Basin Station Cabin is a primitive, rustic, two-room structure located in the Hebgen Lake Ranger District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The cabin is open year-round. The adjacent road is heavily traveled. Winter guests can snowshoe, ski, or snowmobile to the cabin up to three miles from the nearest available parking. This cabin is parking accessible during warmer months.
Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and they must bring several of their own amenities.
Seasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Operating hours and availability for the current season.
Upcoming seasons
Planned operating dates for future seasons to help you plan ahead.
Past seasons
Historical operating dates from previous years for reference.
Closed periods
View dates when this campground is temporarily closed during the season.
Basin Station Cabin is a clean, cozy, and spacious accommodation, making it an excellent base for exploring Yellowstone. Guests appreciated the rustic charm, warmth from the wood stove, and the beautiful, quiet surroundings, despite some local traffic. While the approach can be busy and icy conditions may be a concern, many found the cabin to be well-equipped and enjoyed their overall experience.
Hiked 2.8 mi from Buttermilk TH to cabin in the dark, and somehow missed the road but made it to cabin eventually. Wind blows snow into decent drifts making hiking a bit slow but doable. Restocked wood, swept as best we could, but the station could use a cleaning. Chimney takes a while to heat up to draw smoke, so remember to keep the bedroom fireplace door closed. No mice on 3/26, and we saw a fox outside!
The cabin was a good base camp for visiting Yellowstone. The stove was great and we were actually able to use it to cook a few things and heat up some water.
The cabin was a good base camp for visiting Yellowstone. The stove was great and we were actually able to use it to cook a few things and heat up some water.
This is such a beautiful and special place. Understand there is no water or electricity, but it’s like camping except you have walls and mattresses. The stars at night are incredible! Find some peace and enjoy.
This is such a beautiful and special place. Understand there is no water or electricity, but it’s like camping except you have walls and mattresses. The stars at night are incredible! Find some peace and enjoy.
We loved staying at the Basin Station cabin. The area was beautiful and peaceful. Water is easy to get at the campground just a few minutes drive down the road. It was so much better than staying in the busy town of West Yellowstone. We enjoyed taking day trips to Yellowstone to explore. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because I heard a mouse or some kind of rodent running around in the attic on our 3rd night there that kept me up for a while.
We loved staying at the Basin Station cabin. The area was beautiful and peaceful. Water is easy to get at the campground just a few minutes drive down the road. It was so much better than staying in the busy town of West Yellowstone. We enjoyed taking day trips to Yellowstone to explore. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because I heard a mouse or some kind of rodent running around in the attic on our 3rd night there that kept me up for a while.
Great cabin, wonderful location quite near the west gate of Yellowstone! There are several nearby cabin homes, so it is not isolated. The cabin itself was charming and stayed warm despite cold nighttime temps.
Great cabin, wonderful location quite near the west gate of Yellowstone! There are several nearby cabin homes, so it is not isolated. The cabin itself was charming and stayed warm despite cold nighttime temps.
The cabin is comfortable with a large wood stove in the sleeping area, and another wood cooking stove in the kitchen/dining area. I stayed during a snowstorm in 2019, and found the bedroom stove kept the cabin so warm that I would go outside to chop wood to cool off a little. There is a large open space behind the cabin with an irrigation ditch crossing it. The front of the cabin faces a county road, which gets a fair amount of traffic to Hebgen Lake, especially on summer weekends. This makes it unsafe for dogs. On my last trip I brought along a temporary fence to put along the split rail fence in the front for my dog’s safety. It did its job. The kitchen counter has seen years of use, and I would recommend bringing along a cutting board or some sort of cover to place over the counter for food cleanliness. There are grizzlies in the hills just west of the cabin. The owner of the Diamond P Ranch, which is 1.7 mi from the cabin, told me he had two grizzlies at the door of his house in August 2020. A grizzly was seen on one of the Diamond P trail rides the week of August 8th, 2021. I would hear coyotes yipping every evening in August 2021. It was a good place to view the Perseid Meteor Showers.
Helpful
Location & Directions for Basin Station Cabin
Po Box 520, West Yellowstone, MT 59758 United States
Summer directions from West Yellowstone: Proceed west on U.S. Highway 20 for approximately 6.5 mi. Turn right on Denny Creek Road and continue approximately two miles north. The cabin is located on the right side of the road.
Winter directions fr...
Summer directions from West Yellowstone: Proceed west on U.S. Highway 20 for approximately 6.5 mi. Turn right on Denny Creek Road and continue approximately two miles north. The cabin is located on the right side of the road.
Winter directions from West Yellowstone: Proceed west on U.S. Highway 20 for approximately 7.5 mi. Parking is available at the Buttermilk Trailhead, located approximately one mile up Highway 20 from Denny Creek Road, to the left. Guests will need to ski, snowmobile, or snowshoe one mile down Highway 20 from the Buttermilk Trailhead parking lot, and proceed along the two mile trail to the cabin.
During the spring and fall, guests are encouraged to call the Hebgen Lake Ranger District at (406) 823-6961 for road conditions and access to the cabin. Road conditions can vary greatly.
Keep the cabin lock combination code accessible; it's provided in the confirmation email or letter.
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.
Safety & rules
Clean all high touch surfaces upon arrival and departure; bring your own cleaning supplies and pack out all trash and belongings.
There is no garbage service; bring garbage bags and pack out all trash.
Keep the fence gate closed to prevent horses from escaping.
Be aware of the risk of hantavirus exposure in remote cabins.
Check weather forecasts and road conditions prior to your visit.
Wildlife & food storage
Store all food and attractants inside the cabin due to frequent grizzly bear activity; compliance will be monitored.
Utilities
No water is provided in the cabin; bring your own or treat natural water sources.
Fires & fuel
Candles are prohibited inside the cabin.
Firewood is provided for indoor use only from October 1 to May 31; not available for outdoor campfires.
Site types & loops
No stock use is allowed at the cabin due to space limitations.
