Meadow Creek Station

Closed — Closed for the season. The cabin is typically available May 1 through September 15. Reservations open 6 months in advance through Recreation.gov.

About

Built in the early 1920s, Meadow Creek Station served as a Forest Service guard station and later a workstation for field crews. The rustic cabin complex sits in a steep-sided canyon along Meadow Creek, a major tributary of the Selway River known for its clean, cold water and unspoiled beauty. The main cabin features six beds with mattresses, a living room with wood heat, and kitchen facilities including a wood cook stove, propane refrigerator, and propane lights. Basic cookware, dishes, and a Coleman lantern are provided, but visitors must bring their own fuel, bedding, and flashlights. Access requires a challenging 15-mile hike or horseback ride on the Meadow Creek National Recreation Trail #726 from Slim's Camp, or approximately 14 miles via Kirk's Fork Trail from Elk City (open to motorcycles). The cabin has an indoor but untested water system requiring filtration or boiling, and an outhouse for facilities. A corral is available for stock users, who must bring weed-free feed. The area offers excellent fly fishing for trout after July 1st, hiking opportunities, and wildlife viewing including elk, moose, deer, black bear, and beaver. Guests must pick up the door key at Moose Creek Ranger Station before their trip.

Directions

Travel to Lowell, Idaho at Highway 12 milepost 97. Cross the bridge and drive 20 miles up the Selway River. Cross Selway Falls Bridge on the right and travel about a mile to the trailhead at Slim's Camp. It's a 15-mile hike or horseback ride on National Recreation Trail #726 to the cabin. Alternate route from Elk City via Kirk's Fork Trail #830 to Anderson Butte, then Butte Creek Trail #809 to Meadow Creek Trail #726, approximately 14 miles total and open to motorcycles.

Nearby Campgrounds