Big Creek Cabin

$75.00/night

5242 HIGHWAY 89 SOUTH
LIVINGSTON, MT 59047

Overview

The original Big Creek Cabin was built in 1907 and it still stands on this site. The current cabin, a former guard station, was completed in 1925 and sits right next to the original.

Big Creek Cabin is the largest cabin in the Yellowstone District, a 28-by-40 log structure with five rooms and two porches. It offers rustic accommodations with limited amenities. Guests will need to bring much of their own gear and supplies.

The cabin is accessible by vehicle when there's no snow, however, four-wheel drive is strongly recommended. In the winter, skis or snowshoes are required to cover the half-mile to the cabin from the plowed road. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety.

Recreation

A trailhead is located near the cabin that leads to three different trails for hikers and equestrians. One of these trails heads into the Gallatin Range.

Good trout fishing is available in Big Creek. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular winter pastimes.

Facilities

The cabin is furnished with tables, chairs and enough beds with mattresses to accommodate 11 people (most are bunk beds). A propane lantern, wood cook stove and wood heat stove are also provided. FIREWOOD IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 1ST TO 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 a splitting maul should be available. A mop and bucket are provided for cleaning the cabin.

A corral is located across from the cabin, with room for six stock animals. A campfire ring and outhouse with vault toilet are just outside.

Water and electricity are not available. Guests will need to bring their own water supply. Propane fuel for the lantern and cookstove is not provided, so it may be necessary to
bring extra propane or battery-operated lanterns or flashlights. Garbage bags are needed to pack out trash.

For a comfortable stay, guests should bring a propane canister for the lantern, flashlight, bedding, cookware, dishes, utensils, newspaper, garbage bags, matches, toilet paper and first aid kit. Guests are expected to pack out all trash and clean the cabin and the stock corral (if used) before leaving.

Natural Features

Big Creek Cabin is located in an area known as Paradise Valley, where the peaks of the Gallatin Range fracture the western sky and the Absarokas rise to the east.

The cabin sits in a flat clearing surrounded by spruce and fir trees at an elevation of 5,800 feet. Big Creek flows about 50 feet from the back porch. Bears, elk, deer and moose are frequently seen in the vicinity.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Fire pit: all 1 sites
Largest party: 11 people

Fees

Request 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.

Directions

From Livingston, drive south on Highway 89 for approximately 34 miles to Big Creek Road and a sign for Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. Turn right at the sign and follow Big Creek Road for about 5 miles to the cabin. High-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended. In winter, the road is plowed to Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. Park in the small parking lot just west of Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. Cross-country skis or snowshoes are required the last half-mile to the cabin from the end of the plowed road. The road gate just past Mountain Sky Guest Ranch closes from Dec. 2 to May 16, annually, for protection of the road.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

25 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

Dave K

Loop:Area Big Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed 9 days ago

Great larger cabin lots of room. great wood cook stove in kitchen, if you know how to use one..... ( not hard).. I think it is a wonderful place to base out of. Not super private as the road goes right through the front yard, but nice when we were there in the fall. Picnic tables outside , one down near the creek. My only complaint would be the splitting maul and pulaski left in wood shed for splitting and making kindling.... useless junk. and unsafe... bring your own axe or splitting maul. ....Seriously a Pulaski with a broken/cutoff handle is not a wood splitting tool .

Denise B

Loop:Area Big Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed 18 days ago

Wonderful cabin, close to Yellowstone. Tons of room, comfortable sleeping pads, lots of wood to keep us warm and the Woodfire stove is amazing to cook on. Directions for stoves are posted and lots of lighting options. There was a Coleman propane stove worked great to boil water! Books to read games to play, puzzles for entertainment. Outdoor firepit is great! Right by the creek, 2 outdoor tables and two covered porches. Toilet is a quick skip away and has a window on the door to give a little natural light! We loved this cabin and were looking forward to future stays. We cleaned up and left it better then before, as always recommended. Thanks to the forest service for renting this historic cabin out. Beautiful location for all seasons!!!

Amanda B

Loop:Area Big Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed 10 months ago

This is such an amazing cabin. The walk in in the winter is short and sweet and very easy to pull a sled. We love having the multiple sleeping rooms and the tables for games and meals together. We will continue to make memories here in the future. Thank you so much for having this available to us!

Donna D

Loop:Area Big Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

Easy to drive to without snow. Plenty of parking. 11 single beds (4 sets of bunks, 2 in each room, 1 in a tiny room, 2 set up as a king in the living area). Wood-burning stoves for heat and for cooking. Lovely stream right behind the cabin. Huge outdoor fire pit. Tons of hiking/horse trails all over the area. Big modern pit toilet (should’ve brought toilet paper!). A smattering of pots, pans, utensils, bowls, puzzles, books, games, etc.) great experience overall!

Richard M

Loop:Area Big Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

I live in the area, and have stayed at innumerable cabins not just in the area but the whole rocky mountain range. This cabin is easily the best best BEST. Big Creek's babbling water and the crackle of a warm fire, and the wonderfully spacious interior of the cabin, make it so tranquil. The cabin has 11 beds total, all twin-mattresses. 8 of those are on 4 bunk beds. 2 bunk beds in 1 room, 2 in another, and then there is a single twin bed in its own room. The last 2 twin beds are, at this time, placed together in the main living space to form 1 large bed, but can be separated if you wish. The pictures on the reservation page don't do this spot justice. Here is an Imgur album with some photos I took: https://imgur.com/a/ePN9cng

Robert W

Loop:Area Big Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed 2 years ago

Great cabin with lots of space and sleeping areas. Love the back area with large fire put and picnic tables. Went I. The winter and the walk from the parking area was very short and easy to do.

Availability

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

Reserve

Popularity: Moderate

Busiest in November, when about 41% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 4 years of reservations.