USDA Forest Service · Montana
Spanish Creek Cabin
USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,106 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
- SPANISH CREEK (NFSR 982) · bituminous surface treatment · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Custer Gallatin National Forest
- Address
- MT
- Phone
- 406-522-2520
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing, Winter Sports
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Spanish Creek Cabin was constructed in 1934 and retains much of its rustic character from that time.
The cabin is available year-round and offers an excellent base camp for a variety of summer and winter recreation opportunities. It is adjacent to a popular trailhead and a campground.
Guests may drive to the cabin during summer months. During the winter (December 2nd through May 15th) the access road is gated 3.5 miles from the cabin and guest should be prepared to hike, bike, ski or snowshoe to the cabin.
Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
A nearby trailhead provides access to a network of trails that head south into the Lee Metcalf Wilderness and west into non-wilderness areas.The trails can be used by hikers, equestrians, snowshoers and cross-country skiers.
Trails also lead to Little Hell Roaring Creek, the north end of the Madison Range and the South Fork of Spanish Creek.
This area also offers opportunities for fishing and hunting.
Facilities
The two-story cabin has bunk beds and beds with mattresses to sleep up to four people. A wood cook stove is provided. In a kitchen area cleaning equipment is available.
A campfire ring is located in front of the cabin. An outhouse is equipped with a vault toilet.
Electricity and water are not provided. Guests need to bring their own drinking water, bedding, food, lanterns or flashlights, extra toilet paper, dish soap, garbage bags and first aid supplies, among other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash removed before leaving.
Natural Features
The cabin sits at the base of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, in a large meadow, at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Wildflowers add bursts of color around the cabin each summer. South Fork Spanish Creek flows nearby.
The densely-forested peaks of the Madison Range surround the cabin. This area is home to grizzly bears, moose, elk, deer and bighorn sheep, as well as a variety of bird species.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 13° | -26° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 28° | 13° | -24° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 18° | 3° | 59° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 43° | 26° | -3° | 61° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 55° | 33° | 14° | 68° | 10 of 11 |
| June | 65° | 44° | 31° | 86° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 51° | 39° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 51° | 44° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 43° | 27° | 81° | 2 of 11 |
| October | 51° | 32° | 13° | 71° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 21° | -12° | 59° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 30° | 13° | -5° | 44° | 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
- Spire Rock Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 20 sites
- Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
- Greek Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 15 sites
- Rat Flats · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi
- Little Bear Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Montana · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-03. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.