Montana / Madison County / Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Bear Creek Cabin

Open — Open for public rental December through April. Reservations available via Recreation.gov. The cabin serves as an administrative site during summer and fall months.

About

Bear Creek Cabin sits at the edge of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness at the foot of the Madison Range in southwestern Montana. This two-room cabin comfortably sleeps four people with one set of bunk beds and two single beds. The facility includes electricity, lights, a refrigerator, stove, oven, table with chairs, and basic cooking equipment. A wood stove provides heat, with firewood typically stacked on the porch and south side of the cabin, though availability may be limited by March and April. The cabin is situated at 6,250 feet elevation amid open meadows surrounded by mature aspens and Douglas fir trees, with Bear Creek running nearby. The area offers excellent opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and horseback riding on nearby trails. The Bear Creek Wildlife Management Area lies immediately north of the cabin but is closed to all off-trail access between December 2 and May 15. Visitors must bring their own water, as the creek is the only source and may be difficult to access in winter. An outhouse with vault toilets is located 40 feet south of the cabin, with two additional vault toilets in the adjacent campground. Renters are responsible for cleaning the facility before departure and replenishing the wood supply. The cabin operates December through April, serving as a Forest Service administrative site during summer and fall months. Access is via gravel or dirt roads that may be muddy or snow-covered and are not always plowed.

Directions

From Ennis, take Highway 287 south for 11 miles to Cameron, Montana. From Cameron, turn east on Bear Creek Loop and continue approximately 6 miles to the cabin. The last several miles are gravel or dirt roads, which may be muddy or snow-covered and may not always be plowed.

Nearby Campgrounds