlackmore Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 1.4 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miPalisade Mountain Foothills1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miChisholm Bay0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miHood Creek2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.5 miCrescent Lake1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miWildhorse Cutoff0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.8 miUpper Wildhorse Lick ↗6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.9 miPalisade Falls Trailhead ↗Custer Gallatin National Forest
- 2.6 miLick Creek Trailhead ↗Custer Gallatin 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.
Public land it sits in
Custer Gallatin National Forest begins about 7.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.7 miCuster Gallatin National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,412,203 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
- Anderson SchoolBuilding · Gallatin Gateway · 11.1 mi
- Little Bear SchoolBuilding · Gallatin Gateway · 11.4 mi
- Cottonwood SchoolBuilding · Gallatin Gateway · 13.7 mi
Natural features
The cabin is nestled in Hyalite Canyon, an area with beautiful wildflower meadows during the summer and thick blankets of pristine snow in winter. Evergreen forest and the steep ridges of the Gallatin Mountains surround the cabin. Hyalite Reservoir is nearby. This area is important habitat for grizzly bears, elk, mule deer, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, wolves and mountain goats.
Recreation
Hikers and equestrians have access to the Hyalite Peak trailhead that leads into an area of the Gallatin Range known for its waterfalls. Two accessible trails in Hyalite Canyon lead to the waterfalls. Bicyclists can use Hyalite Canyon Road. Hyalite Canyon is a popular destination for backcountry skiers and ice climbers. Hyalite Reservoir is a mile away, offering opportunities for non-motorized boating and trout fishing. Elk hunting is excellent in Hyalite Canyon in the fall.
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 Maxey Cabin?
Sites at Maxey 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 Maxey Cabin?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Maxey Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Maxey Cabin?
Yes, pets are allowed at Maxey Cabin. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Maxey Cabin?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Maxey Cabin?
Hikers and equestrians have access to the Hyalite Peak trailhead that leads into an area of the Gallatin Range known for its waterfalls. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Maxey Cabin?
Bozeman, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Maxey Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Chisholm Campground (0.3 mi), Hood Creek Campground (0.9 mi), and Langohr Campground (4.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby