Established Camping
Indian Meadows Guard Station
Indian Meadows Guard Station is located in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, featuring forested terrain with a mix of trees and open spaces. Temperatures can range from lows in the 30s Fahrenheit during cooler months to highs in the 80s during summer. Nearby attractions include the Continental Divide Trail and the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, offering opportunities for hiking and exploration.
Description
USDA Forest Service
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
Overview
Indian Meadows Guard Station is located near the Copper Bowls snowmobile area and the Scapegoat Wilderness, offering exceptional opportunities for both motorized and non-motorized winter enthusiasts. The cabin is available for rent from December 1st to March 31st each year. Miles of Groomed snowmobile trails and renowned off trail riding in the nearby Copper Bowls are right out the door from this cabin. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers can explore the quiet of the Scapegoat Wilderness to the north with several trails and endless acres of cross-country terrain. Visitors will enjoy a very remote experience as this cabin___s location is not well travelled in the winter months. Consequently, visitors should come well equipped and well prepared to travel the approximately 8 miles over snow to this remote outpost.__ The cabin is approximately 5,500 ft. in elevation and sits within sight of the tallest peak in the greater Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, the 9,411 ft. Red Mtn. Wildlife abounds in this area in the summer months, but it is noticeably quieter in the winter months when this cabin is available for rent. Visitors will still have good opportunities to track wildlife in this area, such as Canadian Lynx, Wolverines, Fox, Wolves, snowshoe hare, among others.
Recreation
Recreation activities are primarily winter based at this location. Snowmobiling, Cross-country Skiing, Back Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing are the primary activities for visitors. Snowmobiling is prohibited in most of the area to the North and East of the Cabin. The Copper Creek Road is regularly groomed by the local snowmobile club and it provides access to the popular Copper Bowls at the base of Red Mountain. The groomed network of trails also extends to the South and access the town of Lincoln via the Sucker Cr. Road #1800. In early season visitors may find that they can hike on the nearby Mainline Trail #480 and the Landers Fork Trail #438 with relatively little snow cover. Heart Lake is located approximately 5 miles from the cabin on the Mainline Trail. The lake has strong populations of West slope Cutthroat trout and Arctic Grayling. The Landers fork and Copper Creek are also nearby streams with strong trout populations.
Facilities
Recreation activities are primarily winter based at this location. Snowmobiling, Cross-country Skiing, Back Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing are the primary activities for visitors. Snowmobiling is prohibited in most of the area to the North and East of the Cabin. The Copper Creek Road is regularly groomed by the local snowmobile club and it provides access to the popular Copper Bowls at the base of Red Mountain. The groomed network of trails also extends to the South and access the town of Lincoln via the Sucker Cr. Road #1800. In early season visitors may find that they can hike on the nearby Mainline Trail #480 and the Landers Fork Trail #438 with relatively little snow cover. Heart Lake is located approximately 5 miles from the cabin on the Mainline Trail. The lake has strong populations of West slope Cutthroat trout and Arctic Grayling. The Landers fork and Copper Creek are also nearby streams with strong trout populations.
Natural Features
This cabin is located with sight of both the impressive bulk of Red Mountain to the west and the jagged spine of the Continental Divide to the east. Over a million acres of undeveloped Designated Wilderness lies to the North where the lake filled Scapegoat Wilderness ties in to the larger Bob Marshall Wilderness complex. There are many miles of ridges, creeks, lakes, and trails to explore. The steep slopes and abundant snowfall make for a scenic backdrop, but visitors should be aware that they also present a considerable danger of avalanche conditions.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Lincoln is about 20 miles of groomed snowmobile trail away and offers several options for eateries and local shops. Visitors can also ski or walk through the Blackfoot Pathways Sculpture Park on groomed trails, or visit the High Country Jerky store for delicious snacks and interesting items. Lincoln hosts the Race to the Sky dogsledding race in February and a Ski-joring event that usually takes place in January of each year.
Location
Indian Meadows Guard Station is located in Montana
Directions
From Lincoln Mt., visitors will travel approximately 5 miles East on Hwy 200 to the Copper Creek Road #330. The snowmobile Trailhead is located approximately 2 miles North on Copper Creek Road #330 and is located on the west (left) side of the road. There is ample parking here for trailers and vehicles. The trailhead is plowed and maintained by the local snowmobile club. Most visitors will park here and proceed over snow for the remaining 8 miles to the cabin. In early December it may be possible to drive further in on Copper Cr. Road towards the cabin. Visitors can follow the below directions in their vehicle in the event that the area is accessible due to lack of snow, but visitors should obey posted closures and pay close attention to weather forecasts to avoid becoming snowed in at the cabin with their vehicle. From the Copper Creek TH visitors can snowmobile, ski, or snowshoe to the cabin. The majority of the route is on marked, groomed snowmobile trails. From the TH visitors will head North East on the Copper Creek Rd #330, known as Snowmobile Trail #4 in the winter months. Proceed on Trail #4 for approximately 6 miles to the jct. with the Indian Meadows Road #1882. This is the end of the regularly groomed snowmobile trail and visitors should expect powder and wind drifts for the remaining 2 miles. At this signed intersection visitors will turn North (right) onto Road #1882 and proceed about 1 __ miles to the entrance of the Indian Meadows Trailhead. The road forks right before the trailhead. Visitors should follow the signs for the Guard Station on the right hand fork, proceed past the outfitter corrals, through an open gate signed Indian Meadow Guard Station, and travel approximately __ mile on the access road to the cabin.
Coordinates
47.0863936 N
112.603544 W
Access
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Stay Connected
- WiFiAvailable
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Cabins
Features
For Campers
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
Drive Time
- 1 hr 29 min from Helena
- 1 hr 46 min from Great Falls
- 1 hr 52 min from Missoula
- 2 hrs 49 min from Bozeman