Crandall Creek Cabin

$65.00/night

Show on map 406-222-1892 wurie@fs.fed.us

5242 HWY 89 South
Livingston, MT 59047

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.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Fire pit: all 1 sites
Pets allowed: all 1 sites
ADA accessible: all 1 sites
Largest party: 6 people

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.

Directions

Crandall Creek Cabin is located approximately 24 miles northeast of Wilsall, and 52 miles from Livingston. From Livingston, travel north on Highway 89 to Wilsall. Turn right from Highway 89 onto Shields River Road. Follow Shields River Road past where the pavement turns to dirt and continue straight approximately 5.5 more miles to a fork in the road, and take the left fork towards the Shields River Camp (approximately 2 miles to the camp). About 100 yards beyond the campground, take a left onto a gated road. The cabin combination code will open the gate. The cabin is located 200 yards down this road. Due to road conditions, a high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle is suggested. From Dec. 2 through March 31, the last seven miles of the access road to Crandall Cabin are not plowed. Plan to ski, snowshoe or snowmobile this distance from the end of the plowed road to the cabin. It is recommended that winter renters carry topographic maps and compasses for navigation, since the route maybe wind-blown and difficult to find. Signs may be down due to weather conditions or vandalism.

Stay Limit

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

Reviews

27 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

1 stars

Amber L

Loop:Crandall Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed 2 months ago

What a beautiful cabin in an equally beautiful setting. Bunk beds are high, which is appreciated for tall adults like me, but the mattresses are not so comfortable. Bring your own topper or swap out with an air mattress if you're picky like me. Also, I was there for 3 nights and during a 3am walk to the outhouse on my last night there my dog was going crazy around my car, and upon popping the hood I discovered a rather large wood rat, or pack rat, sitting in my engine. Left the hood up and let my dog harass it outta there. Luckily no damage, but I'll be leaving my hood up on all my next cabin adventures.

William Z

Loop:Crandall Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

The Crandall cabin is clean, cozy, and fun! Would love to go back and spend a week there!

Charlene O

Loop:Crandall Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed a year ago

It was great except there were only two chair, one of which was broken. We jererigged it. If anyone decides to sit in it and is very large, it will collapse.

Shane B

Loop:Crandall Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed 2 years ago

We recently enjoyed a wonderful stay in a newer cabin. The layout was perfect, with a separate sleeping area featuring bunk beds, providing a cozy space for the kids. Unfortunately, the cabin was plagued by thousands of dead and dying flies. Cleaning them up from the window tracks, table, and floor was quite a chore, but to be expected with the warm fall temperatures. Despite this minor issue, we found the cabin well-equipped: a large dining table with bench seating, a secondary table with a cabinet, and an outdoor picnic table. The fire ring and ample firewood made for enjoyable evenings. The night sky was truly breathtaking, and we were fortunate enough to witness a magnificent comet passing through. We highly recommend this cabin and look forward to returning in the future.

jon b

Loop:Crandall Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed 2 years ago

Clean and well kept for, stove works and was spare canisters but don't always count on it.

Elizabeth B

Loop:Crandall Creek Cabin

Site:

Reviewed 2 years ago

Crandell Creek Cabin is awesome! It was exceptionally clean and well stocked. It had plenty of firewood, a Coleman Stove, some extra cans of propane (we left a few), some plates, cutlery, two skillets, salt and pepper, paper towels, toilet paper and some cleaning supplies, some decks of cards. There was not enough snow yet for us to ski out so we ended up driving up (Thanksgiving 2024). Highly recommend!

Availability

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

Reserve

Popularity: Busy

Busiest in November, when about 60% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 4 years of reservations.