Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates1 total site · $65 avg/night
Cabins
1 site
$65/night
average
About Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout
Number of accommodations: 1
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Mountain Biking
Skiing
Year-round
Hiking
Horseback Riding
Mountain Biking
Winter
Skiing
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Parking
Fire Pit
Cooking and Fire
- Fire Pit
- Campfire Ring
- Firewood Available
Parking and Transport
- Parking
Cabin Interior
- Heating
Views and Setting
- View
Report Incorrect Information
Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout.
001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
Site Details
Reviews (137)
What Guests Are Saying
Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout offers stunning views, great wildlife access, and a clean, well-maintained cabin that is perfect for a cozy retreat. Reviewers frequently highlight the breathtaking scenery and recommend bringing essentials like bear spray and water. While some noted challenges with hiking and minor cleanliness issues, the overall experience is highly praised, making it a memorable destination.
What Guests Are Saying
Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout offers stunning views, great wildlife access, and a clean, well-maintained cabin that is perfect for a cozy retreat. Reviewers frequently highlight the breathtaking scenery and recommend bringing essentials like bear spray and water. While some noted challenges with hiking and minor cleanliness issues, the overall experience is highly praised, making it a memorable destination.
Review Summary
Ray H
VerifiedApril 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
We loved everything about this cabin, except the hantavirus warnings. The car gate was locked on Storm Castle rd, likely due to it being muddy, so that added a couple km to our hike. We walked up the footpath, reaching the snowline about half way up. There we donned show shoes, and that worked good other than across the final long switchback section where the narrow trail crossed the steep sidehill with drifting over the trail making for some perilous moments, but that just made it more memorable. We made it up in about 4 hours, and even without the post-holing that effort was pretty exhausting. The cabin, the stove, and the woodshed were great. We brought up some propane for cooking, but there was already at least 10 leftover canisters there. Anyway, we didn’t need the cabin’s propane stove for cooking because we just cooked simple foods right on top of the wood burning stove. The kids did lots of sledding on the monster snow slope down the north side. 15-cm new powder overnight made us very happy that we had snow shoes. Now, it has been a week since we departed the cabin, and none of us have come down with hantavirus yet, so all looks good.
Meg S
VerifiedFebruary 25, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
We were unable to get to the cabin. The trail disappeared and bushwhacking in the correct output is in avalanche danger, so we had to turn back. The experience was not bad, but we were disappointed to not get to stay in the cabin
Meg S
VerifiedFebruary 25, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
We were unable to get to the cabin. The trail disappeared and bushwhacking in the correct output is in avalanche danger, so we had to turn back. The experience was not bad, but we were disappointed to not get to stay in the cabin
Meg S
VerifiedFebruary 25, 2025 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
We were unable to get to the cabin. The trail disappeared and bushwhacking in the correct output is in avalanche danger, so we had to turn back. The experience was not bad, but we were disappointed to not get to stay in the cabin
Eilis R
VerifiedDecember 29, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
We had heard this fire lookout cooled down quickly at night but we were surprised at how well it held the heat of the fire given all of its windows. The cabin area is small, maybe 12’x12’, with just 2 people it felt like the perfect size. Would feel small with 4 people. It had more than we needed and provided a grate reprieve from the roaring winds outside. Low snow but was still skiable from the rat lake trailhead. Saw wolf and moose tracks.
Eilis R
VerifiedDecember 29, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
We had heard this fire lookout cooled down quickly at night but we were surprised at how well it held the heat of the fire given all of its windows. The cabin area is small, maybe 12’x12’, with just 2 people it felt like the perfect size. Would feel small with 4 people. It had more than we needed and provided a grate reprieve from the roaring winds outside. Low snow but was still skiable from the rat lake trailhead. Saw wolf and moose tracks.
Eilis R
VerifiedDecember 29, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
We had heard this fire lookout cooled down quickly at night but we were surprised at how well it held the heat of the fire given all of its windows. The cabin area is small, maybe 12’x12’, with just 2 people it felt like the perfect size. Would feel small with 4 people. It had more than we needed and provided a grate reprieve from the roaring winds outside. Low snow but was still skiable from the rat lake trailhead. Saw wolf and moose tracks.
Sarah H
VerifiedDecember 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
The cabin is beautiful and well equipped.
Sarah H
VerifiedDecember 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
The cabin is beautiful and well equipped.
Sarah H
VerifiedDecember 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA GARNET MOUNTAIN FIRE LOOKOUT
The cabin is beautiful and well equipped.
Location Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout
Address:
3710 W Fallon Street Suite C
Bozeman, MT, 59718
United States
Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout is accessible via US Highway 191, which is approximately 20 miles to the east in Bozeman.
Elevation: 2491 feet
34 mi drive to downtown Bozeman (about 1 hr 14 min)
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
- The cabin is locked, and you'll receive a combination code for access in your reservation confirmation.
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Vehicles & parking
- Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout is only accessible by vehicles narrower than 50 inches, and seasonal road closures affect access.
Utilities
- There is no water available in the cabin; treat local water sources before drinking.
Safety & rules
- The facility is not cleaned after each visit; guests should bring cleaning supplies and are warned of hantavirus exposure risk.
- There is no garbage service; guests must pack out all trash and cannot leave certain items in the cabin.
- Candles are not allowed inside the cabin.
- Firing guns or using weapons is prohibited within 150 yards of developed recreation sites.
Wildlife & food storage
- Follow the food storage guidelines for Custer Gallatin National Forest while staying here.
Fires & fuel
- Firewood is not provided during summer months, and campfires must be contained; burning pallets is prohibited.
Pets
- Horses cannot be within 100 yards of the cabin, and feed must be weed-free.
- Pets are not recommended, and pet waste must be cleaned up within 100 yards of the cabin.
Local regulations
- Find more information about Custer Gallatin National Forest by following the provided link.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: September 7, 2026
