Vigilante rental house, also known as Middle House

About Vigilante Cabin

The Vigilante Cabin, also known as the Vigilante Middle House, offers a comfortable place to stay deep in the mountains of southwestern Montana along the Ruby River between the Snowcrest and Gravelly Ranges. The house boasts two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room and has electricity and seasonal water. A bathroom, with a toilet and shower,is usually available from May - September. It is close to many outdoor recreation opportunities, including fishing, hiking and hunting, as well as off-road vehicle trails and gold panning. The house was constructed in 1925 and served as the Ruby District headquarters. In the 1930s a Civilian Conservation Corp camp was established at the site and the adjacent houses and garage were constructed. The site also then served as a range experiment station. The white clapboard middle house is available for rent, while the two other houses on the property are still used by Forest Service personnel and volunteers throughout the year. Though usually quiet, this can be a busy site when work crews are using those adjacent facilities. The cabin is accessible throughout most of the year by vehicle; however, a portion of the road may be difficult to navigate when wet or snow-covered and the last mile may not be plowed in winter. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring some of their own amenities.

Number of accommodations: 1

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

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Open year round

This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.

365 Days

Sites & Availability

1 Site Available

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🏠 001, Loop: AREA VIGILANTE CABIN

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$75.00

/ per night

8 guests · Pet Friendly

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🏠 001, Loop: AREA VIGILANTE CABIN

8 guests · Pet Friendly

$75.00

/ per night

Reviews (24)

Verified Only

What Guests Are Saying

The cabin was ideal for muzzleloader season, and many appreciated the functioning propane oven and solar-powered lighting. However, challenges included the lack of potable water, inadequate window screens, and issues with the new wood stove's heating efficiency. Despite these drawbacks, guests enjoyed their stay and expressed a desire to return.

What Guests Are Saying

Review Summary

4.2

24 reviews

50.0%

29.2%

12.5%

4.2%

Amber O

Verified

February 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA VIGILANTE CABIN

The road turned out to be impassable even with 4-wheel- drive. The cabin description only states that the road may be slippery when wet or snow-covered. There is no mention that it could be completely drifted shut & not plowed within a couple miles of the cabin. After digging out for 2 hours we turned around & came home without ever seeing the cabin itself.

Brian A

Verified

January 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA VIGILANTE CABIN

We've stayed at the cabin in September 5-6 years now. This was the 3rd year in a row we had close calls with GRIZZLY Bears while bow hunting. In fact there were 2-mauling's one of the days we were there. Both guys were injured pretty bad. Pretty place to visit but stay out of the woods unless your prepared and trained to deal with Grizzly's. NEVER BOW HUNT ALONE HERE

Wendy J

Verified

January 10, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA VIGILANTE CABIN

Such a nice, quiet location for this "cabin". We really appreciated the shower and indoor toilet AND hot water! The river is not suitable, however for spin casting because of the amount of willow along the shores. A beautiful setting, however.

Bruce S

Verified

December 20, 2019 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: AREA VIGILANTE CABIN

The Vig cabin is in a beautiful location on the Ruby River--hiking, fishing, sight-seeing, hanging out. It's on an active USFS compound, so you may have staff & trucks & ranchers around at times. Thankfully a volunteer kept the grass mowed around the cabin. The cabins are old (1930s?), so don't expect modern or slick facilities or features. Bunks have pads on them, there's a big table with chairs, a frig, and a stove. Inside toilet & shower, electricity. Sometimes there's a problem with plumbing or septic tank, so be prepared for rustic conditions & adaptations. It would be a great place to let kids run. We know this area well because we volunteered at this site for 7 summers, so we're very positively biased. But we and our friends love it.

Location Vigilante Cabin

Address:
5 Forest Service Road
Ennis, MT, 59729
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 45.0175 / -111.963

Elevation: 1859 feet

Map of Vigilante Cabin location at Ennis, MT, United States

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Policies & Rules

Category	About
General	This facility is located in a remote and wild area; before making a reservation, become aware of bear, water and weather safety
General	The cabin remains locked; cabin code is available with your paid receipt. If you do not receive the code, contact Madison Ranger District, 406-682-4253, weekdays 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
General	Guests must bring their own water from October through May
General	Cell phone coverage is minimal to none
General	A mandatory food storage order is in effect annually between March 1 and December 1 to ensure all food is properly stored and unavailable to wildlife; please contactthe Madison Ranger District for more details
General	Private horses are not allowed at the site
General	Please do not chop wood on the porch. The wood provided is for use in the wood stove only. Campfires are no longer permitted at this site. We do our best to keep the firewood stocked. However there is no guarantee that firewood will be available for your stay, especially in late winter and early spring. Please call us for firewood information.
General	Guests should be aware that there is a risk of exposure to hantavirus when visiting remote cabins; click here to learn more
General	Rodent poison may be used in cabin; take appropriate precautions to prevent ingestion by children or pets
General	Learn more about the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
General	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.
General	Be aware this facility is not cleaned between user visits. Please bring cleaning supplies for your visit. Renters are required to clean facility before leaving. We are doing the best we can to keep facilities open and available to the public so your cooperation is appreciated.
General	Earliest check in time is 3:00 PM and latest checkout time is 11:AM
General	Maximum occupancy at the cabin and within the administrative site is 8 people. Additional people, tents or camping units are not permitted.

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