Whitetail Cabin, Ashland, MT

Whitetail Cabin is located in the Ashland Ranger District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest (2 hrs 30 min east of Billings, MT) with an elevation of 4,050 feet. The site is open all year. There is a fee of $65.00 per night.

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Campsite Reviews (27)

4.1 out of 5

5 star		56%
4 star		19%
3 star		4%
2 star		7%
1 star		11%

@BenR1679197 · Camped on Dec 23, 2023 at Campsite #1

Great place just a little mouse poop.

@DorothyDC87CAE · Camped on Aug 28, 2023 at Campsite #1

This is not a bad cabin, and under other circumstances, like winter, it may be a nice stay. However when we checked in in August, the stench of death was unbearable. The Forest Service folks in Ashland need to check this rental for dead mice, and if someone sets mouse traps, THEY NEED TO CLEAR THEM. It was hot and when I opened the door the fumes were overwhelming. We aired it out with the windows and all the electric fans (so peaceful!) and cleared out 4 rotting or mummified mice. When was the last time anyone looked? 3 were in traps under the fridge and stove in various stages of decay, and another was dried up in a bowl on the cupboard. All the bowls were turned up so that birds, bird feathers, mice and mouse poop can find its way there. My buddy slept in his truck in fear of hantavirus, and we didn't use the stove because of all the mouse poop and fur on the burners. It may have been fine. Without electricity this place would not be livable in summer. I would rather have the mice alive and crawling over my face at night than the rotting corpses and that smell. I still cannot get it out of my nose!! The cabin condition overall is decent and it has amenities. Having a fridge is handy. It is in a nice location, about 10 degrees cooler than down lower, and the woodpeckers and songbirds are highly concentrated in this small few acres of older pines that were spared from the surrounding fire. It was just really, really, really stinky. Not worth $65/night. For that much someone should go at least check it before someone checks in. Bad deal for me, USFS... Won't do that again.

@CharlesS661433 · Camped on Jul 2, 2023 at Campsite #1

A nice little cabin in a quiet place. The place was really, really dirty when we arrived. A half hour of cleaning had it looking a bit better but a thorough cleaning seems to be a few years past due. We didn't see any wildlife except for a deer, either, which seemed strange.

@NickL7764798 · Camped on Dec 10, 2022 at Campsite #1

We have stayed here many times in all the seasons and have always enjoyed it.

@jeremyg1254575 · Camped on Jul 24, 2022 at Campsite #1

Great location. Cabin was clean and functional. Overall a great experience. The service support with the combination was great.

@HeidiS8366300 · Camped on Sep 2, 2021 at Campsite #1

We love staying here, for the most part everyone cleans up after themselves. It's so relaxing and quiet, this last stay we saw a very nice 7 point bull elk and lots of turkeys, a few deer as well, 2nd time we've stayed, will be going back for sure!

@HeidiS942 · Camped on Sep 2, 2021 at Campsite #1

@TeresaF167 · Camped on Aug 23, 2021 at Campsite #1

Our experience with this cabin was very negative. First, the code did not unlock the gate. I was able to get through a small area and unlock the door to the cabin which was 75-100 yards away. Unfortunately, the cabin was dirty and reeked of manure, garbage was also left behind and had attracted a lot of flies. I had two children with me and simply could not lift our cooler above the gate and drag our belongings that far away so we opted to drive away to try to find service. We would not get service for another 180 miles and by then it was very, very late. HWY 212 out of the cabin is chock-full of deer and antelope, while this is beautiful it is also frightening at night. The wildlife just sits on or on the side of the road feeding. We must have passed 200 deer and antelope on our way out. The next day I spoke to the ranger who was compassionate and apologetic and encouraged me to speak to someone at Rectreation.gov for a full refund. That process has been a nightmare and frankly, I have just been chasing my tail completing steps they are asking me to complete only to end up right where I started. If I can give you any advice, invest in a satellite phone or ask what the backup plan is if the code does not work. This was the second cabin with a gate to which the code did not work. Luckily the first cabin had a smaller walk-through gate that we could drag out things through and the cabin was much closer. Whitetail Cabin does not. At this point, I am not sure if I will get any refund for this cabin so I am out 200 hundred dollars. I am not sure if I will work with Recreation.gov again.

@TeresaF8140766 · Camped on Aug 23, 2021 at Campsite #1

@kennethJ193882 · Camped on Aug 17, 2021 at Campsite #1

Whitetail cabin rear door would not latch. Repaired by lifting door to aline latch striker and latch plate and tightening the hinge screws. Still needs some work to latch without pushing firmly closed. Cabin was very hot and only some windows would open and there were no screens available. The electric fan for the cabin has borken blades and is not usable. There is a large pine tree between cabin and shed that has died and needs to be removed before in falls. Safety Hazard! We repaired the horse hitching rail by reattaching top rail and securing with metal strap that had fallen off. Cabin was very dirty so after a good sweeping out and washing of coffee pot and we enjoyed our stay. A few days of repair work on the facility will make this cabin usable for for future vistors

@kennethJ155 · Camped on Aug 17, 2021 at Campsite #1

@RobertP6375002 · Camped on May 12, 2021 at Campsite #1

Glad I got in before the rate increased. I can't see paying $65 a night plus another $8 fee for a total of $73 for this place although it is nice. I have Verizon for cell and only got 1 bar that came and went at the actual cabin. If you hike up the hill with that big water tank on top I was able to get 4 bars with 4G LTE. Forest Service or future visitors please bring a new hardback blank book for use as a journal or even a thick notebook so people can continue to leave notes about their visit. Some stories and tips and pretty interesting and funny. I am also amazed at some of the artwork people do. The cabin needs some window cleaner if the Forest Service or a future guest can bring. It would have been an even better stay if the windows were clean. It is not listed in the details but there is a microwave. According to the journals there was one before but it broke or was stolen but there is one again. If you are wondering about the solar panels in the photo it is used to pump non-potable when in season. Maybe the Forest Service can update the site to reflect when that is. Don't leave food out as there were two mice. I got woke up around 1 due to the noise of them going after my nuts. Oh, guess I should clarify that they were smoked almonds that I had in a zip lock bag inside the mesh portion of my luggage. I had put all the other food items in the fridge but forgot about the almonds. Wood heater worked great. Thank you Ashland Forest Service for your work.

@RobertP952 · Camped on May 12, 2021 at Campsite #1

Glad I got in before the rate increased. I can't see paying $65 a night for this place although it is nice. I have Verizon for cell and only got 1 bar that came and went at the actual cabin. If you hike up the hill with that big water tank on top I was able to get 4 bars with 4G LTE. Forest Service or future visitors please bring a new hardback blank book for use as a journal or even a thick notebook so people can continue to leave notes about their visit. Some stories and tips and pretty interesting and funny. I am also amazed at some of the artwork people do. The cabin needs some window cleaner if the Forest Service or a future guest can bring. It would have been an even better stay if the windows were clean. It is not listed in the details but there is a microwave. According to the journals there was one before but it broke or was stolen but there is one again. If you are wondering about the solar panels in the photo it is used to pump non-potable when in season. Maybe the Forest Service can update the site to reflect when that is. Don't leave food out as there were two mice. I got woke up around 1 due to the noise of them going after my nuts. Oh, guess I should clarify that they were smoked almonds that I had in a zip lock bag inside the mesh portion of my luggage. I had put all the other food items in the fridge but forgot about the almonds. Wood heater worked great. Thank you Ashland Forest Service for your work.

@RobertB263 · Camped on Apr 2, 2021 at Campsite #1

The cabin’s location was excellent. The fire pit and available wood to burn was nice. Very clean restroom.

@RobertB6182770 · Camped on Apr 2, 2021 at Campsite #1

The cabin’s location was excellent. The fire pit and available wood to burn was nice. Very clean restroom.

@LaceyE1836988 · Camped on Feb 12, 2021 at Campsite #1

Visited in Feb 2021. The lock on the gate was frozen, so we walked in from there (about 75 yards). There was enough wood already split to get the fire going and start warming the place up (and I left two day's worth split for the next visitors). Temps were between 0 and -10F for the two nights/three days we were there, so we slept out in front of the wood stove. The electricity worked great and the outhouse was clean and stocked with TP. It was a new moon during our stay, so the stars were out in full effect and the city kid traveling with me was awestruck. Overall, a wonderful weekend away. A note on cell service: I have Verizon and there was enough coverage to send/receive text messages (especially if you're standing at the window that faces the gate). I tried making one call and it dropped after a few seconds.

@LaceyE938 · Camped on Feb 12, 2021 at Campsite #1

@TammyM261 · Camped on Jan 10, 2021 at Campsite #1

The cabin was absolutely perfect for our family of 4: clean, quiet, easy to get to, and surrounded by wildness.

@TammyM2556551 · Camped on Jan 10, 2021 at Campsite #1

The cabin was absolutely perfect for our family of 4: clean, quiet, easy to get to, and surrounded by wildness.

@CarissaW390977 · Camped on Dec 24, 2020 at Campsite #1

Great little cabin. Wood was stocked and wood stove kept us warm. Really cool peaceful location.

@CarissaW370 · Camped on Dec 24, 2020 at Campsite #1

Great little cabin. Wood was stocked and wood stove kept us warm. Really cool peaceful location.

@AshleyP887 · Camped on Oct 4, 2020 at Campsite #1

You should ignore the other review that talks about it being dirty. Just because the person that used it before them was a slob and didn't clean doesn't mean that you shouldn't stay here. This cabin is situated at the juncture of an old fire and a Ponderosa Pine forest. The cabin is a good size. I don't think I'd like to stay with four adults, but it was great for a couple. The oven is small and there is a microwave. I laughed when I saw there were no less that four coffee pots! Fridge and freezer are great, but also not full size. There are lots of hooks for organization in the bedroom. We would have appreciated if the cabin came with a metal container to dump the ashes from the wood burning stove. There were lots of ashes when we arrived, but I assume the prior renters may have left when the fire was still hot. The view from the vault toilet is spectacular. We saw lots of deer near the cabin.

@RussellM986 · Camped on Sep 21, 2020 at Campsite #1

Outstanding Cabin. Great Cabin w/ outhouse, very clean. Cabin fits 4 very well.

@MikeB349 · Camped on Aug 20, 2020 at Campsite #1

It was so disgusting that we didn't even stay in it. There was garbage inside when we got there. The fridge was dirty. The mattresses were old and stained. We dispersed camped down the road instead. There was dog food and animal parts in bowls in front of the outbuilding. I've stayed in A LOT of government cabins in my life. I've never seen such a thing. I'm going for a refund, but the site all of a sudden wasn't working for that function.....all of it is working except that part. Right.

@TomK267 · Camped on Jul 31, 2020 at Campsite #1

This is a great site! The cabin itself is small, but quite adequate. Having electricity, a stove and refrigerator is a real bonus! The site is private, beautifully situated against a stand of trees against a meadow, and has plenty of parking, room for additional tents or self-contained camping rigs (be courteous as ask first!). The vault toile is one of the nicest we've seen! There's plenty of wood at the site, and lots of it available in the adjacent forest from standing dead and downfall if you need to cut some. There is water, (potable if treated??) from a solar-powered pump that feeds spring water into the horse trough, but really, bring enough water to treat this as a dry camp. It's peaceful, well taken care of, easy to access. Our group had a great weekend!!

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