Moose Creek Cabin

Moose Creek Cabin is situated in a grassy clearing surrounded by conifer forest in the Tenmile Creek drainage west of Helena, Montana. The cabin was constructed in 1907 and used by the Forest Service during the early history of the agency, serving as a Ranger Station, guard station and work center for the Civilian Conservation Corps. Today it is a rustic retreat. The cabin is accessible by car, but guests should park on the adjacent road and cross a footbridge to get to it. Moose Creek Cabin has electricity and is designed for up to 4 guests. One bedroom is furnished with a queen size bed and the other with 2 twin beds, all with mattresses. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, dishes, utensils, cookware and a propane cook stove and lights. The living room has a wood fireplace, and this is the only source of heat. An outhouse with vault toilet is located on-site, and a picnic table and campfire ring offer comfortable outdoor dining. Firewood for the indoor wood stove is provided September 1 through May 31; no firewood is provided June 1 through August 31. There is no water on site, so guests must bring a sufficient supply for drinking, cooking and washing. Guests should also bring their own sleeping bags, lanterns or flashlights, towels, dish soap, matches, toilet paper and garbage bags. All garbage must be packed out, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving. Hikers and backpackers can access the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail from trails found near the cabin. This is a non-motorized trail with spectacular views and a variety of terrain, open to mountain bikers, stock users, backpackers and day hikers; it transitions through thick forest to above tree line and offers views both east and west of the Continental Divide. Moose Creek, a stream located just 11.4 miles from Helena, supports redear sunfish, rainbow trout and brook trout — whether spinning, fly fishing or baitcasting, chances of getting a bite here are good. Winter play includes cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. The area around the cabin offers a variety of landscapes, from river banks to subalpine terrain. Valley bottoms, dense forests, meadows and barren ridges are mixed with streams, rivers and lakes. Elk, deer, squirrels and a variety of birds are commonly seen, and the more elusive badger, mountain lion and lynx find habitat in nearby areas as well.