Squirrel Meadows Cabin

Closed — Open year-round with reservations available through Recreation.gov. Vehicle access mid-May through mid-November via 10 miles of gravel roads. Winter access December through mid-May requires snowmobile or cross-country skis for 10-mile trek from snowmobile trailhead. Cabin key pickup at Ashton Ranger Station Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by arrangement for after-hours pickup.

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About

Squirrel Meadows Guard Station is a historic two-room log cabin built in 1934 using Forest Service Standard Plan R4-7, located 24 miles east of Ashton, Idaho, on the Yellowstone Plateau of southwest Wyoming at 6,500 feet elevation. The site has been used for administrative purposes since 1907 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as one of only two cabins in Wyoming built with this specific plan. The lodgepole pine cabin features a wood shingled roof and sits in an open meadow surrounded by pine forest with views of distant mountains. The cabin accommodates up to six people with bunkbeds and mattresses, and includes a kitchen/living area with screened porch, wood stove for cooking and heating, table and chairs, and firewood. Outside facilities include a hand pump for drinking water, vault toilet, picnic table, and horse corrals. No electricity is provided. Guests must bring bedding, lighting, matches, first aid supplies, and pack out all trash. Recreational opportunities include horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and berry picking in summer months. Winter activities include snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing on ungroomed trails. The area supports diverse wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, elk, moose, mule deer, bison, mountain lions, and pronghorn. Nearby attractions include Mesa Falls Scenic Byway 30 miles south and Yellowstone National Park's west entrance 40 miles north.

Directions

From Ashton, Idaho, take Highway 47 east half a mile to Highway 32 and turn right (south). Travel 1 mile to Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road (Forest Road 261). Turn left (east) and travel 22 miles to Road 032. Turn right (south) and go half a mile to the cabin. Final 10 miles are gravel roads. Winter access requires snowmobile or skis from trailhead, 10 miles to cabin.