Thompson Sta.

Open — Open year-round for reservations. The road is currently closed due to snow, with access maintained to within about 4-8 miles of the cabin on the east side. Access requires snowshoes, cross-country skis, or snowmobile. The road typically opens to vehicles around the first week of June.

About

Thompson Guard Station is a historic two-room cabin located in the Big Belt Mountain Range of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Built in 1954 for district rangers and possibly used earlier as a cookhouse for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, the cabin sits in a grassy, open clearing backed by mixed conifer forest. The cabin accommodates up to 6 people with single beds and mattresses, and features a Monarch cook stove, propane lanterns and stove, wood heat stove, table and chairs, and full kitchen supplies. A deck provides outdoor space, and fenced corrals are available for stock. The area offers diverse recreational opportunities including fishing at nearby Gipsy Lake (1 mile south by vehicle) and access to Hidden Lake, Upper Baldy Lake, and Edith Lake. Multi-use trails and roads provide hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in summer, while winter brings excellent snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Wildlife is abundant, with elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer commonly seen, and more elusive species like mountain lion and lynx inhabiting the area. Canyon Ferry Lake and the community of White Sulphur Springs with its hot springs are nearby attractions.

Directions

From White Sulphur Springs, travel west on Highway 360 for 1.6 miles. At the sharp curve, go straight onto the gravel road (Forest Service sign reads: Gipsy Lake 14, Townsend 44). Continue 6.5 miles to a ranch entrance fork and stay right. Drive 7.5 miles as the road becomes more primitive to the Forest boundary. Within a quarter mile, turn right at the Thompson Station sign onto Forest Road 383. Proceed 0.6 miles to a left turn at the sign directing to the gate and cabin. Alternative summer access from the west over Duck Creek Pass (Road 139).

Nearby Campgrounds