Antone Cabin

The Antone Cabin, constructed in 1929, sits in a beautiful open meadow, at the edge of a thick forest, providing visitors with a unique camping experience on the southwestern end of the Snowcrest Mountain range. With its end-of-the-road location, it's usually pretty quiet in the summer. The cabin opens for use on July 1 and stays open until December, and it is popular throughout the rental season. It is small and intended for 2 people, and it is closed on Tuesdays for administrative purposes. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. In addition to hunting access, the facility provides ample opportunities for hiking, backpacking and horseback riding. The cabin lies within proposed wilderness, so snowmobiling and bicycling are not permitted off the main access road, FS325; snowmobile use on the road is only permitted after December 1. A variety of hiking, backpacking and horseback riding trails extend into the Snowcrest Range, including the Snowcrest Trail, which covers the entire range, providing panoramic views. The 40-mile trail can serve as the means for a hearty horseback adventure, a lengthy backpacking trip, or make for several day trips into the wilderness. Antone Peak is a popular day hike, about 2 miles away but more challenging than one might expect. The nearby Blacktail Deer Creek, and other seasonal mountain streams, offer access to fishing, with a possible catch of brook or cutthroat trout. The cabin is a small, primitive, one-room log cabin, equipped with bunk beds that sleep two people, a table and 2 chairs. It has a loft, but it is not available for public use due to safety regulations. Also inside is a propane stove with an oven and 2 propane wall lights supplied by the large tank outside, a wood stove for heat, shelf and cupboard space, cooking pots, eating utensils, a broom and dust pan, bucket, shovel, axe and cleaning supplies. Foam pads are supplied on the beds. Outside there is a toilet approximately 100 feet southeast of the cabin. Firewood is stacked near the outside fence, however the supply cannot be guaranteed. Guests must bring their own water; the spring just west of the cabin may have sufficient water for cleaning, but is unreliable, often dry by late summer. Sleeping bags and blankets are not supplied, and users will also need to bring their own matches, food, toilet paper and garbage bags. Garbage and cleaning services are not provided. There is a large horse pasture and smaller holding corral that renters may use. The historic log cabin is located along the grassy foothills at the southwestern end of the Snowcrest Range, at an elevation of 8,100 feet. Together with the nearby Gravelly Range, the area is one of Montana's most popular hunting grounds. The two mountain ranges are home to nearly 10,000 elk and a growing population of grizzly bears, and bears are sometimes seen near the cabin. Moose are also frequent visitors to the meadow where the cabin lies. Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is about 20 miles to the southeast.