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

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Kenck Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Lewis and Clark County, Montana. About 5,200 feet.

Managed by
Forest Service Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
Elevation
About 5,200 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
1 1 cabin non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Guests can stay at Kenck Cabin for a rustic getaway in the fresh mountain air. The cabin was built in 1924 by a traveling doctor who arrived in the area in 1904 and spent his entire career along the Rocky Mountain Front. In 2003 the property was donated to the Forest Service by the Kenck Family Trust, and it has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Recreation

Guests can relax by the stream, watch for birds and hike the surrounding area. Photographers will particularly enjoy the views of Patrol Lookout found by the gate to the cabin.

Facilities

Kenck is comprised of one room that sleeps six on a double bed, a futon that turns into a double bed and two cots. Heating and cooking is from two wood stoves, and firewood is provided. Cooking utensils and dishes are also provided. The cabin has a replica of an old monarch stove and classic wood dining chairs. No water is available. Renters should bring their own drinking water or be prepared to filter or boil stream water. A bucket and shovel is provided. An outhouse is available directly behind the cabin. Items to bring include trash bags, coolers, food, toilet paper, bedding, flashlights, small propane cylinders for the lanterns. ( Click here for more cabin details. )

Natural Features

Perched at an elevation of about 5,200 feet, the cabin sits near a series of flowing water, including Benchmark Creek, South Fork Sun River and Burned Creek. The surrounding area is a mixed conifer forest. The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest boasts 1,600 miles of streams and a mix of small natural and man-made lakes. Native wildlife includes grizzly and black bears, white-tailed deer, bald eagles, lynx, bighorn sheep and grey wolves.

Nearby Attractions

The nearest town with conveniences is Augusta. The distance is about 30 miles, but due to rough, winding gravel roads, travel time can take an hour and a half to two hours.

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

What people do here

  • camping

The land around Kenck 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 February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.