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

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Savenac Cookhouse

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Lolo National Forest, Mineral County, Montana. 3,136 feet. 15 miles from Thompson Falls.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Lolo National Forest
Elevation
3,136 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
1 1 cabin electric
Longest rig
60 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Mineral County

Overview

Savenac Cookhouse provides cooking and eating accommodations for large groups staying at the Savenac Historic Tree Nursery in the Lolo National Forest of Montana. The area is filled with history and was once the site of the U.S. Forest Service's largest and most beautiful nurseries in the West. The cookhouse can seat up to 30 people and offers somewhat modern facilities, as well as access to a variety of recreational opportunities. In addition, the cookhouse can sleep up to 9 people downstairs.

Recreation

A variety of historic sites and memorials, as well as interpretive trails, exist near the cookhouse. A self-guided tour of the nursery is available at the site to give visitors a historical perspective. The world-class Route of the Hiawatha Trail is located just 7 miles to the west, offering pristine mountain biking. Numerous mountain streams and the St. Regis River are available for fishing, wading and non-motorized boating within just a few minutes of Savenac. The beautiful Savenac Creek runs through the compound. In the winter, trails in the nearby area are groomed for snowmobile use and opportunities abound for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Lookout Pass ski hill is located just 10 miles west on Interstate 90.

Facilities

Guests are required to clean the facility before leaving. Follow the cleaning instructions posted in the kitchen. Hosts are onsite to perform a checkout inspection before leaving the facility.

The cookhouse is equipped with a large kitchen including a commercial-grade stove with grills, burners, and double ovens, a commercial diswasher, a walking refrigerator/freezer, two standard refrigerators, coffee pots, a microwave, and assorted cooking utensils, pots, pans, dishes and tableware for 25 to 30 people. The facility also has a dining area with tables and chairs that can seat 25 to 30 people, and a bathroom.

Downstairs, the cookhouse has 9 twin beds with mattresses, mostly in one large room, two bathrooms with showers, and a few dressers.

Guests will need to bring their own food and supplies as well as ice and any additional equipment that is needed. Guest will also need to bring their own bedding, including sleeping bags, blankets and pillows, as well as towels, soap, and other necessities. Guests are required to clean the facility before leaving.

The cookhouse is available year-round, except when it is reserved for administrative use or maintenance. It can be accessed by vehicle. Guests in the cookhouse are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring some of their own amenities.

Additional sleeping quarters are available in the bunkhouse, but the bunkhouse must be rented in addition to the cookhouse.

Natural Features

The cookhouse is one of three rental cabins located at the Historic Savenac Nursery, which was founded in 1907 to grow trees for the Forest Service. Nursery operations concluded in 1969 and now the site is open to the public for recreation. The cookhouse was originally a residence and was converted in the 1970s to a space for eating and food preparation. The facilities are close to the Idaho border, in the Bitterroot Mountains of western Montana. The Lolo National Forest is home to many species of wildlife, including deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mountain lions, moose and black bears.

Nearby Attractions

The nursery is located near Haugan, with easy access to Interstate 90. It is within walking distance of a family restaurant, gas and general store and gift shop. The Savenac compound also consists of a visitor center that is operated from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

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
  • historic & cultural site
  • hunting
  • wildlife viewing
  • winter sports

The land around Savenac Cookhouse

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.

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.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated July 18, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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