Ibex Cabin

Ibex Cabin was constructed in 1939 as a shelter for Forest Service rangers working within the Shields Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest of south-central Montana. It is available for summer and winter recreational use, and provides a peaceful, remote mountain retreat. This cabin offers very rustic accommodations with limited amenities, so guests should be prepared to bring most of their own supplies and gear. Guests can drive to the cabin from June until the snow flies. The cabin is closed April and May due to road and wildlife protection. High clearance, four-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended, and the access road may get muddy in the rain, so guests may want to call ahead for road conditions. In the winter, the cabin is only accessible by a 5.5-mile ski, snowshoe or snowmobile trip. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. There are a number of trails in the area for hikers, equestrians and snowmobilers; Tresspass Trail and Cottonwood Lake Trail are good ones to explore. Trails in the area may cross private property, so guests must stay on the trail. Winter recreation includes snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and big game hunting is also popular in this area. The cabin has bunk beds with mattresses to accommodate up to four people. Other amenities include a wood stove for heat, a propane lantern, a propane cookstove (bring propane cannisters), table, chairs, axe, splitting maul, bucket, broom, mop and shovel. An outhouse with vault toilet is located outside, and a campfire ring sits outside as well. Firewood is not available from June 1 through September 30, so bring firewood or gather it from the forest during summer, and never burn the provided firewood for outdoor fires, as it is extremely difficult to replace. Firewood is available during winter months as long as supplies last. Electricity and water are not available, so guests must bring their own water supply, as well as cooking gear, propane canisters for the lantern and stove, bedding, matches, newspaper, first aid kit, dishes and utensils, toilet paper and other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash carried out prior to leaving. The rustic cabin is nestled at the edge of a meadow in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains, at an elevation of 6,600 feet. A forest of lodgepole pine grows behind the cabin, and views from the front reveal the 7,354-foot peak of Ibex Mountain. The surrounding meadow bursts with color from wildflowers in the summer. Mule deer, porcupine and elk may be spotted around the cabin, and bird species that inhabit this area include bald eagles, owls, jays, western meadowlarks and mountain bluebirds.