Black Butte Cabin in MT -- Campground & RV Camping

Built in 1919, Black Butte Cabin is a primitive one-room log shelter sitting at 8,900 feet on the edge of a grassy meadow in the Gravelly Range. Positioned beneath 10,542-foot Black Butte, the cabin offers views of Lion Mountain and sleeps up to four people on two bunkbeds with pads. On-site amenities include a wood stove, table and chairs, cookware, and an outhouse across the road. No water or electricity is provided. Nearby trails lead through mountain drainages, up to Black Butte's peak, and down to Standard Creek for cutthroat and brown trout fishing.

Getting there: Black Butte cabin is located one quarter mile from the junction of Forest Service roads FS290, FS1012 and FS237. From Ennis, travel south on US Highway 287 for about 32 miles to the West Fork Rest Area. Turn right onto West Fork Road/Forest Road 209 and continue for about 2 miles. Turn right onto Standard Creek Road/Forest Road 237 and travel 18 miles to the cabin. This is the easiest option by snowmobile. Maps may be purchased by calling the Madison Ranger District. Another option is to take MT287 southwest of Ennis, toward Virginia City, about 2 miles to the Varney Road, which will lead to the Gravelly Range Road FS290, total distance about 40 miles. A third option is south of Alder, up the Ruby River on Centennial Road, FS100. From FS100, travellers can reach the Gravelly Range Road FS290 from Warm Springs Road FS163, Cottonwood Road FS1012 or Eureka Basin Road FS347. All roads in the Gravelly Range are closed to wheeled motorized use from April 1 through June 30. Over snow vehicles are permitted December 2 through May 15. Snow can make the cabin inaccessible by vehicle in late October and November.

• Moderately separated here.
• Flat ground is scarce: under a tenth of the terrain within a few hundred yards is level.
• Big Horn Mountain stands 1,360 ft above the map pin, 1.3 miles east.
• Cabins and shelters rather than pads.

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