Bishop Mountain Cabin
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
Bishop Mountain Cabin was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938. The one-room cabin formerly housed Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management employees who stayed there to watch for forest fires. A historic fire lookout tower is nearby. The cabin was used for lookout workers until the early 1980s.
Guests can drive to the cabin from mid-May through mid-November, weather permitting, although about 16 miles of the trip are on high-clearance gravel roads. During winter months November through May, access to the cabin is accessible by snowmobile or other snow means, on an ungroomed portion of the road. The cabin provides several conveniences, but guests should be prepared to bring most of their own supplies and gear for a comfortable stay.
Guests will find two sets of bunkbeds with mattress pads, a dining table and chairs. A wood cook stove is available for cooking and heating, and firewood is provided. A vault toilet is located in a separate building.
Running water and electricity are not available. Guests must bring their own water supply as well as trash bags for packing out garbage. Bedding, matches, lighting and first aid supplies are not provided.
Need to Know
- Pick up the key at the Ashton Ranger Station, Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; to make arrangements for after hours or weekend pickup, call (208) 652-7442 during regular business hours.
- During the winter months, do not attempt travel to or from the cabin during severe snowstorms as whiteouts frequently occur.
This cabin is located in grizzly/black bear country. All food and coolers must be stored according to the Caribou Targhee National Forest Food Storage Order #04-15-23-217 .
- Drinking water is not provided, please bring plenty of water.
- Please leave the cabin clean for the next occupant.
- Please make sure fires in the outside campfire ring are extinguished completely before leaving the cabin. Abandoning campfires during any point in your stay at the cabin can result in a violation. Since water is not available at the cabin, please bring extra water to help extinguish campfire.
- This is a pack-it-in/pack-it-out facility; please take all trash with you when leaving the cabin.
- Guests should be aware that there is a risk of exposure to hantavirus when visiting remote cabins; click here to learn more.
- Click here for more information about Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
- Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Please do not climb the lookout tower.
Natural Features
The cabin sits at 7,800 feet on the summit of Bishop Mountain, which is covered by pine trees. This mountain sits on the western border of Henry's Fork Caldera, an 18-mile long, 23-mile wide caldera located just west of Yellowstone National Park. Visitors are awarded scenic views of the surrounding mountains. Wildlife in this area includes black bear, wolf, elk, moose, mule deer, and grizzly bears.
Nearby Attractions
Harriman State Park is approximately 14 miles east of Bishop Mountain and open year-round. It lies within a wildlife refuge that's part of the Yellowstone Ecosystem. Visitors often see moose, elk, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans. Anglers can find some of the best fly-fishing in the nation, and there are numerous multi-use trails.
Recreation
Guests at Bishop Mountain Cabin can participate in numerous recreational activities. Nearby logging roads are suitable for mountain biking. Hiking, snowmobiling and horseback riding trails are nearby. This area is also popular with hunters and berry pickers.
Contact Information
Mailing
ASHTON/ISLAND PARK RANGER DISTRICT P.O. Box 858 ASHTON ID 83420
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 208-652-7442
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Ashton, ID, travel north on Highway 20 for 16 miles, then turn left (west) on North Antelope Flat Road (#168). Travel 7.5 miles to Bishop Mountain Road (#120) and then turn right (north) and travel for about 5.4 miles. The road dead ends at the cabin.
