Campground Details - TWIN LAKES CABIN (MT), MT - ReserveAmerica

Overview

Twin Lakes Cabin is located in a scenic evergreen forest in the Beaverhead Mountains of western Montana. It was built in the 1920s to provide housing for trail crews, smoke chasers, timber cruisers and grazing inspectors who worked in the area.

Guests have access to a number of recreational opportunities, including hiking and mountain biking in the summer and fall, and snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter.

The cabin is accessible by vehicle between July and September, and until the snow closes the road. Guests may need to hike, snowmobile, ski or snowshoe up to 12 miles when the access road is closed. The cabin is equipped with a variety of amenities to provide an optimal outdoor experience; however, guests need to bring some of their own supplies and gear.

Natural Features:

The cabin is located in a heavily wooded area at the base of Squaw and Jumbo peaks on the shore of the 75-acre Twin Lakes. It is situated at an elevation of about 7,200 feet in the Beaverhead Mountains, a subrange of the Bitterroot Range that divides Montana and the neighboring state of Idaho.

Extensive conifer forests provide habitat for a large elk herd that winters in Idaho and summers in Montana. Marshy glacial valleys in the area constitute some of the best moose habitat in the state. Other wildlife in the area includes mountain goats, bighorn sheep, lynx, marten, deer and black bears (learn more about bear safety).

Recreation:

A variety of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails exist in the area, including the Big Lake Creek Trail, which traverses four miles of terrain surrounding the lake. The nearby trails also provide access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

During winter months, the trails are popular for snowmobiling, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Visitors should be prepared for unexpected avalanches.

Fishing and non-motorized boating are enjoyed by visitors to Twin Lakes. Ice fishing is popular when the lake freezes over. Anglers might see a variety of trout, as well as arctic grayling and mountain whitefish. Power boats are limited to electric motors only on the lake.

Facilities:

The wood-frame, one-room cabin sleeps up to four people and comes equipped with two beds with mattresses and two folding cots. Other amenities include a wood-burning stove, propane cook stove, table and chairs, cupboard space, a food storage box, basic cooking and eating utensils, cookware, a propane lantern, axe, shovel, bucket and cleaning equipment.

Firewood is available in an outdoor shed. An outhouse with vault toilet is located nearby.

The cabin has no electricity or running water. Guests will need to bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Water can be taken from the mountain lake or streams, but it must be treated prior to use.

Fuel is not provided for the cook stove or lantern, so guests need to bring 16-ounce propane canisters. Other items to bring include bedding, food, toilet paper, towels, matches, flashlights, garbage bags and maps, among other necessities. Guests are required to carry out all trash and food and clean the cabin prior to leaving.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Axe Bed(s) Birding Boat Ramp Boating Bucket & Shovel Cabin Rentals Canoeing Cleaning Equipment Cooking Pots Cooking Utensils Cot(s) Cross Country Skiing Firewood Fishing Hiking	Horseback Riding Trails Ice Fishing Lake Access Mattress Pad(s) Mountain Biking Non-Motorized Boating Propane Lantern (Fuel not provided) Propane Stove Snowmobile Trails Snowshoeing Table & Chairs Trails Vault Toilets Wildlife Viewing Wood Stove

Know Before You Go

Twin Lakes Cabin is only accessible by motorized vehicle from July 1-September 30, or until the snow closes the road. The remaining months of the year the cabin can only be accessed by snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, all-terrain vehicles, hiking or horseback. Distance to the cabin varies by the snow conditions and can be as far as 12 miles.
Guests must bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning
Propane fuel is not provided
This facility is located in a remote area; before making a reservation, become aware of bear, water and weather safety, including avalanche danger
The cabin remains locked; contact the Wisdom Ranger District during office hours to obtain a key code
There is limited or no cell phone service in the area
All garbage and food must be packed out
It is recommended to call the Ranger District a day before arrival to check on current and projected weather conditions
Guests should be aware that there is a risk of exposure to hantavirus when visiting remote cabins; click here to learn more
Learn more about the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
45.41, -113.68306
45°24'36"N, 113°40'59"W

From July to September only: From Wisdom, travel south on Highway 278 for about 7 miles. Turn onto Forest Road 945 and continue to Forest Road 183. From there, it is approximately 12 miles to the cabin. A map of the area may be necessary to reach the cabin and can be purchased by calling the Wisdom Ranger District.

Snowfall prohibits convenient access to the cabin throughout most of the year. Guests must snowmobile, ski, snowshoe or hike up to 12 miles to the cabin during the winter and spring months from the end of the plowed road. The route is marked with orange diamond stakes in the ground.