USDA Forest Service · Montana
Ninko Cabin
USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- December 1 to March 31
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 4,600 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
- JOHNNY G (NFSR 10832) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Flathead National Forest
- Nearest town
- HUNGRY HORSE
- Address
- 8975 HWY 2 E BOX 190340, HUNGRY HORSE, MT, 59919
- Phone
- 406-387-3800
- Activities
- Camping, Cross Country Skiing, Hiking, Historic Sites, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Ninko Cabin is located 45 miles north of Columbia Falls, in northwestern Montana. It is an ideal rental for winter sports enthusiasts. Open only during cold months, the cabin provides a rustic, cozy setting with a good chance for pristine snow-capped scenery. It also provides access to a variety of recreational activities.
The cabin can be accessed via a 12-mile hike, snowshoe, ski or snowmobile trek from North Fork Road. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
Cross country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. Reaching the cabin on the 12-mile journey is part of the snow-sport fun to be had when visiting the cabin.
Facilities
The rustic cabin sleeps six with two bunk beds and two single beds. Amenities include a propane cook stove, lights, wood stove for heating, and a vault toilet. Pets are allowed, but cleaning up after them is required.
No water is available. Renters should pack their own bedding, drinking water, food, matches and all basic camp gear. Click here for more cabin details. Guests will need to clean the cabin, carry out all trash and replenish cut firewood supply prior to departure.
Natural Features
The cabin sits in a mountain valley, near Whale Creek, at an approximate elevation of 4,600 feet. Surrounding peaks include Hornet Mountain and Mount Thompson-Seton.
The 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 make its home in the area.
Fees
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° | -30° | 36° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 29° | 15° | -22° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 23° | -5° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 41° | 27° | 3° | 60° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 51° | 34° | 24° | 76° | 8 of 11 |
| June | 63° | 42° | 31° | 82° | 3 of 11 |
| July | 76° | 53° | 40° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 52° | 43° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 63° | 46° | 31° | 77° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 48° | 32° | 20° | 66° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 35° | 24° | -2° | 52° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 29° | 20° | -14° | 41° | 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
- Hornet Lookout · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 1 sites
- Tuchuck Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Red Meadow Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
- Wurtz Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 1 sites
- Ford Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Montana · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.