I love this cabin! It’s a peaceful place. To make your trip more enjoyable, please note: bring extra battery operated lanterns (the downstairs rooms are dark), the fireplace wire is loose and sometimes takes work to get the fire going, and a futon is broken (totally sleepable though). Enjoy your stay!

Inventory - as of February 17th some pictures show a propane heater in the living room, this is no longer there. The fireplace is propane, not wood burning. The propane heater in the dining room doesn't work. One of the futon frames was busted beyond use, we reported it. 14 glasses and mugs 1 cup size Melita coffee maker and pot, no filters 1 package napkins 1 roll paper towels 4 glass baking pans 2 metal baking pans 1 cookie sheet 1 drawer full of misc cooking utensils, slotted spoons, cheese grater, spatula, scraper, wisk, potato peeler, Table cloth 4 large plates 4 small plates 2 saucers 10 random size bowls for eating 8 eating spoons 5 eating forks 5 butter knives Scissors Can opener Bottle opener/corkscrew 6 cutting boards 5 cooking knives - my husband sharpened them while we were here 1 package aluminum foil Measuring cups Measuring spoons Old style stove top coffee maker Old fashioned popcorn popper Many cooking pots of various sizes 1 five gallon cook pot Many fry pans of various sizes 1 cast iron fry pan 1 cast iron griddle 1 large colander 1 small colander 2 sponges lots of liquid dish and hand soap 2 pot scrubbers NO GARBAGE BAGS - we left our roll pot holders 6 small end tables 2 futon mattresses and frame 1 small dish tub many empty jugs for water 2 brooms 2 dustpans 1 mop 1 mop bucket several couch pillows clothesline and clothespins hung up 2x6x18 mouse proof container 10 chairs puzzles and games books binder with history and appliance instruction manuals many rolls of toilet paper container of de-icer bic lighter and matches braided rug on the floor hooks on the wall beside the front door three ring binder with history of the cabin and the appliance instruction manuels

The fireplace is propane. When we called the ranger station they told us it was wood burning, I can confirm that it is definitely propane. There's still wood stocked at the cabin, but there's literally no place to burn it. Once you get the key out of the lock box use it to open the front door to the living room. Turn the key in the lock clockwise kind of hard, then hold it over while you push down on the door latch to unlock and open the door at the same time. The front door cannot be left unlocked, it will lock when it closes so either immediately go to the back door and unlock it, or leave the key outside where you can get it if you lock yourself out. The back door can be left unlocked so you don’t need to worry about locking yourself out at night when you go to use the latrine. There is only one key so for the love of God don’t lose it. We observed that former occupants had been urinating off of the back landing just outside the back door and then dumping their toilet paper on the ground just outside the back door. This is a disgusting practice, don’t do it, even at night. If you must urinate just outside of the back door, aim away from the cabin and put your toilet paper into the garbage, don’t leave it on the ground for others to have to look at and be grossed out by. And for God’s sake don’t defecate just outside the back door, or anyplace except in the latrine. To light the oven pilot light: Take the bottom pan off the oven by lifting it up Reach to the back of the oven with a lit match towards where the pilot light should be, it’s obvious where it should be Press the oven knop over to the pilot position and hold while holding the lit match where the pilot light should be. You can do this with a match but we had a butane fire starter which extended our reach and made it easier.

Lovely cabin! Easy snowshoe and sled hike to the cabin in the winter.

It's a cozy cabin in the woods. There is a propane heater in the living room and in the dining room so you warm up nicely. The futon mattresses are not comfy. The kerosene lamps work great but pretty dim so bring a lantern. We used peppermint spray to deter mice & spiders so we didn't see any in our living space. The refrigerator is truly an "ice box"! The pit toilet is near parking, not a big deal to get to. It's charming and not far to Panther Creek Falls.

I have been coming up to government mineral Springs since I was a baby in diapers. (1955!) My grandparents had a cabin there. I am so grateful that I can go up and stay in the forest service cabin and enjoy the beautiful environment, quiet, see the elk, and entertain happy memories. The cabin was clean and nice. And we left it in the same condition! I donated a journal to the cabin. Thank you!

This cabin is great. It is definitely “primitive”, so come here with that in mind and bring a lot of water. We’ll be back soon, hopefully this winter for a snowy respite. P.S. we saw no signs of mice 😀

Had a really enjoyable time at the cabin. We arrived in late March, still snow blocking the road, so hiked about 2/3 a mile with our gear/food to the cabin. It was well stocked with all kitchen supplies, working fridge, and stove. The fireplace kept the place warm even with snow still on the ground. The outhouse was fine, stocked with toilet paper, easy to get to. Multiple trails close-by. I would definitely come here again, especially in the summer where I can drive right up and unload!

Comfortable cabin, especially the futons (I know, but these are good ones). Loved the mossy forest and nearby river.

If you get there in winter it will take 36 hours for the thermal mass to heat if you have both heaters on. But it is an extremely cozy humble beautiful place. It was just what was needed as respite from the world today! Gorgeous steam nearby, beautiful hiking/snowshoeing nearby. Would be great for families!