Horse camping is the perfect way to enjoy Gibbonsville. If you're an equestrian lover who prefers nature-based adventure, yet still wants comfort, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Camping with horses is a beautiful way to experience nature. Search horse campsites and discover top-rated spots, as reviewed by other campers.
Hogan Cabin is a small cabin located on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in western Montana. The cabin was built in the 1920s to provide field quarters for trail crews, smoke chasers, timber cruisers and grazing inspectors that worked in the area. It is a great retreat for snow lovers in the winter, as the cabin provides access to a variety of snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. Summer and fall months give guests plenty of daylight and moderate temperatures to explore the surrounding meadows, peaks and valleys, as well as fish in plentiful mountain streams. The cabin is only accessible by motorized vehicle during the summer months and until snow closes the road. Guests may have to snowmobile, hike or ski up to six miles, depending on conditions. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
The surrounding hills and valleys are popular for hiking and backpacking in the summer and fall, and for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter. The cabin sits along the famous Lewis and Clark Trail, which led frontier explorers through the area in the early 1800s. The entire length of the trail covers 4,600 miles, showcasing some of the most beautiful and rugged areas of America. Hunting and fishing are also popular in the area. Mountain creeks and streams run near the cabin, and wildlife is abundant in the surrounding forest. It is also a popular place to watch for various bird species.
The cabin is situated on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail at an elevation of about 7,300 feet. It is at the southwestern end of the Anaconda Mountains, near the Sapphire Range, in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The Anacondas are home to abundant wildlife, including mountain lions, elk, deer, moose and bears (learn more about bear safety).
$45 / night
This campground is located off highway 43 located on a relatively flat ground supporting a dense stand of pole-sized lodgepole pine.
This wooded picnic area is located near Rock Creek next to the East Fork Reservoir.
The Bear Creek Pass Trailhead has numerous trails to access that all lead into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The most heavily used is the #613 trail which leads to the bear lakes and accesses trail #128 to Fish Lake. Facilities include a vault toilet, hitching rails, and dispersed camping.
$50 - $75 / night
Horse Prairie Cabin is a fairly large, two-room cabin situated on the edge of beautiful Horse Prairie in the southwestern corner of Montana. Forest service work crews used the cabin for lodging in the past. The cabin is available year-round and provides access to abundant hiking, biking, skiing and snowmobiling trails. It is equipped with a variety of amenities, providing guests with a somewhat comfortable and adventurous experience in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The cabin is accessible by vehicle, depending on conditions. Excessive snowfall may require skis, snowmobiles or hiking for up to six miles of the route. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Hikers and mountain bikers can access some great trails in the area. To the west of the cabin, Coyote Creek Road provides access to excellent cross-country skiing. Coyote Creek Road runs approximately seven miles to the top of the Big Hole Divide, climbing about 1,500 feet. The prairie and surrounding area is also open to unlimited snowmobile access during the winter (learn about avalanche danger). Fishing is available in nearby creeks, and anglers might see rainbow and brook trout, as well as mountain whitefish. The waterways drain into the Big Hole River, a blue-ribbon trout stream at the southern end of the forest.
Hikers and mountain bikers can access some great trails in the area. To the west of the cabin, Coyote Creek Road provides access to excellent cross-country skiing. Coyote Creek Road runs approximately seven miles to the top of the Big Hole Divide, climbing about 1,500 feet. The prairie and surrounding area is also open to unlimited snowmobile access during the winter (learn about avalanche danger). Fishing is available in nearby creeks, and anglers might see rainbow and brook trout, as well as mountain whitefish. The waterways drain into the Big Hole River, a blue-ribbon trout stream at the southern end of the forest.
The cabin is located on a hillside in a sunny, open prairie on the southern edge of the Beaverhead Mountains. The range straddles the Continental Divide in Montana and Idaho. The view from the cabin overlooks the grassy meadows of Horse Prairie. There is abundant wildlife in the area, including elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, lynx, marten, deer and black bears (learn more about bear safety).
$55 / night
Guide
The camp grounds were not busy, and no mosquitoes right now. Fishing was slow but we caught fish. Saw lots of animals even a video of a Grizzly not but 3 miles from the camp grounds. Another camper had the video of the Grizzly from the night before!
Guide
We were the only ones there, each spot is super private, there aren’t many spots. Ours was right on the river and we could easily go down and swim from our site. Fully dispersed no services, no cell signal (verizon). Only con is that it is close enough to hwy 93 that you can see and hear cars going by, but it’s not a super busy road.
TravelerWe travel in a 23 foot camper van. Plenty of room for our rig. Great views! Very little Verizon service. There are three spots to camp here. One right in the river (difficult to find a level spot on the river). We had the first pull through spot and was perfect.
TravelerIt’s just a pull off. Not much for flat spots or anything else. You will need to have everything you need with you.
TravelerAmazing drive-in BLM campsite right on the Salmon River. Primitive site; no water/bathroom. Great stargazing.
TravelerSite: moderately clean and private. Spaced apart about 3 sites alongside the river access. Trees for hammocking and shade. Relatively even for van parking. Not buggy at all. Can see one person's cabin up the road but that's it. 360 views of mountains, placed at the bottom of a canyon.
Water: 1 minute walk to the river from all sites. No faucet for potable water, bring your own or filter from the river.
Noise: A bit of noise from US93, not that busy of a road but close enough to hear what passes except if you're sleeping in a van, ours muted that out nicely.
People: saw about 5 people total in an overnight stay. Nobody bugged us. Mostly just turning around. 1 camper next to us the following morning.
Activities: perfect view of the big dipper between the canyon view made for a beautiful night of star gazing by the fire ring. Plenty of fishing access and space to walk around the river. Beautiful place to adventure and be, would be a great spot for multiple nights. Space for people to bring their family or friends. Far away from cities and towns that it's not too busy.
GuideThis camping spot is a great one. All the campsites are pretty isolated from each other by the pine trees so you can’t really see your neighbors. The lake is beautiful and not too cold. You can definitely bring a non-motorized boat to go around the lake in. The drive there is also gorgeous!
Traveler
May creek is a wonderful campground... it’s in a gorgeous cabin and it’s easy to find. The campsites have fire pits and picnic tables. It’s not that far from the highway which is nice if your looking to explore the area. It’s peaceful and quiet, and not busy.
TravelerBear Creek Pass Campground is semi-official dispersed camping at Bear Creek Pass, the location of two trail heads. I surveyed the site during a hike but did not stay over night.
There are two trail heads, about 1/2 mile apart. Between is a turn off for the“campground” which is little more than a pull out and a turn around. I didn’t see tent sites off the road. A little further on is a large parking area with vault toilet. A little beyond that a small parking area near the second trail head. Between these two is the one place that did look like a camp site. There was one fire ring and vegetation had been pressed down.
There are facilities for horses: several hitching posts and a loading ramp. These don’t look like they have been used for a while. We did see signs that horses were up here recently but the area is little impacted by horse use.
The area is in open pine forest with meadows. There is a stream flowing near by.
I would certainly sleep in my vehicle over night here or set up a tent. You can overnight here before starting on a hike from one of the trail heads. However, this site has little to recommend itself as a destination for an extended stay or overflow if nearby Schumaker is full.
Guide
The river by the camp sites is absolutely beautiful. The lake at the top of the hill is a sight to be seen with the surrounding mountains. There are hiking trails and access to a massive wilderness area that has in excess of 40 separate lakes. Definitely recommended! To get this this portion of camp sites, as soon as you get to the dam you take a very hard right. It’s 180 degree turn to the right. I took a picture of the sign and road so you don’t miss it!
TravelerBeautiful, private and isolated🥰
Ranger
Spent 3 nights at Hogan Cabin, MT last summer (Aug 2018). I loved the isolation of the location. Up at 7200ft you get a little winded hiking around, but the incredible scenery is worth it. Found a primitive A-frame structure in the woods about a mile from the cabin. Saw several deer and elk feeding in the field near the cabin, as well as a moose in the marsh along the creek.
The cabin itself is nothing to jump up and down about. With only 2 sets of bunk beds, my wife and I put the bedding on the floor and made a full sized bed. There's no running water so be sure to bring plenty.
There's an vault toilet in the outhouse.
There is also a HUGE fire pit with swinging grill for cooking.
TravelerLovely view you can camp close to the lake down the road or on the lake side streams for fishing 🎣 bring big spay lots of mosquitoes
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Gibbonsville, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Gibbonsville, ID is Mussigbrod with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Gibbonsville, ID?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Gibbonsville, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
