Hells Canyon Guard Station, Butte, MT

Hells Canyon Guard Station is located in the Butte Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (2 hrs 21 min southwest of Helena, MT) with an elevation of 6,530 feet. The site is open all year. There is a fee of $55.00 per night.

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Campsite Reviews (33)

4.6 out of 5

5 star		70%
4 star		18%
3 star		12%
2 star		0%
1 star		0%

@CharleneOD3900 · Camped on Jul 15, 2024 at Campsite #1

It is a beautiful area. My dog had a great time until the cows showed up. Two of the four mattresses had gasoline spilt on them. The windows had the screens missing. The road was pretty rough. It took over an hour to get to the cabin. All in all I thought it was beautiful. I enjoyed it very much.

@SherryC6679331 · Camped on Jun 4, 2024 at Campsite #1

Ax has no handle, Maul head falls off there is a great hatchet in the cabin. lots of mice,If there is any wind he shutters rattle Gate post is broken so opening and closing large gate is difficult.There are rags stuffed in the corners around the windows. Does not appear the windows have been washed this year. Needs maintenance.

@SaraFB7FAA4B8D · Camped on Aug 25, 2023 at Campsite #1

Hells Canyon Ranger Station was the perfect weekend getaway. The 15 mi on dirt road was a little rough in spots, but nothing that my mid-sized SUV couldnt handle. It did take us a full hour to get from the highway to the cabin, but youre blessed with some pretty spectacular views along the way so it definitely wasnt too bad. Make sure to bring a hatchet with you to split some of the smaller logs and to make kindling because the USFS provides a splitting maul but that can be too big when building a small fire. Also remember to bring a towel or two with you, especially if you have children or dogs (or partners) that love to play in creeks. They wont be able to resist playing in Hells Canyon Creek that runs between the cabin and the road.

@MeikaR5457D294 · Camped on Aug 17, 2023 at Campsite #1

Always love visiting with my family

@CaseyK90F082B3 · Camped on Jun 25, 2023 at Campsite #1

Best choice I have made all year!

@MartieC9C85285 · Camped on Jun 22, 2023 at Campsite #1

Beautiful Location! Nice little cozy cabin. Only complaint is there was very little toilet paper in the outhouse.

@MichaelP381919 · Camped on Jun 11, 2023 at Campsite #1

I highly recommend a high-clearance vehicle when driving to the cabin. It is 15 miles in on a rocky, steep and many areas where the runoff has produced some trenches that will challenge many lower-clearance rigs. That being said.... if you can get there, it is very quiet and peaceful as you are at the end of a rough road. Moose, abundant wildflowers and great views.

@DanielS7047089 · Camped on May 19, 2023 at Campsite #1

clean, well stocked, great woodstove..a peaceful and great place!!

@AlanW5588627 · Camped on Jan 13, 2023 at Campsite #1

Great little cabin. Cabin comes equipped with most kitchen amenities and a wood cook stove , plus outside propane burners. Recommend bringing own propane stove in winter.

@RobertP6375002 · Camped on Oct 3, 2022 at Campsite #1

Please see review on 9/22/21 for more details. Updated info for current stay: Worn out wooden picnic table has been replaced with a new metal one! Thanks! Broom was replaced. Still still is no mop head for handle. Thank you whoever cleaned the windows! Cell phone signal improved. We have Verizon & now got 4G LTE 1.3 miles by road from the cabin at the big rock pinnacle & at the parking area by the Cherry Creek Trail sign off the main road. You can also take the trail by the wood shed through the gate and walk there which is about 1/2 mile to this area if you do not want to drive up there during your stay. The journal is about filled. If somebody could bring a new one that would be great. Some good stories & artwork has been left by people over the years. The fire extinguisher expired April 2017 & the support of the table on the porch needs to be reinforced. We'll let the ranger district know. Forgot to mention in our last review that there is a small horse corral. Lot of people mentioning the quartz crystals by the cabin. If you go to that big rock pinnacle on the right 1.3 miles before the cabin it is all crystals. It is also great for a cell phone signal, star gazing at night & nice panoramic views. Personal note. Unhappy with the Butte Ranger District. Wife had to get unexpected back surgery causing a change in plans. Had no problem paying $10 change fee but the rate went from $25 to $55 a night. We asked if we could be grandfathered in somehow due to this unexpected event. Got blamed for making our reservation months in advance like that would had changed anything. The person backed off from that statement saying it is a popular place. He then went on to say it was only him there & he had no idea how to change the computer system. Had to pay $20 more for just 2 nights over original 4 nights reserved. Another district where the rate went up as well had no hesitation in helping us. Don't expect compassion from the Butte Ranger District.

@MollyI5752652 · Camped on Jun 22, 2022 at Campsite #1

Had a tough time on the forest service road in and turned around about 5 miles up. I would definitely suggest a high clearance vehicle as the road is rocky and narrow… beautiful area though. Wildflowers every where!

@KimberlyD28184 · Camped on Jan 22, 2022 at Campsite #1

We had a great time. A bit of snowmobiling and relaxing!!

@KimberlyD425 · Camped on Jan 22, 2022 at Campsite #1

We had a great time. A bit of snowmobiling and relaxing!!

@SteveP374 · Camped on Oct 10, 2021 at Campsite #1

Well appointed cabin, good water.

@SteveP3205693 · Camped on Oct 10, 2021 at Campsite #1

Well appointed cabin, good water.

@MichelleM70561 · Camped on Oct 1, 2021 at Campsite #1

Beautiful views. Agree with past reviewer on the pros and cons. Long drive to get back there but really pretty! Not sure if we had a pack rat or just a lot of mice but sleeping was not so restful. Do not keep any food inside overnight, lock it in your car. It is definitely a rustic experience. The water and toilet was really nice to have.

@MichelleM721 · Camped on Oct 1, 2021 at Campsite #1

@RobertP952 · Camped on Sep 23, 2021 at Campsite #1

Super views rivaling fire lookouts. Instead of looking down at the views you are looking up at them like at Table Mountain. The good: Best views from 10 cabins we rented on vacation. Hour long drive from main road and not recommended for cars but beautiful scenes on the way and there. Last Verizon cell 4G service about 6.6 miles from cabin. Text about 2.2 miles from cabin. 4 beds with 1 more in the loft plus floor space for sleeping bags. Ladders on walls to enter loft and upper beds downstairs. Nice concrete floor for easy cleaning. Hand pump for water even in cold months. Some say it is delicious but we tasted metal pipe. Nice creek. Warnock Hersey Baker's Choice wood cook stove with oven. Wood only goes in upper left! Nice size porch with big table and 2 propane burner in locked cabinet. Quartz crystals on trails. Lots of wood. Picnic bench. A few games. Very quiet as it is on a dead end road. Nice vault pit toilet. The bad: Bring fly traps during warm months. Needs new broom & there was no mop head, just a handle. Need razor blade scraper to clean windows. While we saw and heard no mice this was the dirtiest of all the cabins we visited. From mouse feces all over to not being cleaned by numerous previous renters to open food left in the cabinets. People PLEASE pack out your food and unwanted items. We hauled away so much junk it was ridiculous. 6 empty water containers? COME ON! If we were to get Hantavirus on this trip it was due to this location! We left the canned food but it is quite apparent there are regulars who rent quite often and leave stuff. PLEASE be considerate and a decent person. Take stuff home and clean. We saw nobody by cabin but there is no gate to block people. Maybe park on bridge to block? Some reports of people stopping to use pit toilet. Don't leave your good toilet paper that you brought for strangers to use who did not pay to stay here. We would rent again and you should too. Long rough drive but it is worth it.

@NicoleK443 · Camped on Jun 16, 2021 at Campsite #1

Talk about out there! I only saw 3 people in 5 days! The cabin has water, firewood, and a great propane stove so you can live like a king! Beautiful surroundings and some hiking as well! The nearby creek is great for staying cool!

@NicoleK4887164 · Camped on Jun 16, 2021 at Campsite #1

@JenniferD34519 · Camped on May 21, 2021 at Campsite #1

Firewood was empty but we had a chainsaw so it all worked out and we left some for the next group if they need it! Love this place!

@JenniferD953 · Camped on May 21, 2021 at Campsite #1

Firewood was empty but we had a chainsaw so it all worked out and we left some for the next group if they need it! Love this place!

@JeffS506 · Camped on May 10, 2021 at Campsite #1

I have stayed at the Hell's Canyon Ranger Station several times. It is a great spot. In a wonderful part of Montana

@JeffS4172407 · Camped on May 10, 2021 at Campsite #1

I have stayed at the Hell's Canyon Ranger Station several times. It is a great spot. In a wonderful part of Montana

@IanC928 · Camped on Feb 5, 2021 at Campsite #1

Great spot, hard to get to in the winter if there's more than a foot of snow on the ground! I'd recommend bringing gear for hiking or skiing, season dependent. Lots of great trails for mountain biking and dirt biking. Fishing would be amazing in the summer, you can fish from the bridge 100 feet from the cabin when the stream is free of ice.

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