Whitetail Cabin sits at an altitude of 4 ft in the north end of the Custer National Forest approximately 20 mi from Ashland, Montana. The cabin was built in
the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Formerly a ranger station, it is now a registered historic site.
The cabin is available year-round and is accessible by car, but guests should be prepared to hike about 100 yards to the cabin in winter, depending on road conditions. Some creature
comforts are provided, but guests will need to bring several of their own amenities.
Seasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Operating hours and availability for the current season.
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Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
365 Days
Campground Amenities
Cooking and Fire
Firewood Available
Cabin Interior
Heating
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Guests consistently enjoy their stays at Whitetail Cabin, appreciating its rustic charm and comfort, especially during cold weather with available firewood and a cozy wood stove. The close proximity to snowshoeing locations enhances the experience. While some mention the presence of mice, it has not detracted from their overall enjoyment.
So peaceful and comfortable. My dogs loved the great spaces they could wander and lay peacefully enjoying the sounds and smells. I enjoyed the quiet and lack of people. I highly recommend this place if you need to get away from it all. Very clean and comfortable!!!
This is for those looking for a remote area away from everyone else. Located 12 mi down a dirt road is the cabin on it's own little hill surrounded by nature.
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!!
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.
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.
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.
Helpful
Location & Directions for Whitetail Cabin
Po Box 168 2378 Hwy 212, Ashland, MT 59003 United States
Guests must provide their own water for drinking, cooking and washing
This is bear country; guests should keep all food, trash and scented products inside the cabin
Supplemental livestock feed must be certified weed-free
Guests must pack out all trash and clean cabin before departure
Guests should fill out a condition report when the wood supply is running low
Guests should contact the District Office at (406) 784-2344 to check on weather and road conditions that might affect their visit
Learn more about Custer National Forest
Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.