Windy Pass Cabin

Overview

Windy Pass Cabin was built in 1934. It provides a rustic mountain retreat with few amenities, so guests need to bring most of their own supplies and gear to make their experience comfortable and enjoyable. The cabin is available from June 16th through October 14th each year. It is accessible via a 2.5-mile hike or horseback ride up the Windy Pass Trail with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet.

Recreation

The Windy Pass Trail passes by the cabin and takes hikers and equestrians along the ridge and down through the Gallatin Range. Several other trails crisscross the area, including the Gallatin Crest Trail. Hunting in designated areas is also a popular activity.

Facilities

The cabin sleeps four people with a set of bunk beds with mattresses downstairs and two beds in the loft. A wood-burning stove provides heat. A table with chairs, cookware and utensils are available. A horse corral and outhouse with vault toilet are located outside. Drinking water, electricity and firewood are not provided. A spring fed stream runs close to the cabin in spring and summer but may dry up in the fall, another stream flows more reliably 500ft. south of the cabin. All found water sources should be treated prior to human consumption. Trash bags are needed for packing out garbage, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving. A cook stove is not provided. Visitors should bring items such as bedding, flashlights or lanterns, matches and extra toilet paper.

Natural Features

Windy Pass Cabin is located near the Gallatin Crest at approximately 8,900 feet in the Gallatin Mountains. A small stream flows just below it. High alpine meadows dotted with evergreens surround the cabin and fill with colorful wildflowers in July. A short walk to the top of the Gallatin Crest offers views of the distant snow-dusted peaks of the Absarokas and the Yellowstone River to the east and the Madison Range to the west. Grizzly bear, gray wolf, mountain lion, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and the Canada lynx are some of the wildlife that inhabit this area. Birders may see a wide variety of bird species.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

Largest party: 15 people

Directions

There is no motorized access to this cabin. From Bozeman, MT: Drive west towards Four Corners, then south towards Big Sky/West Yellowstone on US Highway 191 for about 35 miles. Turn left (east) onto Portal Creek Road, FS 984. Travel for 3.5 miles to the FS Road 6959 and FS Road 984 junction. Take the right fork (southeast) and stay on FS Road 984 toward Upper Portal Creek/Windy Pass Trailhead and drive for 5.3 more miles. Stay to the left on FS Rd. 984 past the junction of FS Road 2686 (to the Hidden Lakes Trailhead). From the Windy Pass/Upper Portal Creek trailhead hike Trail 82 for 2.5 miles to the junction with Windy Pass Trail 420. Turn left unto Trail 420 and hike about 1/4 mile to the Windy Pass Cabin. Elevation gain: 1,300 ft. ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION: (Please refer to the Motor Vehicle Use Map and the Interim Summer Trails of the Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area) Trails 82, 96, 420, and the area around the Windy Pass Cabin are closed to all motor vehicles year around. Road and trail conditions are subject to high mountain weather that can include rain and snow any month of the year as well as smoke, heat, bugs, etc. Prepare, and plan ahead. You are responsible for your own safety while traveling on National Forest system lands. REFUNDS WILL NOT BE GIVEN FOR WEATHER RELATED ACCESS ISSUES.

Stay Limit

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

Reviews

11 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

1 stars

Bill S

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Reviewed 3 months ago

I'd walked past the cabin 2 years ago, and fell in love with the area. I was grateful to have an opportunity to come back and stay in the cabin. The hike in is enjoyable and easy. The view is unsurpassed, and the cabin is comfortable. It would be nice if the main trail didn't go directly by the cabin, and the mattresses were a bit firm for at least one in our party. Overall, an amazing experience and opportunity. Thank USFS for making the cabin available, and for its general upkeep!

Maggie L

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Reviewed 4 months ago

Our time at Windy Pass Cabin was absolutely beautiful. Mattresses were comfortable, there was plenty of room for games, the outhouse was in great shape, and there were basic supplies like wipes and TP that were helpful to have on site. We hiked to the crest trail and explored for miles finding snow fields, lakes, and mountain peaks. It was a great stay but note that Portal Creek Rd is a rough one. Go Slow!

Deborah P

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Reviewed a year ago

New mattresses were comfortable. Wood available for burning in stove. And such a beautiful area for hiking and sitting on the porch enjoying the view.

Heather S

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Reviewed 2 years ago

Not enough toilet paper for three days. Thankfully, the cabin has enough room for breakdancing competitions, though. It definitely makes up for the toilet paper situation.

kate n

Loop:Area Windy Pass Cabin

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Reviewed 4 years ago

This cabin, which many of us have been enjoying for decades, may be taken out of the rental system in the future. There is legislation being written to make this area Wilderness, which would be a wonderful way to steward this important habitat. However, it would mean the cabin could not be used as a rental. After a discussion with an employee in the local USFS office, it seems that there is one way to prevent this change for Windy Pass Cabin. If it was written into the legislation to exclude the trail and cabin from the wilderness area, the cabin can remain rentable. I'm writing my representatives (Jon Tester, Steve Daines, Matt Rosendale) to let them know my thoughts.

Blake B

Loop:Area Windy Pass Cabin

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Reviewed 4 years ago

Great little cabin. Steep hike to get there, well worth it.

Availability

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

Reserve