Eldridge Guard Station

Yellowstone

Eldridge Guard Station in Yellowstone — photo 4

Eldridge Guard Station

Yellowstone

About this campsite

Overview

Eldridge Guard Station is a primitive, rustic, log structure open year-round for recreational enjoyment. It provides access to several trails for summer hiking and biking, and winter skiing and snowmobiling. The cabin can be accessed by vehicle in warmer weather, but snow conditions may require a two mile trek on skis, snowshoes, or by snowmobile.

Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and they must bring several of their own amenities. During the spring and fall, guests are encouraged to call the Hebgen Lake Ranger District at (406) 823-6961 for road conditions and access to the cabin.

Recreation

The area surrounding Eldridge Guard Station offers many recreational opportunities, both motorized and non-motorized. In the summer, visitors can enjoy hiking and mountain biking on the nearby trails, riding 50” (or narrower) motorized vehicles on the motorized trails, stream fishing, or bird/wildlife watching. In the winter, visitors can enjoy snowmobiling, cross-country or back-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

Please note: Fall hunting season brings big game hunters to this area (September 1-December 1).

Facilities

Eldridge Guard Station sleeps 6, with a maximum group size of 8 people for overnight use. 7-night maximum stay per group.

This is a primitive cabin with limited seasonal access - There is no electricity or potable water available (water from nearby creek or snow in winter can be filtered for use). An outhouse is located outside, behind the cabin. A corral is available for stock. A wood stove is available for heat, and a propane gas stove for cooking. There is also a small propane powered refrigerator in the cabin. (Please carefully read the instructions for the propane stove and refrigerator!) The cabin is stocked with basic amenities: axe, shovel, bucket, 2 cots, 2 full-size futons with mattresses, table and chairs, and minimal cookware. A large stock pot is available for boiling water. It is strongly advised that renters bring their own backcountry cookware and dishes for use. Renters should also bring their own firewood, drinking water, flashlight/lantern, bedding, matches, extra toilet paper, garbage bags, dish soap, and other necessities.

Please note: This rustic, uninsulated, high ceiling cabin can be very cold in winter, even with the wood stove burning. Firewood is not provided until Oct 1 (Oct 1 - May 31) – please bring or gather your own firewood from June 1 - Sep 30. When firewood is provided, it is is the woodshed near the cabin. There is additional firewood stored in the tack shed a little further from the cabin (lock combo same as cabin).

Please be sure to clean the cabin and remove all trash prior to your departure!

Natural Features

Eldridge Guard Station is situated between the Madison Mountain Range and the Gallatin Mountain Range at an elevation of 7,030 feet. The cabin is at the edge of a meadow with Taylor Creek running across from the cabin. Eldridge Guard Station is located in high-population grizzly bear habitat. The area is also home to deer, elk, moose, and other wildlife. Please respect the wildlife and always keep a safe distance. Carry bear spray, and always securely store food and other attractants (March 1-December 1).

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (406) 823-6961.

Nearby Attractions

Eldridge Guard Station is within an hour’s drive south to West Yellowstone, Montana, home of the West Gate to Yellowstone National Park. It is also close to Hebgen and Earthquake lakes, as well as the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center.

Eldridge Guard Station is also within an hour’s drive north to Big Sky, Montana.

Location

Eldridge Guard Station•MT

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

MON☁️

15° / 3°

💧 37%

TODAY☁️

18° / 3°

💧 2%

WED☀️

18° / 4°

💧 2%

THU☁️

16° / 5°

💧 4%

FRI☁️

18° / 5°

💧 10%

Common questions about Eldridge Guard Station

Is Eldridge Guard Station free to camp at?

Yes. Eldridge Guard Station in MT is a free camp, so there is no nightly fee to stay. There is no booking system for it, so plan on first in, best dressed, especially on long weekends. We hold no facilities list for it, so go in self sufficient with your own water and a way to deal with rubbish.

Can you book Eldridge Guard Station online?

We hold no online booking link for Eldridge Guard Station, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season.

Where is Eldridge Guard Station?

Eldridge Guard Station sits in MT. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

3.8 km away

WAPITI CABIN

Overview Wapiti Cabin is a primitive, rustic, log structure open year-round for recreational enjoyment. It provides access to several trails for summer hiking and biking, and winter skiing and snowmobiling. The cabin can be accessed by vehicle from July 1 through December 1 (weather and snow permitting), but winter access requires a trek of up to six miles on skis, snowshoes, or by snowmobile. Taylor Fork Road (FS 134) is open year round, but may have limited access due to snow. Wapiti Creek Road (FS 2522) does not fully open to vehicles until July 1. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and they must bring several of their own amenities. During the spring and fall, guests are encouraged to call the Hebgen Lake Ranger District at (406) 823-6961 for road conditions and access to the cabin. Recreation The junction of Taylor Fork Road and Wapiti Creek offers several trailheads leading into the Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area. Mountain bikers will find several route options in the Wapiti Loops in Taylor Fork, including a 14-mile route that begins at the cabin. For winter sports enthusiasts, the Big Sky Snowmobile Trail is within 2 miles of the cabin, and it offers some of Montana's best backcountry snowmobiling. The area around Wapiti Creek also offers good terrain for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The cabin is open to stock, and there is a corral available for horses. A hitching rail surrounds the cabin for stock use. Please keep in mind that fall hunting season brings big game hunters to this area. Facilities This is a primitive cabin. It can sleep up to four people, with a maximum group size of six people for overnight use. There is a seven night maximum stay per group. A wood stove is available for heat, and an old-fashioned wood cook stove is also available. Basic ammeneties such as an axe, shovel, bucket and table with chairs are also provided. Four cots are available. An outhouse is located outside and adjacent to the cabin. Firewood is supplied for indoor use only . Renters must gather their own wood for outdoor campfires. A corral is available for stock. A stock pot is provided for boiling water. It is strongly recommended that campers bring their own back country cookware and dishes for use. No electricity or water is available. Guests must bring their own drinking water, flashlights and lanterns, bedding, matches, extra toilet paper, garbage bags, dish soap, and other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash removed prior to departure. Natural Features Wapiti Cabin is situated inbetween the Madison Mountain Range and the Gallatin Mountain Range at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Beyond the meadow, guests at the cabin can see dense stands of evergreens and rugged mountain ridges. Wapiti Creek flows nearby. The area around Wapiti Cabin is grizzly bear habitat, but it's also home to deer, elk, moose, and other wildlife. Nearby Attractions Wapitit Cabin is within the vacinity of West Yellowstone, MT, home of the West Gate to Yellowstone National Park. It is also close to Hebgen and Earthquake lakes as well as the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center.

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RED CLIFF CAMPGROUND

Overview Red Cliff Campground is located in the scenic Gallatin Canyon, on the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest, in Montana. Bozeman is 46 miles north of the campground and West Yellowstone is 45 miles south. The campground is adjacent to the Gallatin River and Highway 191. The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, rafting, hiking and viewing local wildlife. Recreation Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. Anglers cast for rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat trout, whitefish and Arctic grayling on the Gallatin River. Rafting and kayaking are popular activities as well. The Elkhorn Creek Trail, for hiking and horseback riding, begins at the south end of the campground. Facilities The campground offers single-family campsites, with and without electric hookups. Several sites are also accessible. A day-use group picnic area is available on-site as well, and can accommodate up to 60 people. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Roads and parking spurs within the campground are gravel. Natural Features The campground sits next to the Gallatin River, at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Most campsites are situated among scattered pine and fir trees. Some sites are located in open meadows further from the river. A variety of wildlife makes its home in this scenic canyon. Visitors can often glimpse bald eagles, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mountain goats, deer and coyotes. Black and grizzly bears also live in the canyon. Nearby Attractions The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is located 45 miles south of the campground, in the town of West Yellowstone. Visitors enjoy day trips to the park for unparalleled wildlife viewing, beautiful scenery and unique geologic features. The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in the town of West Yellowstone is a popular attraction. It showcases live grizzly bears, gray wolves and various birds of prey, and has a variety of exhibits and educational programs. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.

15.2 km away

YELLOW MULE CABIN

Overview Yellow Mule Cabin was built in 1920 and was once used as a ranger station. This cabin is unique because it was constructed according to the builder's preference instead of being built with a standard Forest Service design. It is eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The cabin provides a rustic, backcountry retreat year-round. A few basic amenities are provided, so guests should be prepared to bring most of the supplies and gear they need for an enjoyable experience. This remote cabin is not accessible by car. Summer access is via off-road vehicle, motorcycle or hiking for 8 miles. Winter access is by snowmobile for 14 miles. Recreation This cabin is popular with snowmobilers because of its proximity to the Buck Creek Ridge Trail, which offers a 1,000 foot elevation gain. Hikers, mountain bikers and off-road vehicle riders enjoy this trail in the summer. Snowmobilers and cross-country skiers can also access McAtee Basin. Hunting in designated areas is another popular pastime. Facilities This 12 x 14 single-room cabin can sleep up to three people and comes with three cots. A wood stove is provided for heat. Basic cookware, utensils, a propane lantern and a dining table with chairs are available. An outhouse with a vault toilet is located just outside. Water, electricity, cooking facilities and firewood are not provided. Guests must bring their own water supply and trash bags to pack out trash, as well as bedding, matches, first aid supplies, extra toilet paper and battery-operated lanterns or flashlights. Natural Features The cabin sits between a meadow and a stand of mixed evergreens at an elevation of approximately 8,650 feet. Wildflowers bloom across the meadow in the summer and a thick layer of pristine snow blankets the area in winter. The jagged, glaciated peaks of the Madison Mountain Range stretch out into the distance. Wildlife in this area includes grizzly bear, gray wolf, mountain lion, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and the Canada lynx. Birders may see a wide variety of bird species.

16.4 km away

Upper Dailey Creek

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BEAVER CREEK CABIN (MT)

Overview Beaver Creek Cabin is a primitive, rustic cabin located within the Custer Gallatin National Forest, in an area that offers a variety of recreational activities. The cabin is situated 3.5 miles down Forest Service Road 985. The cabin is accessible by vehicle when there is no snow, but it is only by snowmobile, skis, or snowshoes when there is snow. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and they must bring several of their own amenities. During the spring and fall, guests are encouraged to call the Hebgen Lake Ranger District at (406) 823-6961 for road conditions and access to the cabin. Recreation Several trailheads near the cabin lead into the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. These trails take hikers and equestrians to high mountain lakes within the Madison Range. There is a hitching rail provided for stock use. Other trails on the forest offer access to ATV/UTV and motorcycles. Winter activities include snowmobiling, showshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Hunting and fishing are available nearby. Hebgen Lake is within 10 miles, offering many other recreational opportunities. Facilities This is a primitive cabin. It accommodates a maximum of 5 people, with a seven night stay maximum per group. 3 basic sleeping pads are provided. A wood stove heats the cabin, and firewood is provided for the interior wood stove through certain dates. Firewood is limited and provided October 1st - May 31st for indoor use only . Other amenities include an axe, shovel, bucket, and table with chairs. There is a sleeping loft and two bunk beds. No water or electricity is available at the cabin. Guests must either bring drinking water or treat water they retrieve from natural sources. It is also recommended that guests bring their own cooking stoves. Garbage bags are needed to pack out trash. A stock pot is provided for boiling water. It is strongly recommended that campers bring their own back country cookware and dishes for use. Items such as bedding, flashlights or lanterns, first aid supplies, and extra toilet paper are also not available at the cabin. Natural Features The cabin sits at an elevation of around 7,000 feet in a wooded canyon near Beaver Creek and the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. It is nestled within the Madison Range and tucked beneath 11,316-foot Hilgard Peak, the highest in the range. Visitors to this area may see an abundance of wildlife, such as deer, elk, grizzly bears, moose, and bighorn sheep. A variety of bird species also inhabit the area. Nearby Attractions Yellowstone National Park is within 30 miles, making it an ideal day trip from Beaver Creek Cabin. Other attractions include; Hebgen Lake, Earthquake lake and the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center, and Henry's Lake State Park Accross the Idaho Border.