Barber Flat Cabin (Boise National Forest, ID)

P.O. BOX 129
IDAHO CITY, ID 83631

Overview

The Barber Flat Cabin site was established for administrative use by the Forest Service in 1923, and was used prior to that by the Barber Lumber Company. At the time, the Forest Service used a cabin already on-site as a guard station and then built a new one in 1927. The current cabin and outbuildings were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, and the cabin today looks much as it did back then.

Guests can drive to Barber Flat Cabin in two-wheel drive passenger cars or trucks, although the roads may occasionally be rough. The cabin provides most of the conveniences needed for a comfortable stay.

Recreation

Several multi-use trails run east and west from the cabin. Hikers and mountain bikers can access the Barber Flat Trailhead nearby, and the Hungarian/Sunset Trail is located just across the road about 200 yards north of the cabin. Other trails in the area include the Beaver Creek/Grand Mountain Trail and the Short Creek Trail, which is known as a haven for nesting ospreys.

The river offers great rainbow trout fishing and many swimming holes. Seasonal big game hunting is another popular pastime in the surrounding area.

Facilities

The cabin can sleep six people on two futons and one bunkbed. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, cookware, dishes, utensils, a propane stove, refrigerator and sink with hot water. The bathroom has a sink, bathtub and flush toilet.

A wood stove is provided for heat and firewood may be gathered from the surrounding forest. A picnic table and campfire ring with benches are located outside. Limited bear-proof trash recepticles are located at the back of the cabin. Please be mindful and try to pack-out as much as you are able to.

The cabin has no electricity, so please plan accordingly and bring your own light sources. Bedding, pillows and towels are not provided.

Guests are asked to please use provided cleaning supplies to clean the cabin upon checkout.

Natural Features

Barber Flat Cabin is situated near the North Fork Boise River among towering Ponderosa pines at an elevation of about 4,300 feet. The cabin is surrounded by the Boise Mountains and tucked beneath Hungarian Ridge.

Osprey nests are a common sight around Barber Flat. Visitors to this area may see other wildlife, such as mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, chukars, wild turkeys, eagles and the occasional black bear or wolf.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (208) 392-3700.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Pets allowed: all 1 sites
Largest party: 6 people

Directions

From Idaho City, take State Highway 21 for 2 miles to Granite Creek Road #327. Turn right and travel approximately 25 miles to the cabin. The road becomes North Fork Boise River Road. Please drive carefully as this road is heavily traveled., occasionally narrow, and often in rough condition.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 11 AM.

Reviews

10 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

RON G

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Reviewed 3 months ago

I love it there, so quiet. Nice trails to hike and just the great open space and view. I would come back.

Duane m

Loop:Barber Flat Cabin

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Reviewed 3 months ago

since the water does not work an out house should be installed Advertising that the cabin has a flush toilet and bath tub is not correct. We had enough drinking water but had to carry water from the river for the toilet and it is a very hard climb from the river. It is a nice cabin and private.

Ron O

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Reviewed a year ago

We were only able to stay one night, so not a whole lot to share. The property is very nice. We didn't find the beds comfortable at all, but then we are older and maybe others might be okay. If we go again, we'd bring extra padding!

Matt M

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Reviewed 2 years ago

Rec.gov/Forest service program for letting the folks rent these facilities is is wonderful. Third time at Barber Flats and twice at Dutch Creek. It’s a a little hard to find an opening but worth the effort. The hummingbird battles were new on this trip, & the night sky , caught a few fish just great for the newly retired!

Annette B

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Reviewed 2 years ago

someone set 2 mouse traps ,had dead mice in traps when we arrived and they started to rot in the heat under the sink. .was soo hot in the cabin when its 100* needs pull down shades in the kitchen and bathroom , we brought fans with battery powered jump starter with plug in converters for it also used a blanket to close off living room from heated appliance's , the frig makes the bedroom in back hot ,had turned it off in the heat of the day and turned it back on after it cooled down ,also smells like gas in the bedroom with the frig.. the water made us all have issues so bring a sink filter or bring some water with you .,even boiled water did for coffee and tea. lots of biting flies and gnats' ,tried to eat outside on picnic table and was lots of bees too. Was difficult to climb stairs if you have walking issues but managed walking backwards with a cane down them ,down the road a ways ,turn right of cabin road exit is a flat beach spot for someone like me to go enjoy the water area. lots of utv and motorcycle traffic on weekends ,not too many on week days a few but not a lot ,fs road 376 was narrow and more of a utv trail but is passable but it has little to no turn outs for other vehicles for 7 miles .drove my Altima over it slowly, ,don't recommend it even in a truck , but went to Atlanta ghost town that way , all dirt roads for 68 miles also went to bonanza ghost town for 509adventures

Allen D

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Reviewed 4 years ago

Instead of double twin beds, there were two futons. Futons are almost never level. Mantles were missing on the propane lights, so we used our own. Other than that, the cabin was as described. Inside better than previous visit, outside getting run down.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

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