USDA Forest Service · Montana
Crandall Creek Cabin
USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,414 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
- SHIELDS RIVER (NFSR 844) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Custer Gallatin National Forest
- Nearest town
- Livingston
- Address
- 5242 HWY 89 South, Livingston, MT, 59047
- Phone
- 406-222-1892
- Activities
- Camping, Cross Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
A historic cabin known as Bennett Creek Cabin was located over a mile from this site, but it was recently replaced with the current Crandall Creek Cabin, a traditional
log structure. This cabin offers rustic accommodations with limited amenities, so guests should be prepared to bring most of the supplies and gear they need for a comfortable stay.
Access to the cabin is via a semi-primitive dirt road. Four-wheel drive is suggested on this road from June 16 to Dec. 1.
Guests who arrive after Dec. 1 must get to the cabin by hiking, snowshoeing, skiing or snowmobiling seven miles from the end of the plowed road to the cabin. No
off-road vehicles or motorcycles are allowed beyond the Shields River Loop gate from Dec. 2 to June 15. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety.
Recreation
Activities in the area include hiking, mountain biking, birding, hunting, horseback riding and during the summer months, ATV's and motorcycles may be used on the main roads if street legal. Winter activities include snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
Excellent fishing is available in the nearby creeks. Hunting is also a popular pastime in this area each fall.
Facilities
The cabin can sleep up to six people, in three available bunk beds with mattresses. A table with benches, a wood stove for heat , a propane lantern and propane cookstove are provided. There is a mop and bucket for cleaning the cabin.
FIREWOOD IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH. PLEASE BRING FIREWOOD OR GATHER FROM FOREST DURING SUMMER.
DO NOT BURN PROVIDED FIREWOOD FOR OUTDOOR FIRES,EVER, AS IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. Firewood is available during winter months as long as supplies last. An axe and splitting maul are also supplied.
Both the cabin and adjacent vault toilet are wheelchair accessible. There is a campfire ring and picnic table outside.
No water, electricity or propane canisters for the lantern or stove are provided. Guests need to provide their own water supply as well as bring propane canisters or battery-operated lanterns or flashlights.
A propane two-burner cookstove is provided for cooking. A table is available to set up the propane camp stove. Guests need to bring bedding, matches, toilet paper, first aid kit, cookware, dishes, utensils and newspaper for starting woodstove and propane canisters for lantern and Coleman stove for a comfortable stay.
A stock corral is provided for four animals. If the corral is used for stock, it must be cleaned before leaving. Feed must be Certified Weed Seed Free and out-of-state horses must have a current Coggins test. Water for the horses can be obtained from a creek nearby.
Natural Features
Crandall Creek Cabin is tucked beneath the foothills of the Crazy Mountains. The front porch of the cabin offers a majestic view of Target Rock and spectacular star gazing on a clear night.
The cabin is situated at an elevation of approximately 6,400 feet, near several creeks and the Shields River. This area is home to bears, elk, deer and moose, among
other wildlife species. Birders may spot a variety of birds.
Fees
Requests for refunds or cancellations must be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service, in accordance with their policy. Changes to online reservations can only be made via the NRRS Contact Center: 1-877-444-6777.
Within the Yellowstone Ranger District, refunds for weather or accessibility issues on the day of arrival or later will not be considered. Refunds will not be considered for conditions resulting from poor housekeeping by previous visitors.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 14° | -30° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 26° | 11° | -24° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 36° | 19° | -2° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 39° | 23° | -9° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 51° | 34° | 20° | 68° | 8 of 11 |
| June | 62° | 43° | 33° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 76° | 52° | 38° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 75° | 51° | 43° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 65° | 43° | 23° | 80° | 2 of 11 |
| October | 51° | 32° | 19° | 69° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 38° | 24° | -10° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 28° | 15° | -7° | 43° | 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
- Porcupine Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 1 sites
- Ibex Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi · 1 sites
- Halfmoon Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
- Spring Creek · USDA Forest Service · 28 mi
- Richardson Campground · USDA Forest Service · 29 mi
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.