National Forest Cabin Indian Flats Cabin

Address , View on Map Book Your Stay Own or manage this business?

Website http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/helena Phone 406-449-5490

Overview Service & Activities

About Four person capacity; cost $30. The cabin provides four beds with mattresses, a table and four chairs, cabinets, drawers, a woodstove and cook stove. Also available are gas lanterns, silverware, dishes, cooking utensils, pots and pans, firewood, axe, shovel and cleaning supplies. The present Indian Flats Guard Station started its days as the Conway Station on Rock Creek in the Jim Ball Basin. The original Conway Station probably predates the Forest Service. This station was used as a way-station for rangers headquartered at the Checkerboard Ranger Station located above the town of Nelson. The present cabin was built on the same location in 1944 and in 1969 it was relocated to its present location below Indian Flats. In 1992 and 1993 the cabin was remodeled to accommodate use in the Forest Service rental program. There is plenty of opportunity for hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife and wildflower observation near Indian Flats. Nearby Trout Creek Canyon accesses the Hanging Valley and vista. The view is exhilarating for those who don't mind the height. A hike through Refrigerator Canyon also offers an exciting adventure; living up to its name, Refrigerator Canyon on some days may be 20 degrees cooler than the surrounding countryside. The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness and the Missouri River are also within close proximity to the cabin. The Indian Flats Cabin is accessible by cross-country skiing or snowmobile in winter (7 miles). Access may be restricted during spring breakup.

Contact

MAILING ADDRESS 2880 Skyway Drive
Helena, MT 59601

CONTACT 406-449-5490

FAX 406-449-5740

Details

SEASON All Year

SPECIAL DIRECTIONS Indian Flats Cabin is located 40 miles northeast of Helena in the Big Belt Mountains and can be accessed via Highway 280 east from Helena. Several miles after crossing the Missouri River, you will come to the small community of York. Turn left at the York Bar and proceed 5 miles to the even-smaller community of Nelson, where you should turn right. Stay on the main road up Beaver Creek, through a series of switchbacks up Burnt Gulch, past Pikes Gulch Campground to the junction of Hogback Lookout and Indian Flats roads. Take the left hand fork for about 1/2 mile and the cabin will be on the right, down in a hollow nestled amongst trees. Access to the Indian Flats Cabin is dependent on the time of year and present weather conditions. Usually during the summer and fall months, passenger cars can drive directly to the cabin.

SERVICES

ACTIVITIES Cross-Country Skiing Hiking Mountain Biking Snowmobiling Wildlife Viewing