Wapiti Cabin
Custer Gallatin National Forest
Wapiti Cabin is a primitive, rustic, log structure open year-round for recreational enjoyment. It provides access to several trails for summer hiking and biking, and winter skiing and snowmobiling. The cabin can be accessed by vehicle in warmer weather, but snow conditions may require a six mile trek on skis, snowshoes, or by snowmobile.
Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and they must bring several of their own amenities.
This is a primitive cabin. It can sleep up to four people, with a maximum group size of six people for overnight use. There is a seven night maximum stay per group. A wood stove is available for heat, and an old-fashioned wood cook stove is also available. Basic ammeneties such as an axe, shovel, bucket and table with chairs are also provided. Four cots are available.
An outhouse is located outside and adjacent to the cabin. Firewood is supplied for indoor use only. Renters must gather their own wood for outdoor campfires. A corral is available for stock. A stock pot is provided for boiling water. It is strongly recommended that campers bring their own back country cookware and dishes for use.
No electricity or water is available. Guests must bring their own drinking water, flashlights and lanterns, bedding, matches, extra toilet paper, garbage bags, dish soap, and other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash removed prior to departure.
Need to Know
Please be aware that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service is not cleaning this rental cabin between user visits. To protect health and safety for all cabin visitors, we recommend you clean all "high touch surfaces" when you arrive and before you leave. Cleaning supplies are not provided; you are expected to bring your own. Leave nothing behind - pack it in, pack it out. Please take any garbage, food, books, and personal items with you. Immediately report any unsanitary conditions to the local Ranger Station.
- Make sure to have the lock combination for the cabin door; the combination code to the cabin is included in the confirmation e-mail or letter.
- No garbage service. Please bring garbage bags and pack out all trash and personal belongings.
- Winter travel can be difficult due to deep snow, wind, low visibility, and trail signs/markers being obscured by snow. Always travel with others, and familiarize yourself with the area and with traveling in avalanche terrain.
Grizzly bears frequent the area; store all attractants (coolers, food, beverages, stock feed, garbage, toiletrie, etc,) inside the cabin. Hebgen Lake Ranger staff will be patrolling for compliance with the Food Storage Order in the cabin vicinity throughout the season.
- Please use the corral at the cabin for holding stock and scatter manure to be considerate of other cabin users.
- Hay and feed brought to the site for stock must be certified weed-free.
- Candles are prohibited inside the cabin.
Do not leave pets unattended.
FIREWOOD ROUNDS IN WOODSHED ARE LIMITED TO INDOOR USE ONLY. Availability of firewood cannot be guaranteed. Firewood is not provided June 1st to September 30th.
Weather conditions vary. Please check forcast and road conditions before your trip.
Natural Features
Wapiti Cabin is situated inbetween the Madison Mountain Range and the Gallatin Mountain Range at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Beyond the meadow, guests at the cabin can see dense stands of evergreens and rugged mountain ridges. Wapiti Creek flows nearby.
The area around Wapiti Cabin is grizzly bear habitat, but it's also home to deer, elk, moose, and other wildlife.
Nearby Attractions
Wapitit Cabin is within the vacinity of West Yellowstone, MT, home of the West Gate to Yellowstone National Park.
It is also close to Hebgen and Earthquake lakes as well as the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center.
Recreation
The junction of Taylor Fork Road and Wapiti Creek offers several trailheads leading into the Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Mountain bikers will find several route options in the Wapiti Loops in Taylor Fork, including a 14-mile route that begins at the cabin.
For winter sports enthusiasts, the Big Sky Snowmobile Trail is within 2 miles of the cabin, and it offers some of Montana's best backcountry snowmobiling. The area around Wapiti Creek also offers good terrain for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
The cabin is open to stock, and there is a corral available for horses. A hitching rail surrounds the cabin for stock use.
Please keep in mind that fall hunting season brings big game hunters to this area.
Contact Information
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PO BOX 520 WEST YELLOWSTONE MT 59758
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 406-823-6961 (FOR CABIN AND ROAD INFORMATION - NO BOOKING)
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
Summer access (May 16 to December 1): For summer access from West Yellowstone, proceed north on Highway 191 for approximately 33.5 miles. Turn left on Taylor Fork Road/Forest Service Road 134 and proceed approximately 3.5 miles. Turn left on Forest Service Road 2522 and proceed approximately 1.5 miles. The cabin is located on the right side of the road.
Winter access (December 2 to May 15):
Snowmobiling: From West Yellowstone, Montana, proceed north on Highway 191 for approximately 33 miles to the Sage Creek Trailhead parking area off of Highway 191. Follow the newly relocated Big Sky/Carrot Basin Trail for eight miles. Please note that the cabin is located on the edge of a winter wildlife closure area. Off trail snowmobiling around the cabin is permitted only to the south of the access road (on the left side, if traveling to and beyond the cabin).
Trail grooming occurs December 1 - March 31 depending on snow conditions. View grooming report at destinationyellowstone.com/snowmobile. Trail maybe impassable due to weather.
Skiing/Snowshoeing: From West Yellowstone, Montana, proceed north on Highway 191 for approximately 33.5 miles. Turn left on Taylor Fork Road/Forest Service Road 134 and proceed for approximately 4 miles to the small, privately plowed parking area at the Albino Lake Trailhead. From here, it is approximately 2-miles along the road (south) to the cabin. Please note: plowed driving access to the parking area at the Albino Lake Trailhead is not guaranteed. Parking for the cabin is not allowed past the trailhead - Do Not block private property.
During the spring and fall, guests are encouraged to call the Hebgen Lake Ranger District at (406) 823-6961 for road conditions and access to the cabin.
