USDA Forest Service · Idaho
Warm River Cabin
USDA Forest Service · Idaho, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- June 1 to March 31
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,794 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- WARM RIVER SPRINGS (NFSR 20154) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Caribou-Targhee National Forest
- Nearest town
- ASHTON
- Address
- ASHTON/ISLAND PARK RANGER DISTRICT, ASHTON, ID, 83420
- Phone
- 208-652-7442
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Mountain Biking, Snowmobile Trails
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Warm River Cabin is located less than 20 miles from Ashton, Idaho, at Warm River Springs. An Idaho fish and game hatchery operated here from the 1930s to the 1950s. The cabin was formerly the hatchery manager's house. It was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1938.
The cabin is open year-round and can be accessed by car in the warmer months. Snowmobiles and cross-country skis are required to access the cabin on a groomed trail from early December through mid-May. The trek from the nearest available parking at Bear Gulch Trailhead to the cabin is 6 miles. Guests should be prepared to bring much of their own gear and supplies to make their stay comfortable.
Recreation
Hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers can use the nearby trails. Off-road vehicle enthusiasts, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers can find trails within 10 miles
Visitors can find an abundance of berries ripe for picking in late summer. The Warm River is excellent for trout fishing and wading. Game and game bird hunting is available in season.
Facilities
This charming cabin can accommodate a maximum of 12 people. It offers six sets of bunkbeds with mattresses, a dining area with a table and benches, a wood stove for cooking and for heating, storage cabinets and firewood. There is a new wood stove located in the living room with available seating as well. A picnic table, campfire ring and vault toilet are located outside the cabin.
Natural Features
The cabin is named after the adjacent Warm River Springs, which is the source of the Warm River. The dwelling sits at an elevation of 6,000 feet in an open, grassy area flanked by a conifer forest. Moose and bears are sometimes seen in this area
Nearby Attractions
The cabin is a short distance from the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. The star attraction of this 29-mile sightseeing drive is Mesa Falls, which is divided into the 114-foot Upper Falls and the 65-foot Lower Falls. This is the only major waterfall in Idaho that isn't used for hydroelectric or irrigation purposes.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 9° | -17° | 38° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 29° | 15° | -12° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 22° | 6° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 44° | 25° | 2° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 59° | 33° | 25° | 71° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 69° | 45° | 31° | 85° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 83° | 54° | 41° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 81° | 53° | 46° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 71° | 44° | 34° | 80° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 32° | 13° | 72° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 39° | 21° | -3° | 57° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 28° | 10° | -1° | 42° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Grandview Campground (Idaho) · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 8 sites
- Warm River · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 37 sites
- Riverside (Id - Targhee) · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 58 sites
- Cave Falls Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
- Box Canyon Campground · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi
All public campgrounds in Idaho · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.