Old Condon Ranger Station
OLD CONDON RANGER STATION
Part of Flathead National Forest
Overview
Old Condon Ranger Station is open year-round, providing access to great recreation opportunities in every season. Visitors to the area enjoy fishing in the nearby Swan River, as well as hiking and exploring areas surrounding the cabin. Varieties of birds and wildlife make their home in the area.The cabin provides modern amenities and can be reached by vehicle. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring some of their own supplies to ensure a comfortable stay.
Facilities
The two-story cabin greets guests with a screened porch and a green painted front door. It has a living and dining room with a propane furnace, as well as electricity and a full kitchen. The kitchen includes a refrigerator with freezer and a modern gas range and oven. Cabinets are stocked with basic cookware, plates, cups, bowls and utensils.
Upstairs are three bedrooms with a mix of two double and four single beds (two sets of bunkbeds). The couch in the living room also folds flat for use as a bed. Old Condon can comfortably sleep up to eight people. An indoor bathroom features running water and a flush toilet.
Guests should bring bedding, food and personal toiletries. Binoculars are recommended for bird and wildlife watching. Click here for more cabin details. Guests must clean the cabin and carry out all trash before leaving.
Natural Features
The cabin is nestled in Swan Valley just west of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. It sits about five miles east of the Swan River. From the front porch, guests can see views of the Mission Mountains across an open field. Behind the cabin is a stand of towering mixed pine trees and Simpson Creek flows nearby.Part of a historic Forest Service compound, the ranger's residence was constructed in the early 1920s and later restored for public use. Historically, the site was used year round to operate the Condon Ranger District, which has been renamed as the Swan Lake Ranger District. The work center was relocated in the 1960s, but some structures remain to remind visitors of the old Forest Service days.
Recreation
Guests at the house enjoy fishing in the nearby creek and river, as well as viewing wildlife. The facility affords scenic views of the Mission Mountains.A variety of trails are available nearby for hiking and backpacking. The same trails serve as popular areas for cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.
Nearby Attractions
Limited supplies are sold at a general store in Condon, about 20 minutes from the cabin.Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (406) 837-7500.Important Notices
The cabin remains locked; a combination lock code will be contained in the reservation confirmation letter. The combination code will be on your confirmation email. Contact the ranger district office at (406) 837-7500, during normal office hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for updates on weather and road conditions; refunds will not be given for inclement weather or road conditions.
The stove and water system require electricity please plan accordingly. Refunds will not be given for a power outage which are frequent due to the remote nature of the cabin. Click this link for outage information https://bills.meccoop.com/maps/OutageWebMap/
The road to the cabin is plowed in winter. However, you should be prepared for winter driving conditions. Depending on the severity of snowfall, the cabin may not be immediately plowed. It is also common for the cabin to lose power during weather events. Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly.
During your stay the Forest Service or their representatives may be present at or around the cabin to perform repairs, stocking of cabin supplies, snow removal, or any other general maintenance.
- Grizzly bears frequent the area; use appropriate containers for food and garbage, or store it in the cabin at all times
- Domestic pets are allowed; please be a responsible owner; clean cabin of dog hair and pick up waste
- Please bring garbage bags; this is a 'pack-it-in, pack-it-out' facility
- This is a rustic cabin rental. While we have supplied the cabin rental with several amenities please realize this is not a hotel room or a vacation house rental. The cabin will not have all modern conveniences or comforts. We clean the cabins about once a week, which means we do not clean after every rental. Some renters are not as courteous as others and may leave the cabin less than spotless. Please take this into consideration when forming your expectations of the cabin rental.
Candles or any other open flames are prohibited
There is a light in the stairway leading to the upstairs. The switch to turn it on/off is located a the bottom of the stairs on the baluster. It is not a traditional 3-way switch as the switch at the top of the stairs needs to be turned on at all times to make it work.
- Stock is prohibited
The porch, ramps, steps and roadways can be slippery when damp, or covered by snow or frost.
Conserve propane by setting the thermostat at 55 degrees when leaving the cabin
- Commercial use of cabin is prohibited
- Click here for more information on the Flathead National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Available Activities
- WILDLIFE VIEWING - Wildlife Viewing
- WINTER SPORTS - Snowmobile Trails
- HIKING - Hiking
- FISHING - Fishing
- CAMPING - Camping
- HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE - Historic Sites
Directions
<p><strong>*ATTENTION</strong>* Due to significant blowdown in December 2025, access is currently only available via the southern end of the Condon Loop Road. This road is rough with large potholes. Please use a high-clearance vehicle. Turn east on Condon Loop Road 124 near Mile Marker 47. Continue for approximately 3/4 of a mile. The Old Condon Ranger Station driveway is located on the South (right) side of the road just past the wetland/meadow.</p><p>Old Condon is located between milepost 48 and 49 on Highway 83, in northwestern Montana. Turn east onto Condon Loop Road 124. Follow this road for approximately 2.5 miles. The driveway is on the left just before the large meadow and wetland.</p><p></p>
Contact Information
1052 Condon Loop RdCondon, MT
