STRAWBERRY CABIN

About STRAWBERRY CABIN

Overview Explore a magnificent recreation and wildlife resource at the doorstep of Montana's Capital City. From prairie to alpine, mayflies to mountain goats, and scenic driving to expert climbing routes -- the Elkhorns you will discover a diverse landscape! Built in 1941, Strawberry Cabin lies at the top of Strawberry Butte (6,100 feet) in the heart of the Elkhorn Mountains. The combination of lookout and log cabin are typical of this period. The cabin is an excellent example of a C-46 one room cabin plan, which was designed by William Fox. This cabin style is one of the standard building plans used for housing personnel working at intermediate stations and at lookouts. The C-46 design offers distinctive characteristics of ventral saddle notches and log ends finished in "chopper cut" style, which symbolizes rustic Forest Service log architecture of the second half of the 1930 and early 1940s.Recreation The area offers great access to the north end of the Elkhorn Mountains with numerous hiking trails and roads leading to the Elkhorn's historical resources. Popular hikes include Strawberry Creek, Casey Peak, and Willard Creek. When snow allows, cross country skiing or snowshoeing gives visitors an up-close look at concentrations of wintering elk.Facilities Strawberry Cabin is designed for up to four guests. One portion of the cabin has two twin beds, all with mattresses. The kitchen is equipped with a small table and two chairs, dishes, utensils, cookware, with a Coleman stove and lights. The cabin has a wood stove. The cabin is not wired for electricity. Fuel is not provided for the propane stove or lanterns, so guests should bring a couple of small propane cylinders, as well as backup lighting.An outhouse with vault toilet is located on-site. A picnic table and campfire ring offer comfortable outdoor dining. Firewood may available, but it is not guaranteed. No firewood is provided from June 1st - August 31. An axe and snow shovel are provided.There is no water on s

How to Get There

Located about 15 miles south of Helena. From Interstate 15, take exit 187 for Montana City/MT-518. East on Jackson Creek road for 0.5 miles. Turn right/south onto Johns St (Papa Rays Pizza) and continue onto McClellan Creek road for four miles. Turn right/south onto Warm Springs Creek/Strawberry Lookout Rd and proceed 1.7 miles. Turn right/west onto the Strawberry Lookout Rd, proceed 1 mile to the cabin. NOTE: From October 15th through May 15th the road is closed to motorized vehicles for the last 1 mile so access is walk-in only. Snow conditions only allow driving to within about a mile of the turn to Strawberry Lookout road, thus requiring about 2-3 miles of snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Snowmobiling is not allowed in this area.

What to Pack for Your Stay

Tuned to the live forecast for this park.

Plan Your Visit to STRAWBERRY CABIN

Heading to STRAWBERRY CABIN? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)