A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Beaver Creek Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Boise National Forest, Boise County, Idaho. 5,219 feet. 14.5 miles from Idaho City.

Managed by
Forest Service Boise National Forest
Elevation
5,219 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
1 1 cabin non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Boise County

Overview

The Beaver Creek Cabin site was established for administrative use in 1912. The current dwelling was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps using standard blueprints for that time.

Beaver Creek Cabin is open year-round. It's accessible by car in the summer months and by snowshoes or cross-country skis in winter. Guests arriving in winter should park at the Whoop-Um-Up Park N' Ski Area (permit required) and access the 1.5 mile Pilgrim Trail to reach the cabin. The trail is moderately difficult in normal conditions, and guests are responsible for their own safety.

The cabin offers many creature comforts for an enjoyable stay. However, several of the amenities are only available seasonally. Guests should be prepared to bring certain supplies or gear according to the season.

Recreation

Numerous hiking, biking, horse, off-road vehicle and motorcycle trails are in the vicinity. Click here for an Idaho OHV Safety Message. During the winter months, miles of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails are right out the front door.

The Crooked River, Beaver Creek and beaver ponds all offer good rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout fishing. The 1-mile Beaver Creek Trail leads to the Crooked River and several small swimming holes.

Good hunting can be found in this area in season.

Facilities

The cabin can accommodate a maximum of four people with two twin beds with mattresses and one futon in the living room (bedding not provided). The kitchen is equipped with a sink, table, chairs, propane oven, and propane fridge (summer months only). A picnic table and campfire ring are located outside. Limited bear-proof trash recepticles are located at the back of the cabin (summer months only). Please be mindful and try to pack-out as much as you are able to.

A wood stove provides heat. Be prepared to collect firewood during the summer months. Firewood is available November- April in the woodshed. Be prepared to split your own wood.

The indoor bathroom is open in the summer and equipped with a sink, flush toilet and shower. An outhouse with vault toilet is available for winter use. Water is only available from May 20th through early October.

The cabin does not have electricity, so guests must bring their own light sources along with extra batteries or propane.

Natural Features

A mixed-growth pine forest surrounds the area, offering pretty scenery and partial shade. Several creeks and rivers flow nearby, the closest being Beaver Creek. The cabin is nestled within the Boise Mountain Range at an elevation of 5,100 feet.

Beavers are a common sight in this area, and several beaver ponds are nearby. Other wildlife includes mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, chukars, wild turkeys, eagles and the occasional black bear or wolf.

Nearby Attractions

State Highway 21 is known as the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. This 131-mile route starts in Boise and meanders through Boise, Salmon-Challis and Sawtooth National Forests with several points of interest along the way.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • wildlife viewing
  • winter sports

The land around Beaver Creek Cabin

The ringed pin is this cabin or lookout; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.