USDA Forest Service · Montana
Ford Cabin
USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- May 21 to March 31
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 3,727 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
- WHALE CREEK (NFSR 318) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Flathead National Forest
- Nearest town
- HUNGRY HORSE
- Address
- P.O. Box 190340; 10 Hungry Horse Drive , HUNGRY HORSE, MT, 59919
- Phone
- 406-387-3800
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Cross Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Historic Sites, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Ford Cabin offers a cozy, rustic getaway along the appropriately named Wild and Scenic North Fork of the Flathead River. It is about 45 miles north of Columbia Falls, in northwestern Montana. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, viewing wildlife and exploring the area's many trails. The cabin is available from May 22 to March 31. It can be access by vehicle, however four-wheel drive and chains are recommended during the winter. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. The majority of the road from Columbia Falls to Ford Cabin is gravel, so be prepared for dust during your drive and at the cabin.
Recreation
Rainbow and cutthroat trout fishing is pleasant. In fact, the Flathead River is renowned for its excellent fly fishing. Visitors can hike and mountain bike on various trails and roads, or float in the river from the Canadian border to Polebridge on Class I to II rapids.
Facilities
The rustic log cabin has a small, covered front porch and a vault toilet nearby. It is equipped with a propane stove, lights, a heater and limited cooking and eating utensils. Furnishings include two bunk beds and one double bed, to accommodate up to six people.
Water from a hand-pump system, is only available from April to November. In winter, visitors must bring their own water. Other items to bring include food, bedding, flashlights, a first aid kit and other basic camping gear. Click here for more cabin details.
Natural Features
The cabin is perched on a grassy field beside a stand of pine trees and near the North Fork of the Flathead River and Tepee Creek.
The surrounding Glacier View Ranger District is bordered on the east by the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and Glacier National Park. To the north is Canada and west is the Kootenai National Forest. A variety of wildlife live in the area, including elk, moose and bears.
Nearby Attractions
Polebridge Mercantile offers limited supplies, and is about a half-hour's drive from the cabin.
Fees
Reservations can be made one to 180 days in advance. The rental fee is $50 per night and there is a maximum stay of three consecutive nights with a total of seven days per calendar year.
Federal Pass discounts do not apply.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 19° | -28° | 38° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 29° | 16° | -24° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 27° | -8° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 44° | 31° | 4° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 55° | 37° | 27° | 80° | 5 of 11 |
| June | 66° | 46° | 29° | 87° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 81° | 58° | 45° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 79° | 57° | 44° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 49° | 33° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 48° | 33° | 13° | 67° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 36° | 25° | -2° | 52° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 30° | 20° | -16° | 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
- Wurtz Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 1 sites
- Schnaus Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 1 sites
- Kintla Lake Campground · National Park Service · 5 mi · 13 sites
- Hornet Lookout · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 1 sites
- Ben Rover Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Montana · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-17. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.