BLACK BUTTE CABIN

Overview Black Butte Cabin is a snug log cabin that sits high in the Gravelly Mountains. Originally part of the old Madison National Forest, the cabin was built in 1919 as an intermediate summer station for inspections of sheep allotments. It sleeps four people and has a beautiful view of Lion Mountain and the headwaters of Standard Creek.

The area is home to a variety of wildlife and provides access to numerous trails for hiking, horseback riding and off-road vehicles during warmer months, and snowmobiles in the winter. The cabin is just off the side of Standard Creek Road 237 and can receive quite a bit of traffic on weekends. The cabin is open nine months out of the year, July through March, and can typically be accessed by vehicle, in summer and fall, however a portion of the roadway may be muddy or snow-covered, requiring four-wheel drive or chains.

Snowmobiles are necessary to reach the cabin in winter, but not allowed until after December 1. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities, including water. Black Butte Cabin is closed on Mondays for administrative purposes from July into November.

Recreation A number of hiking and horseback riding trails originate along the road adjacent to the cabin and explore various drainages in the area. Hikers can also summit Black Butte, just over the ridge from the cabin, on a user-created trail that leads to the peak . The cabin is an excellent base camp for viewing the expanses of wildflowers along the Gravelly Range Road (FS290) during early summer.

All wheeled motorized vehicles must stay on designated roads or trails at all times. The area is also popular during winter months for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Snowmobile use is allowed only from Decenber 2 through May 15.

Guests enjoy hunting in the surrounding wilderness. The area is home to some of the highest-elevation pronghorn antelope, as well as other wildlife.