Montana › Park County › Custer Gallatin National Forest

Porcupine Cabin

Open

Open year-round. Reservations available via Recreation.gov up to six months in advance. Maximum 5-night stay. Summer access requires high-clearance 4WD vehicle. Winter access requires skiing, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling 2-3 miles from the end of the maintained road. Check-in 2:00 PM, check-out noon.

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About

Porcupine Cabin sits in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains at 6,400 feet elevation, overlooking the grasslands of Shields Valley with views of the Bridger Mountains and the northern Crazy Mountain peaks. Built in 1914 after a previous structure burned, the cabin was remodeled by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 and historically served as temporary housing for Forest Service rangers patrolling for timber poachers, watching for fires, and monitoring livestock. The cabin accommodates up to 8 guests on bunk beds with mattresses. Amenities include a wood heating stove, propane lantern, table and chairs, screened front porch, and an outdoor campfire ring with benches. A vault toilet outhouse is located behind the cabin. Guests must bring their own drinking water, bedding, cooking gear, food, toilet paper, and flashlights. Firewood is provided in winter; summer guests must bring or gather their own. The nearby trailhead provides access to hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails heading east into the Crazy Mountains. Winter visitors can cross-country ski or snowshoe the same trails. Wildlife in the area includes deer, moose, bears, elk, bald eagles, and various mountain bird species.

Directions

From Livingston, Montana, travel north on Highway 89 to Wilsall. Just north of Wilsall, turn northeast onto Shields River Road. Continue 8 miles to Porcupine Road, turn east (right) and drive another 8 miles to the cabin. High-clearance 4WD recommended. In winter, the last 2-3 miles are not plowed.