We all love roasting marshmallows over a campfire—and you can often still do that while cabin camping in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Find the best cabin camping near Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. From secluded to easy-to-reach, these Montana cabin rentals are perfect for any adventurer.
Welcome to the Sportsman Lodge
My family and I just purchased the Sportsman Motel in 2021. This was a 2-year process for us by way of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Our journey with the Sportsman Motel in Melrose MT started over 7 years ago. It all began with our oldest son Cody, who was deployed with the Army at the time, wrote me a letter. In his letter, he reflects on the passion he and his brother Marcus (also serving in the Army National Guard) and I have for the outdoors. Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, I have developed a love of the outdoors for as long as I can ever remember. We have always wanted to go west to Montana. In Cody’s letter, he spoke of a small town in Montana called Melrose and about one of the best Rivers to fish in the country, The Big Hole, running through Melrose. He spoke about staying at the Sportsman Motel. Almost immediately upon his return to the states after his deployment, we booked our trip to the Sportsman Motel.
We have been coming back every year, multiple times a year, and staying at the Sportsman ever since. We fell in love with the town, the great people of Melrose and of course the World Class Fishing and Hunting.
In 2018 I approached the previous owners of the Sportsman about buying it. I brought my wife Bonnie out so she can experience what the boys and I have come to love. Bonnie grew up in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area and although she had been a city girl at heart, she has gained the love and appreciation of the great outdoors through my own lifetime passion. We have relocated here from Pennsylvania to Montana living our greatest dream and want to help bring the same joy to others.
No matter what you are in search of — hunting, fishing, camping, or just being one with nature – The Sportsman Lodge in Melrose, Montana is your ideal outdoor paradise and home away from home.
For fishing, Sportsman Lodge is in close proximity to some of the best and most famous streams in the country. Our rivers are legendary. If you’re looking for fly fishing or trout, there’s nothing better than a stay in one of our cabins on the water.
The hunting here is as good as it gets anywhere. If you’re after the big game, trophy-class elk, mule deer and whitetail are out there. You’ll also find black bears, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and antelope. If bird hunting and waterfowl are more your style, there are strong sage, sharp-tailed, and mountain grouse, as well as migratory ducks and geese. Melrose is home to a beautiful diversity of habitats and wildlife!
Sportsman Lodge has accommodations for everyone. Our cozy cabins can serve as your mountainside oasis coming completely furnished with various bedroom options and each with a kitchen, living room and bath. Our cabins by the river offer outstanding access for fishing.
Our RV park boasts seventeen, full-service hookup spots allowing you to enjoy our Montana views with all of your creature comforts. Or if you’re looking to get a little closer to nature, it doesn’t get any better than camping out under the vast and wild Montana sky.
Roaming around this part of the country can’t help but impress. In Melrose, while the surroundings are peaceful, the ability to explore the outdoors awakens a strong sense of adventure.
Melrose is a small town on the Big Hole River. Between our 8 rooms, 6 cabins, 17 RV sites and grass tent spaces, we can suit any traveler looking to experience the best of the outdoors.
$29 - $48 / night
Fleecer Cabin is popular for hunters, hikers and winter activities during the fall, winter and spring months. It is not far from Butte, giving locals a respite from everyday life; however, a variety of recreational opportunities await every guest. The cabin was built in 1924 and has been used as headquarters for Forest Service crews ever since. It is available between October 20th and April 15th each year. The cabin is used during the summer field season to house crews. The cabin can generally be accessed by vehicle; however, during the fall and winter, alternative resources may be required to reach the cabin, depending on weather conditions. Usually by January, alternative methods such as ski, snowshoe, ATV or snowmobile are needed to reach the cabin. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Hunting in designated areas is a popular activity, as wildlife is abundant. Fishing is also a possibility in any of the nearby mountain creeks and streams. The Big Hole River is just minutes away and is best known for its trophy-class trout fishing. There is a variety of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails that are easily accessed from the cabin into the surrounding forest. winter months provide opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing (unmarked). Off-road vehicles and motorcycles are also allowed in the area, but must be properly permitted and licensed to be on trails and roads. Access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is located 1 mile from the cabin.
Fleecer cabin is well-equipped, with electricity, forced-air heat, woodstove and hot and cold running water. Two bedrooms contain beds and mattresses to accommodate up to 5 people. The kitchen provides table and chairs, an electric cook stove and refrigerator. The bathroom has a flush toilet, sink and shower.A variety of supplies are provided within the cabin, including dishes, eating and cooking utensils, pots and pans, a broom, dust pan and other cleaning equipment and supplies. Ample cupboard space is available. Guests will need to bring their own bedding, pillows, towels, and soap. Garbage bags are needed to pack out trash, and guests are asked to clean the cabin prior to leaving. Cell phone service is good at the cabin.__ Please remember that Fleece Station is considered a recreational area and shooting is not permitted around the cabin and on the surrounding private property. Check out time is 11am, check in time is 2pm.
The cabin is located in the Fleecer Mountain Range approximately 15 miles south of Butte. A horse corral and grassy pasture are adjacent to the cabin. The region is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, mule deer, moose, black bear, and a variety of birds and small mammals (learn more about bear safety). The Fleecers provide a year-round range for elk and deer and large populations winter on nearby Fleecer Mountain or on sagebrush slopes in the southeast portion of the landscape.
$75 / night
Hells Canyon Guard Station is a quaint log cabin located in the Highland Mountains of Montana's Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. It is most often used as a base camp by hunters and hikers. The area is replete with wildlife and provides access to scenic mountain views, as well as plentiful opportunities for recreation. It was originally built in 1906 and used as a line cabin for ranchers before being donated to the Forest Service in 1910. The Forest Service has used the cabin as a guard station and now offers it for public enjoyment. The cabin can be accessed by vehicle; however, during winter months, alternative resources may be required to reach the cabin. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Hunters frequently use the cabin as a base camp. Fishing is also available in nearby Hells Canyon Creek. Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the Hells Canyon area. Off-road vehicles are allowed on designated trails. Off-road vehicles and motorcycles are also allowed in the area, but must be properly permitted and licensed to be on trails and roads. During winter months, the area is popular for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Winter sports enthusiasts should carry and know how to use proper backcountry equipment, including a beacon, shovel and probe.
The large, single-room structure has bunk beds to sleep up to 4 people. It has potable drinking water in the summer months, a propane cooktop, a wood stove for heat and cooking, and a table and chairs. Basic cooking and eating utensils, pots, and pans, as well as some cleaning equipment, should be available inside. An outhouse with a vault toilet is nearby. Electricity is not available at this cabin. There is a propane lantern you can use but propane is not provided. The propane is provided for the cooktop that is located on the porch of the cabin. Guests will need to bring their own bedding, including blankets and pillows, towels, soap, matches, garbage bags, food, and propane fuel (for lanterns) in 16-ounce canisters. Guests are required to pack out all trash and clean the cabin prior to leaving. Cell phone service is rare or nonexistent in the area.__ Please remember that Hells Canyon Guard Station is considered a recreational area and shooting is not permitted around the cabin. Check-out time is 11 am, check-in time is 2 pm.
The cabin is in an idyllic setting, with pristine nature all around. It is situated along Hells Canyon Creek in a lush meadow of sagebrush and tall grasses. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is famous for its wide array of big game animals. Elk and deer are the most sought after by hunters on the forest and in the Hells Canyon area. Upland game birds are also in the area.
$55 / night
Canyon Creek Cabin is located in the middle of an old mining district. Historic sites that can be explored on foot or on a bike are nearby. A variety of trails exist in the area, as does abundant wildlife. The cabin is a quaint location for guests to enjoy the scenic Pioneer Mountains in southwestern Montana. The cabin is accessible by a four-wheel drive or high clearance vehicle, depending on conditions. Snowmobiles, skis or snowshoes may be necessary during the months between December and April each year. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
A variety of old roads exist in the area, providing plentiful hiking and biking opportunities. A trail climbs 5 miles up to a group of glacial lakes in the Pioneer Mountains, and can be accessed near the ranch on Forest Road 7401. Charcoal kilns, which date back to mining days, are situated in the area near the cabin, as another point of exploration. Hunting is a popular activity. Canyon Creek is available for fishing. Anglers might see brook, rainbow and cutthroat trout, among other species, in the cold creek. Fishing is also available in the lakes in the area. The trails and roadways provide excellent snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Guests must realize the potential for avalanche danger, and carry and know how to use proper backcountry equipment, including a beacon, shovel and probe while recreating (learn about avalanche danger).
The small wood cabin can accommodate four people and is equipped with bunkbeds. A fold-down table and folding chairs are also provided, as well as a wood stove for heat. Firewood is also available but is not guaranteed. A variety of equipment is available inside the cabin, including a saw, an axe and some dishes and pans. A broom, dust pan, shovel, bucket and a propane stove may also be available. The cabin has no electricity or running water. An outside vault toilet is provided. Guests will need to bring water for drinking, cooking and cleaning, as well as bedding, matches, food, propane fuel canisters and necessary cooking equipment, among other amenities. Water from the creek must be treated before drinking or cooking use. Guests are asked to replenish the split firewood supply and clean the cabin prior to leaving.
The cabin was built in 1930 to be used as a guard station. It is situated at the base of a sheer cliff in the eastern Pioneer Mountain Range at an elevation of about 7,300 feet. The Wise River runs nearby and a mountain creek is adjacent to the cabin. The cliff and surrounding area is home to many mountain goats. Moose can usually be found in nearby willow bottoms. During the winter, deer and elk can be seen on their winter range located up and down-canyon from the cabin. Black bears also frequent the area.
A short drive takes visitors to Vipond Park where there are spectacular wildflowers in early summer. Glendale, an old smelter town, is nearby. There isn't much left of Glendale, just a few old buildings, the red brick smelter stack and the foundations of many buildings. Two cemeteries are located nearby. Most of the area around Glendale is privately owned.
$45 / night
$47 - $52 / night
Welcome to the Sportsman Lodge
My family and I just purchased the Sportsman Motel in 2021. This was a 2-year process for us by way of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Our journey with the Sportsman Motel in Melrose MT started over 7 years ago. It all began with our oldest son Cody, who was deployed with the Army at the time, wrote me a letter. In his letter, he reflects on the passion he and his brother Marcus (also serving in the Army National Guard) and I have for the outdoors. Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, I have developed a love of the outdoors for as long as I can ever remember. We have always wanted to go west to Montana. In Cody’s letter, he spoke of a small town in Montana called Melrose and about one of the best Rivers to fish in the country, The Big Hole, running through Melrose. He spoke about staying at the Sportsman Motel. Almost immediately upon his return to the states after his deployment, we booked our trip to the Sportsman Motel.
We have been coming back every year, multiple times a year, and staying at the Sportsman ever since. We fell in love with the town, the great people of Melrose and of course the World Class Fishing and Hunting.
In 2018 I approached the previous owners of the Sportsman about buying it. I brought my wife Bonnie out so she can experience what the boys and I have come to love. Bonnie grew up in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area and although she had been a city girl at heart, she has gained the love and appreciation of the great outdoors through my own lifetime passion. We have relocated here from Pennsylvania to Montana living our greatest dream and want to help bring the same joy to others.
No matter what you are in search of — hunting, fishing, camping, or just being one with nature – The Sportsman Lodge in Melrose, Montana is your ideal outdoor paradise and home away from home.
For fishing, Sportsman Lodge is in close proximity to some of the best and most famous streams in the country. Our rivers are legendary. If you’re looking for fly fishing or trout, there’s nothing better than a stay in one of our cabins on the water.
The hunting here is as good as it gets anywhere. If you’re after the big game, trophy-class elk, mule deer and whitetail are out there. You’ll also find black bears, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and antelope. If bird hunting and waterfowl are more your style, there are strong sage, sharp-tailed, and mountain grouse, as well as migratory ducks and geese. Melrose is home to a beautiful diversity of habitats and wildlife!
Sportsman Lodge has accommodations for everyone. Our cozy cabins can serve as your mountainside oasis coming completely furnished with various bedroom options and each with a kitchen, living room and bath. Our cabins by the river offer outstanding access for fishing.
Our RV park boasts seventeen, full-service hookup spots allowing you to enjoy our Montana views with all of your creature comforts. Or if you’re looking to get a little closer to nature, it doesn’t get any better than camping out under the vast and wild Montana sky.
Roaming around this part of the country can’t help but impress. In Melrose, while the surroundings are peaceful, the ability to explore the outdoors awakens a strong sense of adventure.
Melrose is a small town on the Big Hole River. Between our 8 rooms, 6 cabins, 17 RV sites and grass tent spaces, we can suit any traveler looking to experience the best of the outdoors.
$29 - $48 / night
