USDA Forest Service · Montana
Monture Guard Station Cabin
USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 electric, 1 with water
- Season
- December 1 to April 14
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 4,163 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
- COTTONWOOD LAKES (NFSR 477) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Lolo National Forest
- Nearest town
- SEELEY LAKE
- Address
- Seeley Lake Ranger District, SEELEY LAKE, MT, 59868
- Phone
- 406-677-2233
- Activities
- Cross Country Skiing, Hiking, Historic & Cultural Site, Snowmobile, Wildlife Viewing, Winter Sports
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Monture Guard Station sits in the Lolo National Forest in western Montana, offering a variety of excellent winter recreation for visitors.
Recreation
Monture Guard Station offers modern amenities and furnishings just like home, but it also provides access to a variety of outdoor winter recreation opportunities that can only be enjoyed in a National Forest. A system of groomed trails surrounds the cabin and the nearby Seeley Lake, leaving lots of land for exploration.
The area also offers plentiful opportunities for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
Facilities
The two-story cabin is fully furnished and can accommodate up to eight people. Beds with mattresses are available on the second floor, while the first floor contains the kitchen, dining room and living room areas. A vault toilet outhouse is located approximately 75 yards northeast of the cabin.
The kitchen is equipped with a propane stove and oven, a small microwave, refrigerator and a variety of cooking and eating dishes and utensils, as well as pots and pans. There is a large table and ten chairs, as well as couches and other seating. The living space has electricity, rugs and wood floors throughout. Heat is provided by a propane heater. Propane fuel is provided.
Guests should bring their own bedding, towels, food, water, garbage bags, toilet paper and other necessities. Cleaning supplies and equipment are provided and guests will need to clean the cabin prior to leaving. There are no trash services, please pack out all garbage at departure.
The cabin is only available in the winter and guests will need to hike, snowmobile or ski about a mile to the cabin. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Natural Features
The cabin is located about 8 miles north of the town of Ovando at an elevation of 4,200 feet. The surrounding forest contains a wide variety of trees, plants and wildlife. The area is home to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, deer and grizzly and black bears. Both the bald and golden eagle reside in the forest, along with trumpeter swan, herons and dozens of varieties of ducks.
Nearby Attractions
The nearest gas and groceries is available about 10 miles from the cabin.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 18° | -32° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 30° | 16° | -20° | 46° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 25° | 1° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 45° | 30° | 4° | 68° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 57° | 38° | 26° | 79° | 5 of 11 |
| June | 68° | 47° | 34° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 83° | 56° | 43° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 81° | 57° | 45° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 49° | 31° | 84° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 53° | 35° | 22° | 72° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 27° | -3° | 57° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 31° | 17° | -6° | 45° | 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
- Monture Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Big Nelson Cg Complex · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi
- Salmon Lake State Park · Montana State Parks · 12 mi · 24 sites
- Big Larch Group Camping Sites · USDA Forest Service · 16 mi
- Placid Lake State Park · Montana State Parks · 17 mi · 40 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.